Alaska Girls Cross Country Team Sweeps Regional Title

A small Alaska high school just proved that great things come in small packages when their entire girls cross country team punched their tickets to state.

Petersburg High School's girls cross country team claimed the Region V Division III Championship in Juneau on September 26. Even better? Every single girl on the team earned a spot at the state championship in Anchorage.

The victory was a true team effort. All six Petersburg runners finished in the top 12, with junior Arielle Tucker leading the pack in second place with a time of 20:53. Junior Cadence Flint crossed third at 21:44, and freshman Arya Holmgrain took sixth at 22:31.

Head Coach Kayleigh Lenhard said nearly every runner posted either a personal or season best time. That's especially impressive considering Juneau's course is known for being tough.

The boys team had their own moment to celebrate. Sophomore Andi Mihai surprised everyone by finishing third overall with a time of 18:11, securing his own state qualification. He'd been ranked sixth going into the race.

Sunny's Take

What makes this story special isn't just the medals. It's watching a small town team work together and lift each other up. Coach Lenhard said the runners were genuinely excited for Andi when he exceeded his own expectations.

The girls are now ranked to win at state, but they're staying focused on the fundamentals. The team is maintaining their regular routines, eating well, and getting good rest before Saturday's championship race.

Coach Lenhard keeps reminding them that anything can happen on race day. But if their regional performance is any indication, Petersburg has plenty of reasons to feel confident.

These young athletes showed up when it mattered most, and now they're taking that momentum straight to state.