by Greg Lincoln
The World Eskimo Indian Olympics (WEIO) for 2024 featured some new records set, a testament to the hard work and determination of participants competing in the traditional native games of WEIO.
Emily King of Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada set a new record in the One Foot High Kick – Traditional Style. She kicked 85” breaking the longstanding record of 84” held by Carol Pickett set in 1989. Autumn Ridley of Anchorage and Erica Meckel of Fairbanks tied the record in 2014.
Traditional style one foot high kick is jumping off of one leg and hitting the sealskin ball with that same leg you jumped off of and landing also on that same leg.
Kipnuk’s Colton Paul tied the world record of 106”, also in the One Foot High Kick – Traditional Style. World record holders in this event include: Travis Cronin (1993), Tino Morrow (1997), and Manuel Tumulak (2007).
Folks from all over the world came to enjoy the games at WEIO. The farthest visitor said they came all the way from Norway during a verbal poll taken on the last night of WEIO.
Bethel sisters Claire Dyment and Rosemarie Dyment both raced to a spot on the podium in the Race of the Messenger. Claire took second place with a time of 23 mins, 50 seconds. Rosemarie placed third, her time as 24 mins, 1 sec.
“Me and my sister ran a lot in Bethel, getting ready for the race,” said Claire. “Both of us wanted to place in the top three. So we were happy because that’s exactly what happened.”
Both girls are getting ready for their high school cross country season.
Bethel’s Kelly Lincoln and world record holder (2022) won her fifth gold in the fish cutting contest. She also placed third in the seal skinning, her seal was donated to her host family.
“The competition at WEIO is always friendly and the volunteers and organizers are so supportive and welcoming,” she said. “They do a great job, quyana.” Chevak’s Casey Ferguson took first in the seal cutting contest.
The regalia contest showcased the beautiful skill of the sewers whose work was displayed for the judges and for the crowd – fur parkas, sealskin boots with fur, beaded fur headdresses, kuspuks, ivory jewelry, accessories such as purses and reindeer beard dance fans.
Sharon McConnell, Marie Yaska, Betty Ross were the judges of the regalia contest. The scored the contestants based on authenticity, materials, quality of work, overall appearance, and crowd appeal.
Several contestants with Yukon Kuskowim delta region roots won a spot on the podium in the regalia contest – Adelle Nakrialnguq Hansen (Toksook Bay), Tatiana Korthuis (Bethel/Emmonak), Alana Moses (Hooper Bay/Bethel), Letha Chimegalrea Simon (Bethel).
Reggie Joule of Kotzebue was the recipient of the Sportsmanship Award and Emily King of Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada was awarded the Outstanding Athlete Award.
2024 WEIO Results
July 10-13, 2024
Big Dipper Arena, Fairbanks Alaska
KNEEL JUMP
FEMALE
1st: Amber Vaska, Fbks, 46 1/2”
2nd: Emily King, Yukon, 46”
3rd: Anastasha Wilde, Anch, 39 1/2”
MALE
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 69 1/2” WR
2nd: Davin Malzahn, Fbks, 52 1/4”
3rd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau, 50”
TOE KICK
FEMALE
1st: Luanna Greybear, Anch 42”
2nd: Abigail Semaken, Kenai 36”
3rd: Amber Vaska, Fbks 32”
MALE
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk 90”
2nd: Parker Kenick, Nome 70”
3rd: Matthew Chagluak, Anch 62”
RACE OF THE MESSENGER
FEMALE
1st: Grace Moore-Anderson, Fbks, 20 min 52 sec
2nd: Claire Dyment, Bethel, 23 min 50 sec
3rd: Rosemarie Dyment, Bethel, 24 min 1 sec
MALE
1st: David Kokrine, Fbks, 18 min 24 sec
2nd: Finley Hightower, Juneau, 18 min 42 sec
3rd: Kadin Daytion, Fbks, 19 min 42 sec
FISH CUTTING
1st: Kelly Lincoln, Bethel, 55.51 sec
2nd: Isabelle Dyment Bethel, 59.29 sec
3rd: Skyler Ervin, North Pole, 60.62 sec
PRETTIEST FISH CUTTING
Ariella Derrickson, Fbks
ONE HAND REACH
FEMALE
1st: Kylirose Paniptchuk, Golovin 59”
2nd: Autumn Nanouk, Unalakleet 58”
