September 11, 2025 Seward Folly Staff

Note: Home meet on Friday, September 12, at 2 p.m.

The Seward Seahawks cross country teams traveled to Palmer last weekend for the George Plumley Invite, a meet that served as a preview of the upcoming state championships. With the state meet set to return to Palmer on October 4, top runners from across Alaska gathered for a fiercely competitive event. Unlike state, which separates runners into three divisions, Saturday’s race combined all varsity athletes into a single, massive field.

The Seward girls rose to the occasion, finishing sixth overall, an impressive feat against some of the state’s largest schools. Olive Jordan led the charge for the Seahawks, clocking in at 20:48 for a 17th-place finish. Teammate Juniper Ingalls was close behind in 19th, crossing the line in 20:51. The girls’ team was missing key runner Indigo Leslie, who suffered an injury during the previous week’s Colony race and is expected to be out for six weeks.

Other notable finishes for the Seward girls included Tirzah Brueckner in 44th (21:59), Selah Brueckner in 51st (22:16), Blakeley Norvell in 66th (22:31), Lucy Bamford in 68th (22:32), and Maddie Haas in 113th (24:10).

Girls team results saw Chugiak take first with 59 points, followed by South (94), West Valley (170), West (172), Colony (176), and Seward (182), just ahead of Soldotna and East, who tied at 185. There were 18 girls’ teams on the roster. 

On the boys’ side, the Seahawks continue to show progress as the season unfolds. Luke Elhard paced the team with an 18:22, good for 63rd place in a crowded field. Sampson Antrim followed at 18:38 (73rd), with Noah Flowers (20:30), Alex Fink (21:50), Olin Liljemark (21:54), and Daniel Herrera (22:07) rounding out the Seward finishers.

The boys’ team finished 25th in the team standings. South Anchorage led the pack with 83 points, trailed by Homer (105), Colony (153), and Grace (178). More than 30 teams competed, with Seward holding their own in a deep and talented field.

With the state meet just weeks away, the Seahawks are gaining valuable experience against top-tier competition.