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Zhier Fan Zooms Under Olympic Trials Cuts in 3 Events at American LC Meet

Zhier Fan Zooms Under Olympic Trials Cuts in 3 Events at American LC Meet

2022 NT American Long Course Meet

  • July 20-23
  • Garland ISD Natatorium
  • LCM
  • Results on Meet Mobile: “2022 American Long Course”

A few incoming college freshmen posted fast times at the 2022 NT American Long Course Meet last month in one of their final competitive tune-ups before the NCAA season begins this fall. 

Leading the way was Zhier Fan of Metroplex Aquatics, who clocked three times that would qualify for Olympic Trials if he can repeat them in the qualifying period after November 30. The Stanford commit shaved nearly four seconds off his previous best in the 400-meter IM, swimming a 4:21.93 that ranks him sixth among 18-year-old boys this season. Fan also set a new personal best in the 200 IM, reaching the wall in 2:02.48 to remain the sixth-fastest performer this season for his age. He was under the Paris Olympic Trials cut in the 100 breast with a 1:02.10, but he was more than a second slower than his personal best from April’s International Team Trials. 

Sage Sungail tallied four wins, all in personal-best times, including some huge time drops by sprint event standards. The SMU commit took .44 seconds faster off his previous-best 50 freestyle time from prelims, in the process moving up to fifth this season among 18-year-old boys. In the 100 free, Sungail went more than half a second faster than his previous best from last month with a 50.83. He also dropped almost half a second in the 100 fly (54.99) and added a 1:51.69 in the 200 free to rise the ranks to No. 12 this season for his age.

Nova Southeastern University commit Luka Samsonov lost the 100 back title by .01 seconds to John Culver of Dallas Mustangs, but the 18-year-old Samsonov had already earned his first Junior Nationals cut during prelims with a personal-best 58.36. He may have also hit his stride prematurely in the 200 back, where he went slower than his personal best from prelims (2:07.81) on his way to taking third place in the final (2:08.05). 

On the girls side, Scarlet Aquatic Club’s Kathleen Turano chipped away at five personal bests, becoming a top-10 performer among 14-year-old girls this season in three events. She dropped nearly five seconds in two months in the 400 free, firing off a 4:23.76 that ranks No. 8 this season for her age. Turano took four seconds off her personal-best 800 free time of 9:03.32, moving up to No. 8 this season. She also posted a personal best in the 1500 free, improving by nearly seven seconds from just a couple months ago. 

Scarlet teammates Chloe Kim and Iris Kim had impressive meets, too. Chloe recorded five personal bests and three victories, including a 2:25.36 in the 200 breaststroke that ranks eighth this season among 15-year-old girls. Chloe also threw down a 2:17.46 in the 200 fly, moving up to 13th this season for her age.  Her other individual win came in the 100 fly (1:02.84).

Iris, 14, just missed a few personal bests in the 200, 400, and 800 free races, but she did make her mark with a record 100 free split of 58.03, which ranks 13th this season for her age. 

Fellow Scarlet swimmer Richard Poplawski broke the 52-second barrier for the first time in the 100 free (51.99), one of four personal bests for the 16-year-old. His 1:54.17 in the 200 free ranks ninth this season for his age while his runner-up effort in the 200 IM (2:06.27) leaves him as the No. 12 performer this season. Poplawski also cruised to a win in the 400 free (4:03.18). 

Jacob Turner achieved a Junior Nationals standard in the 100 breast with 1:05.35, finishing about three seconds behind Fan. Fellow Metroplex 16-year-old Grant Hu climbed into the top-20 rankings this season with a 4:31.17 in the 400 IM that sits at No. 20. 

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India independence to lockdown: Meet Indians named after historic events

India independence to lockdown: Meet Indians named after historic events
Azad Kapoor, Emergency Yadav and Lockdown

(From left) Azad Kapoor, Emergency Yadav and Lockdown Kakkandi

How often do you meet a person with a truly unique name?

