He said his training tips are, “Run with friends…have fun.”
Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2025 6:38 am
Other returning Region V title winners include junior Siena Farr in the triple jump (JD last season), senior Finley Hightower in the 110 and 300 hurdles (TM), senior Corder Janes as part of a 4×800 (JD), senior Johnathyn Kestel in the long jump and triple jump (TM), and the 4×100 relay team of Hightower, Kestel, senior Carter Harralston and senior Jayden Johnson who set the region record at TM with a 44.19 last season, the fourth fastest in the state last year. Ketchikan’s relay lost to TM in the region championships but defeated them at state and they return three of their four relay team members including senior state 100-meter champ Jason Lorig.
“I’m looking forward to trying to set the school record for long jump,” Kestel said. “And maybe even triple jump and just setting a PR in the 200 meter too. For the long jump I’m going against one of the best in the state (KTN’s Lorig) at regionals this year so I’m working really hard to perfect my form and strength overall. For the triple jump I’m just working on staying on top. Last year was my first season doing it and I went into it with about three or four practices under my belt. As for what it takes, I’d say it took a lot of patience and dedication to get to where I got last year. I really focused on the long jump and it paid off.”
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Finley Hightower country wise email marketing list practices a start at Thunder Mountain Middle School field. Formerly at TM High School, Hightower is one of many athletes now joining the Crimson Bears as the season opens in Kodiak. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Finley Hightower practices a start at Thunder Mountain Middle School field. Formerly at TM High School, Hightower is one of many athletes now joining the Crimson Bears as the season opens in Kodiak. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Some other Crimson Bears returning state competitors include J. Johnson (TM, 100 meters), Kestel (TM, 200), Farr (4×400), sophomore Erik Thompson (TM, 3200), senior Ferguson Wheeler (JD, 300 hurdles) and junior Izzy Martin (JD, discus) among others.
“Senior year,” Hightower said. “I’m looking forward to the 300 (hurdles). It was my main event last year and I want to do good in it this year. I got sixth in the prelims at state last year, so trying to get up there this year. The consolidation has been kind of rough with leadership changes, just some breakup pains you know, but I also ran in cross-country and it was smoother, it will get better…go Falcons…I’ve run against these teammates for years so we know each other.”
Hightower moved to Juneau in seventh grade from Anchorage. He said the 300, “Takes being a little crazy and a lot of grit. I mean if you look from here to there, and see the 10 hurdles, it doesn’t look that long but you feel every last one of those 40 or so seconds. It’s like a harder version of the 400 meters.”
“I’m looking forward to trying to set the school record for long jump,” Kestel said. “And maybe even triple jump and just setting a PR in the 200 meter too. For the long jump I’m going against one of the best in the state (KTN’s Lorig) at regionals this year so I’m working really hard to perfect my form and strength overall. For the triple jump I’m just working on staying on top. Last year was my first season doing it and I went into it with about three or four practices under my belt. As for what it takes, I’d say it took a lot of patience and dedication to get to where I got last year. I really focused on the long jump and it paid off.”
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Finley Hightower country wise email marketing list practices a start at Thunder Mountain Middle School field. Formerly at TM High School, Hightower is one of many athletes now joining the Crimson Bears as the season opens in Kodiak. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé senior Finley Hightower practices a start at Thunder Mountain Middle School field. Formerly at TM High School, Hightower is one of many athletes now joining the Crimson Bears as the season opens in Kodiak. (Klas Stolpe / Juneau Empire)
Some other Crimson Bears returning state competitors include J. Johnson (TM, 100 meters), Kestel (TM, 200), Farr (4×400), sophomore Erik Thompson (TM, 3200), senior Ferguson Wheeler (JD, 300 hurdles) and junior Izzy Martin (JD, discus) among others.
“Senior year,” Hightower said. “I’m looking forward to the 300 (hurdles). It was my main event last year and I want to do good in it this year. I got sixth in the prelims at state last year, so trying to get up there this year. The consolidation has been kind of rough with leadership changes, just some breakup pains you know, but I also ran in cross-country and it was smoother, it will get better…go Falcons…I’ve run against these teammates for years so we know each other.”
Hightower moved to Juneau in seventh grade from Anchorage. He said the 300, “Takes being a little crazy and a lot of grit. I mean if you look from here to there, and see the 10 hurdles, it doesn’t look that long but you feel every last one of those 40 or so seconds. It’s like a harder version of the 400 meters.”