Courtesy of VHS Track Coach – The Valdez High School Track and Field team sent 17 athletes to compete at the state meet in Anchorage this past weekend. Despite a manically bipolar weather pattern, the athletes competed well and enjoyed great success. Highlights included 2 golds, 2 silvers, and a new school record. Lowlights include the last performances of our outstanding seniors in Andrew Baczuk, Morgan Hamilton, and Jace Wadsworth. They will be missed.
The Girls’ Team results:
● 100 Meters
○ River Smelcer placed 12th with a time of 14.03
○ Aliya Valeriano placed 15th with a time of 14.16
● 200 Meters
○ River Smelcer placed 15th with a time of 29.28
● 4×800 Meter Relay
○ The team of Jewely Weber, Morgan Hamilton, Laken Unger, and Hailey Major placed
8th with a season record time of 12:38.91
The Boys’ Team results:
● 100 Meters
○ Andrew Baczuk placed 6th with a time of 11.59
○ Merrick McCumby placed 9th with a time of 12.01
● 200 Meters
○ Andrew Baczuk qualified for finals with a 6th best time of 23.84 but due to injury was unable to compete in the Saturday finals.
○ Jace Wadsworth had a personal record time of 24.88, placing 12th.
● 800 Meters
○ Reggie Baksis placed 9th with a personal record time of 2:07.55
● 1600 Meters
○ Reggie Baksis had a personal record time of 4:48.48, placing 12th.
● 300 Meter Hurdles
○ Dylan Passage placed 12th with a time of 47.26
● 4×100 Meter Relay
○ The team of Jace Wadsworth, Brody Liljedahl, Merrick McCumby, and Andrew Baczuk won Gold with a school record time of 45.35.
● 4×200 Meter Relay
○ The team of Jace Wadsworth, Brody Liljedahl, Kaden Van Buskirk, and Merrick
McCumby took Silver with a season record time of 1:36.41
● 4×400 Meter Relay
○ The team of Merrick McCumby, Kaden Van Buskirk, James Humphrey, and Reggie
Baksis took 5th with a season record time of 3:44.32
● 4×800 Meter Relay
○ The team of James Humphrey, Kaden Van Buskirk, Zane Carruthers, and Reggie
Baksis took 5th with a season record time of 8:59.46
● Shotput
○ Kyle Petersen took silver with a throw of 41’11.25”
● Discus
○ Kyle Petersen took 4th with a throw of 128’5”
● Long Jump
○ Andrew Baczuk took gold with a jump of 19’4.25”
We would like to sincerely thank the Valdez community for their ongoing support of opportunities for student athletes. Not included in the results listed above are innumerable instances of personal growth in ability, confidence, perseverance, personal acceptance, joy in other’s success, and a number of other areas that can’t be measured, only observed and appreciated. Thanks for letting us all be a part of that.