Sophia Hedden was the lone racer for Haines High School at the Alaska School Activities Association Cross Country Division I State Championships in Palmer on Saturday. She landed a 15th-place finish by completing the five-kilometer run in 23 minutes and 3.13 seconds.
The race, held at the Mike Janecek Trails at Palmer High School, was hilly and cold, Hedden said after the race.
Coach Jordan Baumgartner said he’s seen Hedden improve in every race this year — even running her fastest time of the season on Saturday.
“This isn’t the easiest course we’ve ran, but she ran her best race of the season,” he said.
Competing as the only Haines racer in a crowd full of runners from across the state wasn’t difficult, Hedden said, because she’d had her coach and teammates along for the ride. As she raced, a group of boys from Haines followed from different areas of the trail — carrying a set of green and white pom-poms as they cheered her on.
“It’s nice to look out in the crowd and see somebody,” Hedden said.
Baumgartner said that he’d tried to keep Hedden and her teammates loose as they travelled to the state competition. They’d gone bowling and went to the mall.
“They got to be kids, that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “You only run for 20 minutes of the whole time. We’re gone for four days.”
As a freshman, Hedden will have more opportunities to compete at the state level. She said she plans to train all summer, keep a positive attitude, and bring a bigger team of Haines runners with her next year.
Baumgartner, too, said he’s excited about the future of Haines’ cross-country team. There are young athletes and especially young girls who might be inspired by Hedden’s traveling to Palmer for the championship race. He said he was hoping to bring more middle schoolers in to get started running while continuing to watch Hedden and the other racers grow.
2025 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Division III Cross Country Championships
GIRLS
Team scores: 1. Wrangell, 12; 2. Unalakleet, 15; 3. Petersburg, 25; 4. Dillingham, 49; 5. Glennallen, 50; 6. Craig, 53; 7. Sand Point, 82; 8. Unalaska, 85; 9. Lumen Christi, 88; 10. Akiachak, 122
Top 10 individual 5K finishers
1. Jenna Meissner, Wrangell, 20:29.80; 2. Arielle Tucker, Petersburg, 20:42.82; 3. Ourea Busk, Unalakleet, 20:53.05; 4. Isabella Eller, Unalakleet, 20:54.68; 5. Bella Ritchie, Wrangell, 21:46.36; 6. Alana Harrison, Wrangell, 21:55.96; 7. Mariah Abbott, Glennallen, 21:57.94; 8. Turi Busk, Unalakleet, 22:06.31; 9. Alex Ivanoff, Unalakleet, 22:08.47; 10. Jayla Edenshaw, Craig, 22:32.62
Haines Finisher
15. Sophia Hedden, 23:03.13
BOYS
Team scores: 1. Petersburg, 10; 2. Wrangell, 15; 3. Unalaska, 38; 4. Dillingham, 43; 5. Skagway, 48; 6. Glennallen, 56; 7. Unalakleet, 81; 8. Chevak, 116; 9. Cordova, 129; 10. Akiachak, 148; 11. Tikigaq, 168
Top 10 individual 5K finishers
1. Boomchain Loucks, Wrangell, 16:40.69; 2. Aulis Nelson, Craig, 16:56.83; 3. Gaje Ventress, Petersburg, 18:01.72; 4. Seth Paniptchuk, Shaktoolik, 18:03.31; 5. Nathan Kerr, Petersburg, 18:15.67; 6. Jackson Carney, Wrangell, 18:29.62; 7. Erik McGee, Port Alsworth, 18:32.65; 8. Alex Holmgrain, Petersburg, 18:36.31; 9. Logan Rupprecht, Skagway, 18:36.55; 10. Tobyn Dolge, Glennallen, 18:45.46