Most Indian parents prefer to name their children after gods, sports icons, film stars or even famous cartoons. But some get inspiration from entirely different sources.

As India marks 75 years since independence, the BBC met six people across the country whose parents named them after a historical event that unfolded during their birth.

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AZAD Kapoor, 75 years

Azad Kapoor

Azad Kapoor was born on the day India became independent

Azad Kapoor was born on 15 August 1947 – the day India got freedom from British rule.

“When I was born my family celebrated, saying Mother India has come home and brought us freedom,” she says.

Azad – which means free – was not very happy with her name as a child since it sounded like a boy’s name. But as time passed, she came around to it.

“No-one ever forgets my birthday. Everyone who knows me remembers me on 15 August. My friends joke that the whole country celebrates my birthday,”she says.

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EMERGENCY Yadav, 47 years

Emergency Yadav

Emergency Yadav’s father was jailed during the state of emergency in 1975

Emergency Yadav was born on 26 June 1975, a day after a state of Emergency was declared in India.

“My father told me that he gave me this name so that people would not forget about this sad, dark period in India’s history,” he says.

In a radio announcement to the country, then prime minister Indira Gandhi said she was declaring a state of emergency, citing a threat to national security from “internal disturbances”. Constitutional rights were suspended, press freedom was curtailed and many opposition leaders were jailed.

Emergency Yadav’s father Ram Tej Yadav – who was an opposition politician – was arrested hours before his son was born. He spent 22 months in jail and met his son only after the emergency was lifted in 1977.

“If there is emergency in any country, it means that the country is regressing. I really hope that we never have to see another instance like this again,” he says.

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KARGIL Prabhu, 23 years

Kargil Prabhu

Kargil has never visited the town he was named after

Kargil Prabhu – born during the 1999 Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir – didn’t know the significance of his name for a long time.

“Even though I was named after this conflict, I didn’t know much about it until I grew up and Googled it. My father passed away when I was young so he couldn’t tell me what my name meant,” he says.

Kargil works as a video editor in the southern city of Chennai and has never visited the town he was named after. But it is on top of his bucket list of places to visit.

More than 500 Indian soldiers died during the conflict, which began after India retaliated against infiltration from Pakistan – though Islamabad has long denied this. The conflict lasted three months before India declared victory.

“I don’t believe in war, but I think India had to defend itself during the Kargil war, and that was the right decision,” Mr Prabhu says.

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TSUNAMI Roy, 17 years

Tsunami with his mother Mounitha

Tsunami with his mother Mounitha

Tsunami’s mother’s eyes well up when she remembers the day her son was born.

Mounitha Roy was heavily pregnant when she took refuge on top of a small hill in one of the islands in the Andaman archipelago, which was struck by a devastating tsunami in 2004.

“I told my husband to escape with my elder son. I had no hope for myself and the baby in my womb. At around 11pm, I delivered my son in the dark on top of a rock, without any assistance or medication. My health never recovered after that,” she says.

At school, Tsunami was mocked for being named after a disaster. But for his mother, the name means hope and survival.

“My son came as a ray of hope to all of us, in the midst of everyone mourning the deaths of their family members. My son was the only good thing that happened that day,” Mrs Roy says.

More than 200,000 people, including 10,000 Indians, were killed in the 26 December tsunami, which was triggered by an underwater earthquake in the Indian Ocean.

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KHAZANCHI Nath, 5 years

Khazanchi Nath with his mother

Khazanchi was born a few weeks after the 2016 demonetisation

Khazanchi was born in a branch of Punjab National Bank in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, a few weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a surprise announcement withdrawing high-value banknotes from circulation.

Khazanchi’s mother, Sarvesha Devi, went into labour while standing in line to withdraw some money after the move – called demonetisation or note ban in India – triggered massive cash shortages.

“Since he was born in a bank, everyone said he should be named Khazanchi (cashier),” she says.

