Region VI Championship
Fairbanks Golf Course
September 26, 2026
Submitted by VHS Cross Country Coach
Valdez runners showed up at the Region VI Championship at Fairbanks Golf Course ready to represent! After a roller coaster of a season and a test of runners’ mental and physical toughness all nine of our runners demonstrated true grit. Seniors Jewely Weber and Robert Taylor were excited to return to their favorite PR course the Fairbanks Golf Course. It is primarily flat with a couple little holes ills and soft grassy surface; the wide open spaces allow spectators and runners to see all competitors.
The varsity girls started it off with an incredibly fast first mile for both Seniors Ava Mitchell and Jewely Weber. Both girls set off determined to meet their goals. Mitchell blew hers out of the water with a PR of 22:54, over a minute faster than her goal and 1:57 faster than her last PR, giving her a place on the podium in 3rd place. Excited to be on her favorite course, Weber kept her drive and pushed hard to the end to finish in 10th place with a season best of 24:59, just shy of a PR.
We utilized all the boys on the team to make up our Varsity team and to compete with Hutchinson for team points. Freshmen JV runners Jeremiah Pruitt, Boston Tippetts, and Kavik Dibbs joined the varsity team. At the gun, Freshman Kaiden Leahy took off and remained out front with the top four runners. Leahy stayed steady the entire race and overtook 4th place to shave over 30 seconds off his time finish in fourth place at 18:17. Seniors Robert Taylor, Jeremiah James, and Junior Cirque Carter stayed as a pack during the 1st mile. Taylor pulled away from his teammates in 13th place to move to a 9th place finish and PR of over a minute at 19:37. He was closely followed by Carter who finished in 11th place at 19:50, getting a season best. Carter had his best run of the season and demonstrated his incredible athleticism. Then out of nowhere came Freshman Boston Tippetts who went from 17th place to 13th and overcame teammate Jaymyn James with a minute and a half PR at 20:14. James wrapped up his last race with a finish in 14th place and three seconds off his last personal best. Remaining steady and running the entire race was Freshman Jeremiah Pruitt. He surprised everyone by shaving an incredible three minutes off of his last time with a finish at 22:51 in 22nd place. Freshman Kavik Dibb finished his first official race. Dibbs worked hard and had a super strong 1st mile, then running out of steam he finished in 24th place at 27:07.
Valdez‘s cross country boys team took 2nd place in the region, missing first place by only 3 points, yet it was still enough to guarantee a visit to state for all seven boys and our Valdez girls finished in the top 10 to guarantee their spot at state. Congratulations runners for an incredible season and hard work! Your dedication and determination paid off. Let’s go Bucs! Next stop, State at Bartlett High School!
