Jun. 29—Following a dominant high school senior season, Wrangell's Boomchain Loucks on Friday became the first athlete in program history to be named Alaska Gatorade Player of the Year for boys track and field.
"I've had the pleasure of getting to know this young man for the last couple years," Sitka head coach Jeremy Strong said in a statement. "He's a great kid with a good heart. He seems to make connections wherever he goes. He trains in a town without a track oval and often without any training partners. He is process and goal-driven. His times and accomplishments speak for themselves. I can't think of another athlete who has experienced his level of individual success this year."
Loucks completed the middle-distance and distance triple crown at the Division II state championship meet by winning the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. He set a new personal best in the 800 with a time of 1:57.16, and cruised to a victory in the 1,600 with a mark of 4:19.55. His first-place time in the 3,200 of 9:37.24 nearly matched his season- and personal-best time of 9:31.78 from the Region V championships. He also ran Alaska's fastest 1,600 time of 2026, 4:18.62 at the Liberty Twilight meet.
This award also recognizes athletes for their academic rigor and exemplary character off the track. Loucks maintained a 3.74 GPA and volunteered locally with community clean-up days and with Tech Savvy Senior, a group that provides technology **** istance to elderly community members. He will compete in both track and field and cross-country for Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
Fairbanks' Landon Hafele on Saturday became the latest Alaska-born hockey player to be selected in the annual NHL Draft when he was taken in the sixth round at 167th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.
"I've had the pleasure of getting to know this young man for the last couple years," Sitka head coach Jeremy Strong said in a statement. "He's a great kid with a good heart. He seems to make connections wherever he goes. He trains in a town without a track oval and often without any training partners. He is process and goal-driven. His times and accomplishments speak for themselves. I can't think of another athlete who has experienced his level of individual success this year."
Loucks completed the middle-distance and distance triple crown at the Division II state championship meet by winning the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter races. He set a new personal best in the 800 with a time of 1:57.16, and cruised to a victory in the 1,600 with a mark of 4:19.55. His first-place time in the 3,200 of 9:37.24 nearly matched his season- and personal-best time of 9:31.78 from the Region V championships. He also ran Alaska's fastest 1,600 time of 2026, 4:18.62 at the Liberty Twilight meet.
This award also recognizes athletes for their academic rigor and exemplary character off the track. Loucks maintained a 3.74 GPA and volunteered locally with community clean-up days and with Tech Savvy Senior, a group that provides technology **** istance to elderly community members. He will compete in both track and field and cross-country for Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington.
Fairbanks' Landon Hafele on Saturday became the latest Alaska-born hockey player to be selected in the annual NHL Draft when he was taken in the sixth round at 167th overall by the Winnipeg Jets.
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