TIE 3rd: Emily King, Whitehorse 56” 0 misses
Kierra Egrass McGrath 56” 0 misses
MALE
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla 71”
2nd: Parker Kenick, Nome 66”
3rd: Leif Richards, Juneau 66” 1 miss
4 MAN CARRY
MALE
1st: Sido Evans, Fbks, 297’ 6 1/4”
2nd: Colin McFarland, Nome 145’ 10”
3rd: Skyler Ervin, North Pole 39’ 3”
INUIT STICK PULL
FEMALE
1st: Ariella Derrickson, Fbks
2nd: Chelsea Morrow, Fbks
3rd: Christina Glenzel, Kenai
MALE
1st: Sido Evans, Fbks
2nd: Scott Thacker, Fbks
3rd: Judah Eason, Kenai
GREASED POLE WALK
FEMALE
1st: Adrianna Johnston, Nome 44 3/4”
2nd: Elizabeth Rexford, Anch 40”
3rd: Isabelle Dyment, Bethel 30 1/2”
MALE
1st: Colin McFarland, Nome, 6’ 4 1/4”
2nd: Staxx Van Kirk, Nikiski, 5’ 4 1/4”
3rd: Judah Eason, Kenai, 4’
ALASKAN HIGH KICK
FEMALE
1st: Emily King, Whitehorse, 70 inches 3 misses
2nd: Anastasha Wilde,Anch, 70 inches 5 misses
3rd: Erica Meckel, Fbks, 66 inches
MALE
1st: Parker Kenick, Nome, 94 inches
2nd: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 92 inches
3rd: Casey Ferguson, Chevak, 90 inches
MAKTAK EATING
1st: Owen Hebel, Nome, 1 min 30.86 sec
2nd: Elizabeth Rexford, Anch, 1 min 41.05 sec
3rd: Diane DuFour, Fbks, 1 min 43.06 sec
DENA STICK PULL
FEMALE
1st: Brittany Woods-Orrison, Rampart
2nd: Nicole Johnson, Nome
3rd: Christina Glenzel, Kenai
MALE
1st: Scott Thacker, Fbks
2nd: Colin McFarland, Nome
3rd: Leroy Shangin, Anch
EAR PULL
FEMALE
1st: Amanda Ahsogeak, Fbks
2nd: Chelsea Morrow, Fbks
3rd: Caroline Wiseman, Anch
MALE
1st: Frank M Lane, Kotz
2nd: Frank Louis Lane, Kotz
3rd: Paris Hebel, Nome
REGALIA CONTEST
Indian Hide
1st Basilio Lord Tiepelman Mancuso/Fatima Lord, Fort Yukon/Nenana
Eskimo Cloth
1st Adelle Hansen, Fairbanks
2nd Tatiana Korthuis, Bethel
3rd Alana Moses, Fairbanks
Eskimo Fur
1st Kameron Reitan
2nd Autumn Nanouk, Nome
3rd Letha Simon, Bethel/Fbks
TWO FOOT HIGH KICK
FEMALE
1st: Emily King, Whitehorse, 6 feet 2 inches
2nd: Amber Vaska, Fbks, 5 feet 6 inches
3rd: Daisy Vanblarcom,Wasilla, 5 feet 6 inches (2 misses)
MALE
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 8 feet 8 inches
2nd: Parker Kenick, Nome, 8 feet 2 inches
3rd Kyle Worl, Juneau, 7 feet 6 inches (0 misses)
SEAL SKINNING
1st: Casey Ferguson, Anch, 2 min 2.19 sec
2nd: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome, 2 min 12.94 sec
3rd: Kelly Lincoln, Bethel, 2 min 32.19 sec
BLANKET TOSS
FEMALE
1st: Alohna Johnson, Nome
2nd: Marjorie Tahbone, Nome
3rd: Emily King, Whitehorse
MALE
1st: Reggie Joule III, Kotz
2nd: Matthew Quinto, Juneau
3rd: Reginald Joule, Kotz
DROP THE BOMB
1st: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 42.69 sec
2nd: Paris Hebel, Nome, 19.38 sec
3rd: Carl Vanblarcom, Wasilla, 8.03 sec
SWING KICK
FEMALE
1st: Emily King, Whitehorse, 54 inches
2nd: Autumn Nanouk, Unalakleet, 50 inches (1 miss)
3rd: Elizabeth Rexford, Anch, 50 inches (2 misses)
MALE
1st: Bernard Clark, Wasilla, 64 inches (0 misses)
TIE 2nd Peter Griggs, Anch, 64 inches (1 miss)
TIE 2nd Matthew Chagluak, Anch, 64 inches (1 miss)
WALRUS PULL
FEMALE
1st: Brittany Woods-Orrison, Rampart
2nd: Chelsea Morrow, Fbks
3rd: Amber Vaska, Fbks
MALE
1st: Sido Evans, Fbks
2nd: Scott Thacker, Fbks
3rd: Samuel Mecham, Anch
ONE FOOT HIGH KICK – TRADITIONAL STYLE
FEMALE
1st: Emily King, Whitehorse 85 inches (7’ 1”) New World Record
2nd: Daisy Vanblarcom, Wasilla, 78 inches (6’ 6”)
3rd: Anastasha Wilde, Anch, 70 inches (5’ 10”)
MALE
1st: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 106 inches (8’ 10”) Tied World Record
2nd: Alexavier Covey, Anch, 102 inches (8’ 6”)
3rd: Leif Richards, Juneau, 100 inches (8’ 4”)
EAR WEIGHT
1st: Frank M Lane, Kotz 1,146 feet 3 inches
2nd: Leroy Shangin, Anch, 259 feet 7 inches
3rd: Frank Louis Lane, Kotz, 166 feet 1 inch
KNUCKLE HOP
1st: Kyle Worl, Juneau, 139 feet 2 inches
2nd: Colton Paul, Kipnuk, 114 feet 3 1/2 inches
3rd: Peter Griggs, Anch, 78 feet 5 1/2 inches
Check out the reels for 2024 WEIO online at the Delta Discovery social media pages.
