The Wrangell Wolves boys and girls cross-country running teams both took home second-place honors in the Division III state championship meet last weekend in Anchorage.

Wrangell senior and team captain Jackson Carney came in second in the boys race with a time of 17:57.6, a seasonal best.

“The race of the day,” said coach Mason Villarma. “The kid is tough as nails. He is always going to find a way to compete because he simply wants it that badly.”

Sophomore Jenna Meissner placed fourth in the girls race, with a time of 20:48.7, finishing one second behind Petersburg’s Arielle Tucker, who defeated Meissner for the first time in her running career.

“I guess having her in sight was a really good thing for pacing,” Tucker told the Juneau Independent newspaper. “I don’t know, I felt like I had a little bit more in me at the end and pushed a little harder.”

She held off a final sprint by Meissner along the grass infield lined with fans.

“I had an off race,” Meissner told the Independent. “I felt pretty sick. I just got out there and tried to do what I could for our team. I think the cold kind of affected me, but other than that it is what it is. I am going to come back next year and try to get up there.”

“Jenna is a class act and a champion at heart,” Villarma said in a post-race interview with the Sentinel after the Saturday event.

Cordova’s Sierra Westing took first in the girls race, with a time of 19:42.1. Craig’s Alius Nelson took first for the boys race, coming in at 16.41.2

Overall, the Petersburg Vikings, which placed three runners in the top 10, won the girls team title with 12 points, followed by Wrangell with 23, Dillingham at 27 and Craig with 31.

In the boys race, Wrangell’s 20 points fell five points short of first-place winner Dillingham. The lowest score, which is a compilation of individual runners’ finishes, wins the team title.

Wrangell girls team captain and senior Alana Harrison clocked in at 22:29.2, earning 11th place.

“Harrison ran a really solid race. She stayed controlled and looked strong throughout,” Villarma said.

Freshman Erica Jabusch placed 19th, with a time of 23:47.7.

Sophomore Ryder Ritchie came in eighth in the boys run, clocking a time of 18:28.0

“He got better with every race this season. He works hard, and I expect him to be one of our leaders next year,” the coach said.

Junior Carter Howell ran an 18:50.3, coming in 15th place. Freshman Quinton Davies, at 20:56.8, and junior Lucas Sterns, with a time of 21:26.6, completed the Wrangell squad.

“This race was one of the toughest races I’ve been in,” Carney said, adding, “I can’t over-exaggerate how much our coaches mean to the team. … Those two put in so much work and always push us to be better.”

Villarma also handed out praise. “We were incredibly proud of both teams and how well they did at state. Collectively, I’d say we ran well, but probably not our best,” he said. “Several of the runners were battling sickness, and it was a crisp 32 degrees that morning — a little colder than our Southeast kids are used to. Even with that, they battled, and both teams walked away second in the state, which is an incredible accomplishment.”

Assistant Coach Laura Davies said cross-country is more than just developing running skills. “It builds overall fitness, resilience and the determination to push through both athletic and personal challenges. It teaches you to keep showing up, to support and cheer on your teammates, and to take pride in knowing that your individual success contributes to the success of your team.”

The teams will be saying goodbye to Carney, who was part of the 2024 state champion boys team, and Harrison, who helped make history last year as part of Wrangell’s first girls team to win the state championship.

“Oh man, this season is so bittersweet,” Harrison told the Independent. “I love cross-country and I have been with this team since my eighth-grade year. … Being from a small community, it is just such a family.”