Athletes from Dillingham swept the wrist carry titles Thursday on the opening day of the 46th annual Native Youth Olympics at the Alaska Airlines Center.
Sadie Tuckwood, runner-up last year in the event, covered 453 feet even, winning by more than 100 feet, while being carried by Martin Gardiner and Gabe Gomez.
Gardiner and Gomez also carried for boys champion Justin Dye, whose effort of 644 feet, 6 inches, earned him victory by nearly 200 feet. Dye finished fourth last year.
Girls wrist carry runner-up Kaye Gumera of Unalaska, who held on for 336-4.5, seized two silvers Thursday. She also was runner-up in the kneel jump.
Lower Kuskokwim School District athletes swept the kneel jump. Jordan Kashatok won the girls competition at 52.75 inches and Isaiah Fairbanks won the boys competition at 65.75.
Kim Gumera of Unalaska defended his boys Alaskan high kick title with an effort of 89 inches and Tara Agwiak of the Lower Yukon School District, runner-up in the girls Alaskan high kick last year, won with an effort of 78 inches.
Competition continues Friday and Saturday at the Alaska Airlines Center. Friday, the Eskimo stick pull is set for about 10 a.m., to be followed by the scissor broad jump (1:30 p.m.), One-hand reach (3:30 p.m.) and two-foot high kick (5:30 p.m.).
46th annual Native Youth Olympics
Thursday results
Kneel Jump
Girls – 1) Jordan Kashatok, Lower Kuskokwim School District, 52.75 inches; 2) Kaye Gumera, Unalaska, 45.75; 3) Sydney Dray, Dillingham, 45.25; 4) Sophie Poe, Bethel Regional High School, 43.75; 5) Teeana Nikolia, Mat-Su A, 43.50.
Boys – 1) Isaiah Fairbanks, Lower Kuskokwim School District, 65.75; 2) Mason Cook, Lower Yukon School District, 57.25; 3) Trevor Felix, Yupiit School District, 55.50; 4) Timothy James, Nome Borough High School, 55.75; 5) Neil Bucaneg, Unalaska, 53.75.
Wrist Carry
Girls – 1) Sadie Tuckwood, Dillingham, 453 feet even (carriers – Martin Gardiner, Gabe Gomez); 2) Kaye Gumera, Unalaska, 336-4.5 (carriers – Darrell Laforteza, Trey Henning); 3) Alma Smith, Lower Yukon School District, 247-11.5 (carriers – Pius Philip, Mason Cook); 4) Kelsie Madson, Bethel, 181-9.5 (carriers Damon Oscar, John Fredricks); 5) Gin Berry, Mat-Su A, 179-2 (carriers –KC Gage, Charlie Kennedy).
Boys – 1) Justin Dye, Dillingham, 644-6 (carriers – Martin Gardiner, Gabe Gomez); 2) Gage Hoffman, Bethel, 460-10 (carriers – Cameron Bartman, John Bonker); 3) Landon Taylor, Mat-Su B, 437-5.5 (carriers – KC Gage, Charlie Kennedy); 4) Mark Donlon, Knik Tribal, 436-5.5 (carriers – KC Gage, Kaiden Jiminez); 5) Jeffrey Slwooko, Mt. Edgecumbe, 423-8 (carriers – Gabe Gomez, John Bonker).
Alaskan High Kick
Girls – I) Tara Agwiak, Lower Yukon School District, 78 inches; 2) Ashley Mute, Bethel, 72; 3) Britney Dray, Dillingham, 70; 4) Kimberly Clark, Nome, 68; 5) Terry Johnson, Anchorage Team A, 68.
Boys – 1) Kim Gumera, Unalaska, 89; 2) Rhemus Bavilla, SWRDS, 88; 3) Andrew Kasherarof, Anchorage Team A, 86; 4) Jesse Kurtz, Mat-Su Team A, 86; 5) Alex Bonn, Anchorage Team B, 86.