Under cloudy Anchorage skies, Unalakleet sophomore Isabella Eller set off for one lap around the track. It was the 4x400 meter race, an event that tests the mettle of even the strongest runners. The pace for short events like the 400 meter is something between a fast jog and all-out sprint.
Isabella said as she headed down the final 100 meters of her lap, her legs grew heavy, tired from a long weekend of events.
“I kept pushing hard to give us the biggest lead I could knowing Turi [Busk] was ready and waiting for the handoff,” Isabella said.
By the end of the first lap, Isabella had the Lady Wolfpack out front. Her freshman teammate, Turi Busk took the baton and rounded the corner for her lap. A runner from Homer made up ground, just beating Busk to the end of the lap. Then, disaster struck.
The relay baton bounced off the sticky red track. The Lady Wolfpack’s third runner, Violet Jack, scooped it off the ground and set off as Homer and Sitka asserted themselves out front.
“The only thing I can remember thinking during my leg of the 4x400 was to close the gap. Dropping the baton was obviously a major setback, and I knew I just needed to get our team into a position where Ourea [Busk] would be able to pass,” Jack said.
Halfway through the lap, Jack’s long legs propelled her past second-place Sitka. By the time she finished her lap, the team was about four seconds behind Homer.
Unalakleet’s 400 meter specialist, Ourea Busk, took the baton. Her coach and mother, Mori Jack-Busk, said the moment wasn’t too big for the star senior.
“She loves to chase, and she loves being that anchor leg. She wanted to win, her mind was set, and she knew what she had to do,” Jack-Busk said.
Unphased by the gap, Ourea paced around the first corner of the lap. Her elegant stride drew her closer to Homer with each step.
“She’s doing it!” Ourea’s father, Kris Busk, exclaimed from the stands as Ourea chipped away at Homer’s lead. “There it is right there, there it is!”
Ourea pulled ahead of Homer by the final 100 meters of the race and extended her lead to about two seconds by the finish. The team finished with a time of 4:13.25
Coach Jack-Busk said the state championship was bittersweet, but “icing on the cake” nonetheless. She said the future of Unalakleet’s track program is unclear, with Ourea and Violet graduating two weeks ago, and Isabella moving away this summer.
“Gosh, this group of girls is really something special. Seeing them grow up together and do all the things has been such a joy and honor,” Jack-Busk said. “They have such a special connection and enjoy being together and encouraging each other. They're so positive, responsible, determined, and FUN! It has been an incredible honor to be a part of their journey and to help to create this opportunity for them.”
Isabella said she was proud of what the team was able to accomplish this season.
“They are all my best friends, that’s what makes us stronger. We love eating pickles and listening to music. Track and field is such a hard sport and requires that dedication so having your best friends with you makes it so much more enjoyable. I hope that in the future the athletic program is even more successful and we are just the beginning of it!”
As a team, the Lady Wolfpack also earned fourth in the 4x200 meter event. In the individual races, Ourea picked up a fourth-consecutive 400 meter state championship as well as fourth in the 100 meter race. Isabella also finished third in the 800 meter and 3200 meter events.
Violet qualified for the 400 meter finals, but scratched to pour her energy into the competitive 4x400 meter event.
“My time as an athlete for the Wolfpack has taught me so much, given me some of my favorite memories, and helped me create a sense of pride in where I come from,” Violet said. “I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences that sports have given me. And to finish my high school athletic career winning a state championship with my best friends feels like a pretty awesome ending.”
While the team’s performance on the track earned the historic achievement, Jack-Busk said the community played a major role, too.
“This would not be possible without your support. Whether it was buying a raffle ticket, our baked goods, or bidding on an auction item. We are so grateful. This win belongs to all of us!” she said.