Mr Modi gave only four hours’ notice on 8 November 2016 while declaring that 1,000 and 500 rupee notes would no longer be valid, wiping out more than 85% of Indian currency. Authorities said it was done to target bribery, tax evasion and terror financing, but experts said it severely impacted common people and small businesses across the country.

But to Khazanchi’s family, his name brought luck. The main opposition leader in Uttar Pradesh made Khazanchi one of the stars in his campaign ahead of state elections held earlier this year.

“He’s brought us money and wealth, everyone is helping us. I have a proper house and enough cash because of his name,” says Sarvesha Devi.

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LOCKDOWN Kakkandi, 2 years

Lockdown with his mother

Lockdown is a celebrity in his village

Lockdown Kakkandi – born one week after a Covid-led shutdown was announced in India in 2020 – is a celebrity in the small village of Khukhundu in Uttar Pradesh.

“My son was born at the peak of the lockdown. It was very hard to find a vehicle to take my wife for delivery. Many doctors were even unwilling to attend to patients. Thankfully my son was born without any complications,” says Lockdown’s father Pawan Kumar.

In Lockdown’s village and surrounding areas, everybody knows his address and many visit his house to meet him.

“People may make fun of him for some time, but everyone will remember him too. I want his name to be a reminder of what people were going through at that time,” says father Pawan Kumar.

The nationwide lockdown, announced by Mr Modi on 24 March 2020, came as a shock to many Indians as they were given just a few hours’ notice. The weeks after it were marked by a shortage of necessities and massive job losses, especially in the informal sector.

India at 75

India at 75

India, the world’s largest democracy, is celebrating 75 years of independence from British rule. This is the second story in the BBC’s special series on this milestone.

Read more from the series here:

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Flint school board candidate slate will host ‘Meet and Greet’ events throughout August

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FLINT, MI — Five Flint Community Schools Board of Education candidates are hosting nine “Meet and Greet” events throughout the month of August.

The slate of candidates — Dylan Luna, Emily Doerr, Melody Relerford, Terae King Jr. and Michael Clack — are five of 15 registered candidates that will be on the ballot for five open positions in the Nov. 2 election.

Events will take place in all nine Flint wards. A schedule is listed below. Each event goes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. unless otherwise listed.

Monday, Aug. 8: Clara Hilborn Park in Ward 1

Tuesday, Aug. 9: Windiate Park in Ward 9

Wednesday, Aug. 10: Kearsley Park in Ward 3

Saturday, Aug. 13: Court Street Village Office in Ward 7 (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

Tuesday, Aug. 16: Longway Park in Ward 4

Monday, Aug 22: Sarvis Park in Ward 2

Tuesday, Aug. 23: Sarginson Park in Ward 8

Wednesday, Aug. 24: Ballenger Park in Ward 6

Monday, Aug. 29: Dort Park in Ward 5

In total, nine candidates are seeking three six-year term seats, two are seeking a four-year partial term and four are seeking a two-year partial term on the Flint Board of Education.

Only Joyce Ellis-McNeal and Laura McIntyre are not up for reelection.

Read more at The Flint Journal:

Flint’s superintendent wants to ask the Mott Foundation for help. Will the board let him?

Swartz Creek superintendent Ben Mainka leaves for Novi school district

Masks recommended, not required at Flint schools’ first day

Board member walks out as tempers flare at Flint schools meeting

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Wahoos Win 15 Events at July 23 Swim Meet, Racing to Top Times

Wahoos Win 15 Events at July 23 Swim Meet, Racing to Top Times
From left:Jolan Foronda, Ronan Lauinger and Mikal Helms swim in a Wahoos sweep of the boys 15-18 50-meter breaststroke race. (Photos: Lolo LaSida

By Marisha Goldhamer

ALEXANDRIA, VA – The Chinquapin Wahoos won 15 events at the Colonial Swim League Blue Division meet on July 23. After topping the division as a team with an undefeated season, 60 members of Alexandria’s only public swim team had the chance to demonstrate individual excellence across 50 races.

