September 17, 2026, Seward Folly

Seward Middle School’s young cross-country team opened its season at the Dieckgraeff Invitational, getting a rare opportunity to compete alongside high school programs.

Middle school races aren’t typically included at high school invitationals, but Seward’s runners joined athletes from Homer, Aurora, Kenai, Nikiski, Skyview and Seldovia schools for separate boys and girls races on a 2,500-meter course.

It was Seward’s first race of the season and the first cross-country meet for many of the team’s runners.

“We had a lot of eighth-graders last year, which was wonderful, but now we’re shifting to beginner-level, first-time runners or kids who have had exposure to Mount Marathon and are having their first cross-country experience,” assistant coach Heather Bardarson said. “They have been a dream to coach.”

“Bjorn did fabulous,” Bardarson said. “He is the fastest runner on the team, but he doesn’t have another person there to push him, so I was really curious to see how that would pan out. We were really happy with his performance.”

Pictured together at right are Ruby Rydberg, Kiia Mooter, Cora Seavey, and Taylor Jane Ingalls. Photos by Jessica Stallard

Taylor Ingalls led Seward in the girls race, placing 37th among 58 finishers. Cora Seavey finished 40th, Kiia Mooter finished 46th, followed closely by teammate Ruby Rydberg in 47th.

The team had been practicing for only about two weeks before the meet. Bardarson said the coaches had some idea of what their athletes could do in training, but the invitational gave them their first chance to see how they compared with runners from other schools.

“It’s a younger group,” she said. “They’re really coachable, and we’ve had a blast with them already.”

Head coach Jessica Stallard is in her first season leading the program. Stallard, a special education teacher at Seward Middle School, ran cross-country briefly in high school and took the coaching position as a way to become active again while helping students train.

Stallard and Bardarson sometimes run with the athletes, but they also use bicycles during practices. That allows them to keep up with the runners, monitor the full group and make sure everyone completes the planned workout.

The team began practicing Aug. 26 and has nine runners on its roster, though not every athlete was ready to compete at the invitational.

“They did really well,” Stallard said. “I was proud of them.”

Seward Middle School Cross-Country Roster

Head coach: Jessica Stallard
Assistant coach: Heather Bardarson

Girls: Freja Bardarson, Taylor Jane Ingalls, Kiia Mooter, Maisie Moseman, Ruby Rydberg and Cora Seavey

Boys: Bjorn Bardarson, Titus Bird and Tell Madosik

Total runners: Nine

Seward High School races under clear skies

Seward’s high school runners raced 5,000 meters on a stunningly beautiful, sunny day. Although the temperature was mild by most standards, the sunshine made it feel hot for runners accustomed to Alaska’s cooler conditions. No wind blew, but much of Seward’s course ran through the trees, where the shade offered welcome relief.

“The nice thing about our course is most of it is in the trees, so it is in the shade,” Seward head coach Bart Elhard said.

Five high school teams competed at the invitational: Seward, Colony, Palmer, Kenai and Soldotna. Colony dominated the team results and occupied many of the leading individual places.

Freshman Owen Smith finished 43rd in the junior varsity boys race. Clayton Pullins also represented Seward in the race. Colony dominated the field, with its runners claiming 17 of the top 20 places.

In the junior varsity girls race, Seward freshman Ava Elhard and sophomore Emma Seavey helped break up another strong Colony showing. Elhard placed ninth and Seavey finished 15th, putting two Seward runners among the top 20. Colony claimed 15 of the first 20 places.

Senior Amara Ransom finished 36th. The meet also served as senior recognition for Ransom, Seward’s only senior. She sang the national anthem before taking her place in the competition. When asked afterward whether singing or running made her more nervous, she didn’t hesitate.

“Running,” Ransom said.

To qualify for the state championships, runners must finish among the top 15 in their division at the regional meet. Seward’s runners were scheduled to compete at the borough meet the following Thursday, with the regional meet two weekends after the invitational.