Athletes head home victorious as 2024 NYO Games Alaska concludes
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) - After three days of friendly competition, the 2024 NYO games have officially closed, bringing an end to an action-packed, adrenaline-filled weekend that saw 40 teams compete across 11 events.
Mat-Su representative Caelynn Carter found her way to the top of three podiums throughout the weekend, earning first-place finishes in the Alaskan High Kick (74″), Scissor Broad Jump (29′ 8″) and the Kneel Jump (45 1/4″). She also placed fourth in the Two-foot High Kick (70″).
“It feels great,” Carter said. “It’s a good accomplishment, I’ve had this goal for a while.”
Unalaska’s Louis Amora was given the award for best boys overall athlete, earning the top spot in the Wrist Carry (472′) and runner-up in both Kneel Jump (59 3/4″) and Seal Hop (101′ 11-1/2″).
“I literally told my teammates I am going to cry if I don’t get first place,” Amora said. “I have been in NYO since junior high so having first [win] my senior year makes it worth it.”
The Lower Kuskokwim School District took home the Overall Team award. LKSD featured 14 athletes attaining a top-5 finish or better, including Johnelle Smith and Brandon Lee, first-place finishers in Indian Stick Pull.
The top finishers from each event can be found below:
| TOE KICK | WRIST CARRY |
| Girls: Jordan Klejka (Bethel) - 54″ | Girls: Eulalia Roman (Mat-Su B) - 370′ 6-1/2″ |
| Boys: Sean Monnin (Nanwalek) - 80″ | Luois Amora (Unalaska) - 472′ |
| ALASKAN HIGH KICK | SCISSOR BROAD JUMP |
| Girls: Caelynn Carter (Mat-Su A) - 74″ | Girls: Caelynn Carter (Mat-Su A) - 29′8″ |
| Boys: Matthew Chagluak (Anchorage A) - 92″ | Boys: Devin Cooper-Jackson (Interior A) - 34′11″ |
| ESKIMO STICK PULL | ONE-HAND REACH |
| Girls: Salvation Simi (Anchorage A) | Girls: Kylirose Paniptchuk (BSSD) - 60″ 2 Misses |
| Boys: Donovan Stephan-Standifer (MEHS) | Anatoly Fomin (Unalaska) - 66″ |
| TWO-FOOT HIGH KICK | KNEEL JUMP |
| Girls: Jordan Klejka (Bethel) - 74″ | Girls: Caelynn Carter (Mat-Su A) - 45 1/4″ |
| Boys: Myles Campbell (Mat-Su A) - 88″ 1 Miss | Boys: Damien Nukusuk (Anchorage A) - 60 1/4″ |
| INDIAN STICK PULL | ONE-FOOT HIGH KICK |
| Girls: Johnelle Smith (LKSD) | Girls: Tessa Anderson (MEHS) - 88″ 1 Miss |
| Boys: Brandon Lee (LKSD) | Boys: Elmo Henry (Anchorage A) 106″ |
| SEAL HOP | |
| Girls: Tessa Anderson (MEHS) - 142′ 11-1/4″ | |
| Boys: Devon Mann (LKSD) - 145′ 1/2″ |
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