Unalakleet’s cross country team made history at this year’s state championship in Palmer.
The ASAA Division III State Cross Country Championships resulted in a second place finish for Unalakleet’s Lady Wolfpack. Star senior and defending two-time state champion, Ourea Busk, finished third with a time of 20:53.
Sophomore Isabella Eller finished fourth, just a second after Busk. Unalakleet’s freshman duo of Alexandria Ivanoff and Turi Busk finished eighth and ninth, with each setting personal best times.
According to one the team’s coaches, Mori Busk, this was the first time in Division III history that four girls from the same school placed in the top 10 at state. Unalakleet senior Ayuu Roesch rounded out the score with a time of 25:47, good for 42 place.
Mori Busk said the team earned their second place finish.
“I mean, their work ethic is amazing, both in school and at practice every day, they're really supportive of each other, and you really couldn't ask for a better group of kids,” Mori Busk said.
Unalakleet’s boys team finished seventh overall. Sophomore Josh Smith led the Wolfpack across the finish line in 20th place with a time of 19:35. Tyler Johnson crossed just 17 seconds later and freshman Ezra Jack set a personal record with a time of 20:34.
Mori Busk said the Unalakleet boys team made history too, with this being the first time they qualified for the state meet. She said making it to state already has the boys fired up for next year.
“The boys are all returning. Our goal is to just continue to build and create an environment where kids want to be a part of and participating, and just like a positive, healthy culture within our team and within our school," Mori Busk said.
Mori Busk, who is both coach and Ourea’s mother, said her daughter is leaving behind a legacy.
“This program will remain strong, I feel like and continue to be successful because of the standards that I think Ourea has set, and just the role model she has been,” Mori Busk said.
Bering Strait School District had strong representation at the State Championship with Shaktoolik’s Seth Paniptchuk finishing fourth and Shishmaref’s Norman Stenek finishing in 32nd place. They finished with times of 18:03 and 19:57, respectively.
Mori Busk said the outpouring of support from the community, and the whole Bering Strait region has been unprecedented. She said it’s both humbling for her as a coach, and inspiring for the region’s next generations of runners.
