Tristian Merchant Triple Includes State Meet Record 8:52.53 3,200

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Tristian Merchant completed one of the most historic high school distance running careers in Alaska history with a record-breaking effort in the 3,200 meters and bunch more team points that contributed to a victory for Anchorage Christian in the Alaska Division II track and field championships at Dimond High School. 

On Friday, Merchant broke a long-standing Alaskan meet record when he won the 3,200 meters in 8:52.53. He lapped 14 of the 15 other runners in the race, according to the Anchorage Daily News. 

Merchant's time is a personal best and the fastest ever run in Alaska. It is surpassed only Trevor Dunbar's 8:46.72 at Nike Outdoor Nationals in 2009 (Greensboro, N.C.) and Levi Thomet's indoor 8:48.32 at the 2015 New Balance Nationals Indoor (New York City). 

Merchant also won the 1,600 meters in 4:15.28 and the 800 in 1:59.04 for two more personal bests. 

Anchorage Christian also won the 4x100, 4x400 and 4x800 relays on the way to 102 points.  

Owen Lewis, Logan Mathieu and Jackson Wall proved to be a tough trio for Chugiak, which got big production from all three on the way to 100 points and a team victory in Division 1. 

Lewis won the triple jump and place third in the long jump. Wall won the long jump and placed fourth in the high jump. Mathieu won the 110-meter hurdles and placed second in the 100-meter dash. Chugiak also won the 4x200 and 4x400. 

West Valley's Naomi Bailey ran to wins in the 800 meters (2:16.92), 1,600 meters (5:00.28) and 3,200 (10:46.54) to lead her team to the championship. Her 30 points contributed to the team's total of 99. Olivia Manley added 20 more with her wins in the 100 (12.76) and 200 (26.26). Hadley Blasey won the discus and placed second in the high jump and sixth in the shot put. 

The Sitka girls won the Division II team title as Lindsey Bartolaba had top-five finishes in the 100, 200 and 400, Tawny Smith was top-three in both the 800 and 1,600, and the Wolves had two in the top five of the 3,200 (Anna Prussian and Emma Gassman).

Sitka also won the 4x100 and 4x800 and was second in the 4x200 and 4x400. 

Team Champions - 

Division 1 - Chugiak boys 100 points, West Valley girls 99 points - RESULTS

Division 2 - Anchorage Christian boys 102 points, Sitka girls 108.5 points - RESULTS