Ourea Busk Wins Second Straight State Title

Two cross country Division III State Champions lead the girls varsity race at the State Finals last Saturday. In front is 2023 and 2024 champion Ourea Busk of Unalakleet who was on her way to another state title. Following close by is 2022 champion Taylor Eddington of Tri-Valley. photo by Kelly Lincoln

by Greg Lincoln

Runners from schools throughout Alaska descended upon the Bartlett High trails, the venue for the 2024 State Cross Country finals. Races were held for varsity girls and boys in divisions: 1A/2A, 3A, and 4A hosted by the Alaska Schools Activities Association, or ASAA. The fan friendly race course was remapped this year.

Division III girls raced first, featuring runners from 1A and 2A schools from throughout the state. Schools with 1-150 students are in the Division III classification.

For the DIII girls, Unalakleet’s Ourea Busk, a junior and Bering Straits Conference region champion, won her second state title (2023, 2024). She crossed the finish line in 20:05 after running alongside second place winner Taylor Eddington, also a junior from Tri-Valley and Region 2 for much of the race. Eddington is the 2022 state DIII champion. Eddington finished in 20:22.7 for the silver medal. Coming in third was Isabelle Jenkins of Nenana, her time was 21:41.3.

Other runners included 7th place finisher Isabella Eller, also of Unalakleet. Her time was 21:49.9. Senior and Greater Yukon Delta Conference region champion Ariana Tall-Lake of Hooper Bay placed 24th overall, crossing the finish line in 24:56:7. Cedar Busk, also a senior of Unalakleet, finished in 26:11.2 placing 36th.

Scottie Bukowski, Chevak senior came in 38th, her time was 26:28.3. She was followed by sophomore Erica Aguchak of Hooper Bay, she finished at 26:31.8. Kalskag’s Alysha Levi, the Greater Kuskowkim region champion, came in 42nd, her time was 26:53.8.

Senior Abbygail Mael of Chefornak, the Lower Kuskokwim region conference champion also competed. She placed 43rd, completing the course in 27:00.8. Sleetmute’s Kiley Hayden also ran, she followed Mael to a 44th place finish at 27:07.6. Dana Roberts of Quinhagak ran the course in 27:17.9, finishing in 47th position.

Chefornak’s Destiny Panruk, a junior, finished in 52nd place, her time was 27:43.9. Senior Laney Green of Chevak placed 62nd, her finishing time was 28:37.1. Kalskag runner Lakeisha Levi, a freshman, also competed. She came in 74th at 31:13.3.

The ASAA First National Bank Alaska XC Running DIII State Championship Academic Award winner for the girls was awarded to the Dillingham Lady Wolverines. This award is sponsored by Donlin Gold.

1A/2A Division III Girls XC State Finals

Top Ten Results

1 Ourea Busk 20:05.0 Unalakleet; 2 Taylor Eddington 20:22.7 Tri-Valley; 3 Isabelle Jenkins 21:41.3 Nenana; 4 Arielle Tucker 21:46.5 Petersburg; 5 Calla Fish 21:48.1 Su Valley; 6 Rayne Personett 21:49.6 Nenana; 7 Isabella Eller 21:49.9 Unalakleet; 8 Maria Toth 22:20.3 Petersburg; 9 Cadence Flint 22:47.5 Petersburg; 10 Camelia Bell 22:52.6 Haines.

Team Scores

1. Petersburg, 16; 2. Nenana, 23; 3. Unalakleet, 29; 4. Hoonah, 39; 5. Glennallen, 45; 6. Dillingham, 55; 7. Kake, 71; 8. Wrangell, 87; 9. Tikigaq, 100; 10. Sand Point, 100; 11. Unalaska, 110.

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For Division III boys, sophomore runner Aulis Nelson of Craig took first place, his time was 17:22.7. Glennallen’s Andrew Severs, a senior, took second place at 17:33.1. Gaje Ventress of Petersburg placed third, he finished the course in 17:58.4 to round out the top three.

Sophomore and Bering Straits Conference region champion Seth Paniptchuk of Shaktoolik finished in 6th place with a time of 18:11.7. Dillingham’s Graelin Chaney, a senior and Region 1 Southwest Conference silver medalist placed 16th overall, his time was 19:18.

Greater Yukon Delta Conference region champion Payton Nanuk of Hooper Bay was the YK delta region’s top finisher in the race. He placed 19th, his time was 19.28.4. Manokotak’s Jethron Nanalook and Region 1 Southwest Conference bronze medalist finished in 34th place at 20:13. A Minto runner, senior and top ten Region 2 runner Asher Titus finished in 39th position, his time 20:30.7.

Coming in 41st, Chevak’s Liam Pingayak-Green crossed the finish line in 20:34. Kipnuk runner Daniel Dock, a senior and the Lower Kuskokwim conference region champion, completed the course in 46th place. His time was 20:48.5. Charlie Chingliak of Akiachak finished soon after in 48th place, his time was 20:51.5. Following right behind him was his teammate and Greater Kuskokwim conference region champion Bryson Kasayulie, a junior also of Akiachak. He crossed the finish line in 20:59.8.

Sophomore Laiton Pingayak of Chevak placed 53rd overall at 21:12.5. Next to finish in 54th place at 21:13.8 was freshman Dwayne Maxie of Kwethluk. Akiak’s Daveion Jasper, a sophomore placed 57th with a time of 21:22.4. Emmonak runner senior Connor Hootch placed 62nd, he finished the course in 22:33.8. He was followed by Kwethluk junior Klayton Maxie. He finished in 22:44.6. This is his third trip to the state cross country finals. Senior Isiah Rivers representing Nenana finished in 83rd, he crossed the finish line in 26:24.5.

The Dillingham Wolverine boys team won the ASAA First National Bank Alaska XC Running DII State Championship Academic Award.

1A/2A Division III Boys XC State Finals

Top Ten Results

1 Aulis Nelson 17:22.7 Craig; 2 Andrew Severs 17:33.1 Glennallen; 3 Gaje Ventress 17:58.4 Petersburg; 4 Alex Holmgrain 18:00.7 Petersburg; 5 Will McMahan 18:01.6 Glennallen; 6 Seth Paniptchuk 18:11.7 Shaktoolik; 7 Elias Ward 18:15.2 Petersburg; 8 Andrew Hansen 18:19.3 Haines; 9 Xzavier Munoz-Torres 18:27.3 Kake; 10 Eric McGee 18:37.3 Tanalian.

Team Scores

1. Petersburg 10; 2. Glennallen 13; 3. Wrangell 28; 4. Dillingham 42; 5. Tanalian 45; 6. Skagway 73; 7. Unalaska 80; 8. Cordova 81; 9. Nenana 89; 10. Nunamiut 135.