Katahdin Staples wins third straight Alaska state cross country title

Bettye Davis East senior Katahdin Staples won his third consecutive Division I boys state cross country title Saturday at Bartlett High, finishing in 15 minutes, 34 seconds. West Anchorage won the boys team title, while Chugiak captured the girls team championship for the sixth straight year. Staples led wire to wire, beating runner-up Atlin Frederick of West by about 22 seconds. Frederick helped West secure the team title with 54 points, edging Chugiak's 64. Chugiak's girls won with 59 points, topping Colony by 24, paced by freshman Claire Shaha's runner-up finish. Juneau-Douglas senior Kaia Mangaccat set a course record of 18:32.1 in the girls individual race. Mountain City Christian Academy junior Breyden Nottingham repeated as Division II boys champion in 16:20.4. Grace Christian won the DII girls team title, while Homer narrowly took the DII boys crown. Craig's Aulis Nelson won Division III boys, and Cordova freshman Sierra Westing took the girls title.