Each of the division’s six teams invited up to three boys and girls in each age group to race in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and the 100-meter individual medley (IM), with ribbons awarded for first through sixth place.

Swimmers were limited to competing in three disciplines and Wahoos Emil LaSida, Madison Schang and Karon Moten, completed a triple, taking home first place in all of their events.

LaSida continued his dominance of the boys 15-18 50-meter backstroke. His winning time of 27.02 seconds is the fastest in the CSL this season. He also won the 50-meter freestyle in 25.03 seconds and the 50-meter butterfly in 27.15 seconds.

Schang turned in a stellar swim to win the girls 11-12 50-meter breaststroke in 39.51 seconds, more than five seconds faster than the second place finisher. She also won the 50-meter butterfly in 34.38 seconds and the IM in 1 minute 18.84 seconds.

Karon Moten competes to win the boys 9-10 50-meter backstroke race.

Moten will be the one to beat at the All Star meet in the boys 9-10 age group. He holds multiple league topping times, including in the IM (1:27.85). He lowered his 50-meter backstroke time to win in 37.06 seconds, and his winning 25-meter butterfly time to 16.01 seconds.

Additional Wahoos division winners included Tyler Turner in the 9-10 boys 50-meter freestyle (34.83), Jonathan Ramsdell in the boys 13-14 50-meter breaststroke (34.75), Bennett Sherry in the boys 8 and under 25-meter butterfly (23.39), Micaela Zuniga in the girls 9-10 25-meter butterfly (18.19) and Ronan Lauinger in the boys 15-18 IM (1:03.18).

Jolan Foronda led the Wahoos 1-2-3 sweep in the boys 15-18 50-meter breaststroke, winning in 32.02 seconds followed by Lauinger (32.59) and Mikal Helms (33.39).

In addition to lifting the division trophy, the Wahoos also captured 12 second place and 16 third place finishes on Saturday.

Among the youngest swimmers, Sherry added to his butterfly win with second place finishes in the 25-meter backstroke (23.22) and 100-meter IM (1:59.82).

Max Kessler-Gowell also represented the 8 and under boys with third place swims in the 25-meter freestyle (20.57) and the 25-meter backstroke (24.28) and a fifth place finish in the IM (2:20.89).

The 8 and under girls snagged three third places. Beatrice Mills was third in the 25-meter backstroke (26.20) with Ryan Shaw in sixth (28.48). Avery Murray’s time of 27.06 seconds in the 25-meter butterfly was just .06 off of second place.

Sophie Wharton came third in the 25-meter breaststroke, before Charlotte Reyna and Wharton took fifth and sixth in the IM (2:32.19 and 2:37.60).

In the 9-10 age group, Turner added to his freestyle win with second place in the 50-meter breaststroke (49.44) and third in the 25-meter butterfly (18.80).

Ethan Sherry grabbed two fourth place finishes in 50-meter freestyle (37.56) and 50-meter backstroke (43.68) while Sawyer Blaise touched fifth in freestyle (41.40) and sixth in the IM (1:47.16).

For the girls, Zuniga added to her butterfly win with a fifth place ribbon in the 50-meter freestyle (41.16).

Freya Montes de Oca was just out touched to come third in the 50-meter breaststroke in 51.03 seconds before taking fifth in the IM (2:00.25).

The boys 11-12 squad continued to be led by Alex Guevara who picked up three second place ribbons, including the IM (1:23.10). He swam the 50-meter backstroke in 36.52 seconds, with Dominic Grajkowski sixth (46.57), and swam the 50-meter breaststroke in 43.72 seconds with Christopher Billips in fifth (47.59).

Chris Paz made his mark for the 11-12 boys with a third place finish in the 50-meter butterfly (39.31), a fifth place finish in the IM (1:40.32) and a sixth place finish in the 50-meter freestyle (34.10).

