Student athletes from across the Bering Strait region gathered in Unalakleet last weekend for the annual Qamuuqhin Hill Trails cross-country meet, a challenging race known for its steep 200-foot elevation gain. This year’s conditions, with clear skies and temperatures around 42 degrees, were ideal for the 59 athletes that took part in Unalakleet’s home race.
Teams from Elim, Brevig Mission, White Mountain, Shaktoolik, and Teller joined Unalakleet in a competition that featured races for high school, middle school, and elementary runners.
Shaktoolik’s Seth Paniptchuk led the high school boys’ race with a time of 19:25. For the girls, Unalakleet’s standout junior Ourea Busk took first place, finishing in 21:38. Both runners will look to defend their titles at next weekend’s Bering Strait School District (BSSD) Conference meet in Golovin.
Middle schooler Ezra Jack of Unalakleet won the boys’ 5K with a time of 22:38, while Turi Busk led the middle school girls with a 24:24 time. The event also featured a shorter 2.5K race for 6th graders and a loop-around-town event for elementary runners.
Top finishers from this event are set to compete in Golovin this weekend at the BSSD Conference meet. There, the top three boys and girls will earn a spot in the state championships in Anchorage.
