Senior Carson Crager set a school record in the triple jump at the track meet in Haines on Saturday, May 15
Senior Carson Crager broke his personal for the triple jump at the home track meet on May 15. On Crager’s second jump, he traveled 39 feet and 5 inches, nearly approaching the school record set by Ryan Olsen at 41 feet 1.25 inches.
“The jump didn’t feel the best to me,” Crager said. “I was expecting something in the thirty sevens. I was walking back and I heard thirty nine and I whipped my head around. I was in shock and quickly became overjoyed.”
Senior Lydia Andriesen threw a personal best in discus. Her throw was more than six inches farther than her previous record. Andriesen also set a personal best in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 6:38.1.
The boys won the 4×400 meter relay by two seconds. With a small lead on the final leg of the relay, Crager held off Juneau-Douglas’ Finn Morley to help his team secure the victory.
The meet concluded with a mixed 4×400 meter relay. Instead of a traditional baton, the team used a rubber chicken. Sophomore Koa Doddridge started the relay, handing off to sophomore Grace Long a few seconds before Thunder Mountain’s relay team. Long lengthened Haines’ lead before handing off to junior Kaleb Jones. Jones handed off to junior Avery Williamson to finish the relay.
Haines coach Greg Brittenham stood at the 300-meter mark with a giant foam fist. As Williamson ran by, Brittenham held out the fist. Williamson finished the relay with a rubber chicken in her left hand and a foam fist on her right hand. The team won the relay by more than 200 meters.
Both the boys’ and girls’ teams finished in second place at the meet. Haines competed against two higher division schools, Juneau-Douglas and Thunder Mountain.
The athletes then headed to the Chilkoot Indian Association dock to enjoy their first prom since 2019. The junior class organized the event. It was held from 8 p.m. to midnight.
The team will be competing in Juneau at the regional meet May 21 and 22. The first- place athletes at the meet will automatically qualify for state. The next 15 fastest athletes in the state will also qualify.
*This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy that Crager set a new school record. Ryan Olsen holds the triple jump record set in 2009.