For the 11-12 girls, Ellie Medina placed second in the 50-meter butterfly (36.28). She also featured in a thrilling 50-meter freestyle race with four swimmers turning in 35 second times. Medina hit the wall in 35.83 seconds to grab sixth place.

The Wahoos went 2-4-6 in the 50-meter backstroke, Eleanor Robb taking second in 42.61 seconds, followed by Julia Davis (43.69) and Grace Wittmer (45.39).

Ramsdell’s win in the 13-14 breaststroke was accompanied by a third place finish in the 50-meter freestyle (28.15) and third in the IM (1:07.80).

In the 50-meter backstroke, Alex Wittmer placed second (35.81), just 0.23 seconds off of the win. Teammate Willem Schultz placed sixth (41.97). Wittmer also came sixth in the 50-meter butterfly (34.94) and the IM (1:22.82).

For the 13-14 girls, Evangeline Billips turned in a strong 50-meter backstroke to place second in 36.66 seconds. Bella McLemore took sixth with a time of 39.88 seconds.

Billips was also sixth in the 50-meter breaststroke with a time of 45.24 seconds.

The senior Wahoos continued to excel despite the 100 degree heat on the pool deck. Bodie Lauinger was third in the 50-meter freestyle (26.58), only 0.17 seconds separating him from Helms in fifth (26.75). Lauinger also finished fifth in the IM with a time of 1 minute 08.68 seconds.

The Lauinger brothers both factored in the 15-18 backstroke race with Ronan’s 30.24 second time snagging third over Bodie’s 31.78 second fourth place swim.

Foronda added to his breaststroke win with a fifth place finish in the 50-meter butterfly (28.03) – just out touching teammate Blake Conjura who came sixth (28.68) – and a third place finish in the IM (1:05.34).

Elisabeth Carroll stood out for the 15-18 girls, finishing second in the 50-meter backstroke (34.38), third in the 50-meter breaststroke (40.63), and fifth in the freestyle (30.88).

Catherine Salomons touched third in backstroke in 35.83 seconds. She also took fourth in the 50-meter butterfly (34.37) and the IM (1:20.89).

The CSL comprises four divisions, and the fastest swimmers from across all teams based on times from the divisional meets are invited to compete for the league title at the All Star meet. The Wahoos saw 27 swimmers qualify for the July 30 showdown in Ashburn.

Two Alexandria Public Safety Professionals Earn Top Honors from Virginia American Legion



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National track meet expected to boost Township’s economy – Aldergrove Star

National track meet expected to boost Township’s economy - Aldergrove Star

Bringing one of the biggest track and field competitions in Canada to Langley will have impacts far beyond the medals handed out on the podiums, say organizers and local politicians.

It’s part of a decades-long process that has seen Langley Township position itself as a sports tourism destination, aimed at bringing in big events and economic spin offs.

Getting the Bell Canada Track and Field Championships here was a marathon, not a sprint.

Although the Township has been expanding its sports fields and its track facilities for years, the seed for the current event was planted in 2014 and 2015 when McLeod Athletic Park hosted the Canadian Youth Track and Field championships, said Brent Dolfo, chair of the Bell Canada host committee.

It’s also been regularly hosting the B.C. High School Track and Field Championships, the most recent of which just wrapped up last week.

“We began to dream of what would it take to hold the national championships here in Langley,” Dolfo recalled.

The Langley Mustangs, the track club Dolfo has been affiliated with for years, connected to the business community, and with the Township’s Parks department.

For an event of this size, you need to be in lockstep with the local municipality, Dolfo said.

“The council was very enthusiastic,” he said.

By early 2017, that dream was becoming a reality, as the Township was shortlisted along with five other communities. It would win the right to host the games for two years by the end of 2017, but its facilities would need some upgrades. Many were already scheduled or were repairs, such as to the grandstand’s aging roof, but others were needed to bring the facilities up to the standard of a national event.

