Kenai’s Allie Ostrander. Photo by Nick Danielson In her second steeplechase in the last two weeks, which doubled as her second race over barriers and a water pit in nearly three years, Alaska’s Allie Ostrander on Saturday night flashed significant improvement in her race fitness. The three-time NCAA steeplechase champion from Soldotna clocked 9 minutes, 32.87 seconds for the 3,000-meter event and finished fourth at Sound Running’s Track Fest in Los Angeles. That time was 4.78 seconds faster than she ran two weeks ago at Stanford’s Payton Jordan Invitational, where he clocked 9:37.65. That wa ..read more

Denali Strabel, Christy Marvin and Anna Dalton after the Turnagain Arm Trail Race; Photo courtesy Anna Dalton. Ruby Lindquist at the Lake Sonoma Half Marathon finish; Lets Wander Photography Anna Dalton braved wintry conditions to set a record Thursday at the 24th annual Turnagain Arm Trail Race. Anchorage’s Dalton (58 minutes, 35 seconds) and Lars Arneson (53:27) won the 8-mile race, while Girdwood’s Hannah Ingrim (30:06) and Wasilla’s Josh Taylor (20:29) captured the 4-mile race. The event, hosted by the University of Alaska Anchorage ski team, featured 159 finishers. Both races ..read more

By this time most springs, track athlete Isaac Updike of Ketchikan has already raced outdoors at least once or twice, but a lingering groin issue throughout fall and winter training prompted him to seek treatment and delay his outdoor debut until Friday. The result makes that look like a smart decision, particularly in an Olympic year. Updike, 32, on Friday delivered the second-fastest steeplechase season debut in his career and sixth-fastest steeple of his career overall. Updike clocked 8 minutes, 20.86 seconds in covering 3,000 meters over hurdles and a water pit to finish ninth in a Diamon ..read more

Jihsana Williams Chugiak’s Jihsana Williams is having a show-stopping season, going 9-for-9 against in-state competition in the sprints. At the Palmer Invitational, Williams clocked 25.40 seconds to secure the win and tie for ninth-quickest known performer in Alaska prep history in the 200. She’s the latest edition to the list, joining the likes of Olyvia Mamae (25.37) and Olivia Manley (25.40), who added their names in 2022. Both of whom went on to win state in the event. In fact, all nine athletes ahead of Williams have won state in the event, either at the Division I or Division II level ..read more

Allie Ostrander is our Alaska Athlete of the Week after a week of exceptional achievements and honors. The 27-year-old former Kenai Central athlete finished fourth in the steeplechase at Stanford’s Payton Jordan Invitational in California on Saturday, clocking 9 minutes, 37.65 seconds to gain a spot at the Olympic Trials this summer. On Tuesday, the mountain, cross-country and track running legend was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy as one of the state’s most accomplished runners ever. The three-time NCAA steeplechase champion showed she is still in peak form ..read more

Allie Ostrander is our Alaska Athlete of the Week after a week of exceptional achievements and honors. The 27-year-old former Kenai Central athlete finished fourth in the steeplechase at Stanford’s Payton Jordan Invitational in California on Saturday, clocking 9 minutes, 37.65 seconds to gain a spot at the Olympic Trials this summer. On Tuesday, the mountain, cross-country and track running legend was inducted into the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, cementing her legacy as one of the state’s most accomplished runners ever. The three-time NCAA steeplechase champion showed she is still in peak form ..read more

Allie Ostrander. Photo by Kevin Morris Alaska’s Allie Ostrander on Friday checked a critical box in her return to the steeplechase. The 27-year-old former Kenai Central athlete and three-time NCAA steeplechase champion ran her signature track event for the first time in nearly three years and pocketed her Olympic Trials qualifying standard in the 3,000-meter event over barriers and a water jump. Ostander finished fourth at Stanford’s Payton Jordan Invitational in California, clocking 9 minutes, 37.65 seconds to finish comfortably below the Trials qualifying standard of 9:41. That mark gained ..read more

Jerry Ross earned a special medal for completing all six events in the World Marathon Majors series: London, Berlin, Toyko, Boston, Chicago and New York. Even on a challenging day, Jeff Young is among the fastest marathoners in his age group, as he again proved at the London Marathon. Even when faced with a heart issue, Jerry Ross showed he can excel and was rewarded Sunday with a special medal. The Alaskan duo was among more than 53,000 runners — a record for London — to complete the iconic race in the United Kingdom. “(There was) crazy crowd support and a brilliant course,” Ross said by te ..read more

Ostrander with USA teammates Abby Nichols and Emma Hurley. Photo courtesy Allie Ostrander Instagram. After strong performances in the mountains last fall and on the trails this winter and spring, Alaska’s Allie Ostrander this week announced she’s headed back to the track. The 27-year-old from Soldotna, who is based in Seattle, said on her YouTube channel of more than 50,000 subscribers that she is returning to the steeplechase for the first time in three years and aiming to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials. “It’s time to get back on the track,’’ Ostrander said. Ostrander, who won three co ..read more

Chugiak Mustangs embrace after the 4×400-meter relay. Photo by Elijah Williams More than 950 athletes from 34 teams competed at The Dome for the 13th edition of the Russ Edwards Big C Relays. Chugiak’s Alliyah Fields was unstoppable in her quest for individual and relay glory, collecting four wins, which included a personal best, a meet record, a school record, and a spot on the Alaska girls all-time list accompanied by her teammates. Fields began her herculean effort in the 400, clocking 59.34 seconds to dip under the 60-second barrier for the second time in her career. She followed up the ..read more