Alaska Cross-Country Skiing Championships Kick Off

Top high school skiers from across the state compete in 5K freestyle races

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

The Alaska high school cross-country skiing state championships opened on Thursday, February 19, 2026, with 5-kilometer freestyle races at the Government Peak Recreation Area in Palmer. Top skiers from schools across the state, including East's Adele Hayes, Juneau-Douglas' Kaia Mangaccat, and Lathrop's Anna Stringfellow, competed in the event.

Why it matters

Cross-country skiing is a popular winter sport in Alaska, with high school teams from around the state competing for state titles each year. The annual championships showcase the state's top young talent and help drive interest and participation in the sport.

The details

The cross-country skiing state championships featured 5K freestyle races, with skiers from high schools across Alaska competing. Some of the top finishers included Adele Hayes from East High School, Kaia Mangaccat from Juneau-Douglas High School, and Anna Stringfellow from Lathrop High School.

  • The cross-country skiing state championships opened on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
  • The 5-kilometer freestyle races took place at the Government Peak Recreation Area in Palmer.

The players

Adele Hayes

A skier from East High School who competed in the cross-country skiing state championships.

Kaia Mangaccat

A skier from Juneau-Douglas High School who competed in the cross-country skiing state championships.

Anna Stringfellow

A skier from Lathrop High School who competed in the cross-country skiing state championships.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

The takeaway

The annual Alaska high school cross-country skiing championships showcase the state's top young talent and help drive interest and participation in the sport, which is a popular winter activity in the state.