READ ALSO: Langley short-listed for elite meet

What would become a $5 million project included a brand-new track surface, a four lane 60-metre warm-up track, an additional long jump pit, an expanded high jump fan, a new shot put area, an additional pole vault area, extra security fencing and gating, and a new designated spectator areas for the field events, along with more parking.

The organizational ability of the host club and the Township’s facilities won Langley Township the bid, beating out major cities like Ottawa, Montreal, Calgary, and Edmonton.

And then COVID scuttled plans for two years.

READ MORE: McLeod Athletic Park still closed as $5 million upgrades near completion

“Even last year, there was no national championships,” Dolfo said.

So this year and next, the Township will finally host the event, which attracts top athletes seeking to qualify for the Olympics.

With big names like Andre De Grasse and Damian Warner, a significant number of spectators are expected. The stands and new temporary seating can accommodate up to 4,000 fans a day, said Dolfo.

This is by far the biggest track event Langley has ever hosted, and it may be the springboard to hosting even more high-level meets in the coming years.

Township Mayor Jack Froese said having the facilities allows for more than one big event.

“It attracts more events,” he said, noting that Vancouver is considering another Winter Olympics bid because it already has the facilities from 2010.

Then there are spin offs from sports tourism, which come in two ways.

First, there’s the direct spending as people buy gas and food and fill up local hotels during the events themselves. That can also spin out into future events, even in different sports, as the Township has the Langley Events Centre with its rink, basketball courts, and gymnastics facilities, along with plenty of softball and soccer fields.

Beyond sports, it’s a chance to show off Langley.

“It exposes people that normally wouldn’t come here,” said Froese.

That could draw people back for Langley’s agritourism, its vineyard and wineries, and its historical sites around Fort Langley.

The Township is hoping to capitalize on the event, and will be studying its impact.

“Economic Investment and Development will be completing an economic impact assessment at the completion of the track and field event,” said Valerie Gakfa, senior manager of Economic Investment, “and for numerous other sporting events in 2022, and once final data & information is available, we aim to communicate it to the public and media.

Have a story tip? Email: matthew.claxton@langleyadvancetimes.com

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630 CHED supports Kids With Cancer Society Meet & Greet – GlobalNews Events

630 CHED supports Kids With Cancer Society Meet & Greet - GlobalNews Events

Come on down to the Kids with Cancer Society’s Meet and Greet! Meet the incredible Kids with Cancer Society families, learn more about fundraising, register for future Kids with Cancer events, and engage with other participants.

The free BBQ takes place June 5 from 10 am – 2 pm at Cycle Works Motorsports.

If you are a motorcyclist who is interested in riding in support of children with cancer, please contact Emily at 780-496-2459.

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East High runner Olyvia Mamae sweeps 4 events at state meet tuneup

East High runner Olyvia Mamae sweeps 4 events at state meet tuneup

East hurdler Olyvia Jaelyn Mamae gets ready to race. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

For Olyvia Mamae, the Anchorage Invitational track and field meet was an exercise in perseverance, a barometer for how much suffering she’ll be in store for later this month at the state meet.

On Friday, the junior from Bettye Davis East High ran the 100 meters, 200 and 100 hurdles. Saturday, it was those same three events plus her signature event, the 300 hurdles.

“This is nice because it’s the first time I’ve run all four events,” Mamae said. “Before this I’ve been running three or two to work on focus or some of the things I need to complete. But today is a big preview of how state is going to feel because I’m running all four events for state. Right now, I’m really just trying to get used to this kind of hurt.”

East’s Olyvia Jaelyn Mamae races in the girls 100-meter prelims. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Mamae swept all four events Saturday, despite hitting a strong headwind along the final turn in her 300 hurdle race at Dimond High.

“I was just trying to maintain my speed and hit my hurdles in stride,” she said. “I’m not disappointed, but I can’t say I’m happy because it’s a whole second off my PR, but you get what you get. I’ve already done like five races leading up to this. I finished, that’s all that matters.”

