In his first-ever state track and field meet — in his first year as a high school track and field runner — Wrangell’s Boomchain Loucks raced to fourth place in both the 800-meter and 1,600-meter runs in Anchorage last weekend.

Loucks, a competitive runner on the cross-country team, was the only Wrangell high schooler to run at this year’s Division II state track and field championship meet.

He finished the 800-meter event in a time of 1:59.77, almost three seconds faster than his winning time at the Southeast regional championships a week earlier in Juneau. Loucks was about four seconds behind the state winner, Robbie Annett, of Grace Christian School in Anchorage, who finished at 1:55.91.

Loucks ran the 1,600-meter race in 4:32.28, about 10 seconds behind Grace Christian’s Arnett, who took first with a time of 4:22.89.

The two races were Saturday, May 31, at Dimond High School.

Wrangell High School has not fielded a track and field squad since 1991. Volunteer Coach Mason Villarma, who also coaches the cross-country team, is trying to bring back the spring sport in town.

In addition to Loucks, runner Jackson Carney competed at the Southeast championships, running the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. He did not place high enough to make state.

Villarma said he will try again next year to pull together enough students for a larger track and field team, not only limited to runners.