South’s Cody Tirpack got used to running the 100 on Saturday. He run the 100 and was part of the South 4×100 relay team. But his key 100 meters of the day was the final stretch of the 400. He pulled away from a big pack of runners to win with a time of 52.33 seconds.

“I ran a couple hundreds before this,” said Tirpack, a junior. “That definitely helped me in the end there.”

The baton is passed in the boys open 4×100-meter race. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Tirpack, who ran a personal record, said he treated the meet as a bit of a dress rehearsal for state.

“The lanes are pretty narrow, but other than that, it’s not much different than other meets, at least running the 400,” he said.

Among the most-watched races of the day was the girls 1,600, where Chugiak junior Campbell Peterson and West senior Payton Smith continued their season-long tete-a-tete.

Smith, who is headed to Oregon State to compete as a runner next fall, took the season’s first matchup at the Big C Relays. But Saturday, it was Peterson who pulled away in the final 300 meters.

Natalia Novakovich of South prepares to start in the girls 4×100-meter relay open. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

The 5:13.66 finish was a two-second PR for Peterson, who found herself in a new role in the race.

“I’m usually a frontrunner but I’ve really been working on my pacing and my kick on the end,” Peterson said. “I’ve been doing a lot of speed work. My goal was kind of just to stay with her, if she wants to take the lead, let her go. But then try and kick past her the last 250 meters. I think it worked out pretty well.”

Peterson was runner-up at the state cross-country meet in the fall and hopes to take the next step later this month when the state meet is at the Dimond track.

“I’m hoping for a state title,” she said. “I think it’s definitely within reach but I’m going to have to play it kind of smart.”

The West Valley track and field team was thrilled to be arriving in Anchorage for the meet. The Fairbanks school has struggled all season with the immense snowpack in the area and have had precious few competitions or even practices this spring.

West Valley coach Hannibal Grubis said he finally got the track plowed in mid-March over spring break, but even that has only provided some respite.

“We haven’t been throwing or anything (outside) because of the snow,” he said. “Almost nothing with hurdles, some of the jumping we haven’t been able to do. Some sprints and miles, that’s about it. It’s going to take a lot of patience and it’ll come. It’s going to be a steep curve.”

As if the season hadn’t already been a uphill climb, the team’s bus broke down in Healy on the trip to Anchorage on Thursday evening, leaving them with a five-hour delay.

“We were there until a little after 9 and didn’t get in until 2,” Grubis said. “It was just exhausting.”

West Valley’s Emanuel Bostwick races in the 100-meter open event. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Even the team’s likely top competitor was absent from this weekend’s Anchorage trip. Daniel Abramowicz, the 2021-22 Gatorade Alaska Boys Cross Country Player of the Year was back in Fairbanks taking Advanced Placement tests. The dedication to academics is not surprising for Abramowicz.

Abramowicz has maintained a 4.35 GPA according to information that accompanied his Gatorade honor.

That absence meant West Valley teammate Shane Fisher had to change his strategy a bit. Instead of tucking in behind Abramowicz, Fisher started out like a shot in the 1,600, but eventually fell to second with Dimond’s Jared Gardiner taking the race.

“I didn’t want to get stuck in, there were way too many guys,” he said. “It’s a good experience being in the lead. Usually I just sit behind Daniel back at home.”

Fisher had a knee injury during cross-country season and with the recovery plan, he hasn’t had quite as many issues with the weather as his teammates.

“It’s been so bad,” he said of the conditions. “I really don’t know how they’ve been doing it.”

South’s Makaylen King competes in the 100-meter hurdles prelim race. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Boys race in the 1600-meter open event. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Dimond’s Sasha Kleckner crosses the finish line in the girls 4×100-meter open race. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)

Zuriel Guzman of Bartlett clears a hurdle in the boys 110-meter hurdle prelim race. Dimond High School hosted the first day of the Anchorage Invitational high school track meet on May 6, 2022. (Marc Lester / ADN)