Review of the Top Marks from Richland

Although it was early in the season the meet offered some fine marks to go with some quality competition.   Probably the single best event of the day was the  boys’  3200 Meter  Run, which Anthony Armstrong of Kamiakin defeat Aaron Nelson  of Walla Walla.  Armstrong’s time of 9:23.0 is the best time of the season in Washington so far, yet he barely nipped Nelson, who ran 9:24.  Josh Paul Wolpert, also from Walla Walla, came home third in 9:42 to notch the fifth fastest time of the year.   The girls’ version of the event found Katie Mahoney of Richland win with a time of  11:40.2, as she defeated Stephanie Rexus of Kamiakin (11:44.32) & Rachel Nelson (12:04.24) of Walla Walla.

     The girls’ 1600 Meter Run also had a quality field, which was shown in the results.   Mead’s Baylee Mires continued her fine form from the indoor season, when she cruised home with a time of 5:10.00, which is the state’s fifth best mark thus far.  Not far behind Mires were Maggie Jones of Richland (5:14.00) & Erin Hegarty of Richland (5:15), whose times are 8th (tie) & 10th in Washington respectively.  Andrew Gardner of Mead scored in the guys’ 1600M by running 4:27.0.   Anthony Armstrong (4:32) & Cayle Turner (4:33) of Richland followed in the event.

      Lauren Perry of Richland stole the show in the girls’ 800 Meters by storming home alone in 2:17.40, which tops the state.   Allison Gladhart (2:26) of Deer Park & Kailiee Davisson (2:26) of Walla Walla earned second & third.   Taylor Howland of Mead came home in 1:509.0 to win the boys’ 800 Meter, while Andrew Gardner (2:01) & Aaron Smith (2:05) of Southridge claimed the next two places.

     Gunnar Kayser of Mead annexed the 400M title with a time of 52.8:  the tenth best time in the state and in so doing bested Shakeen Lakes (53.4) of Richland & Brian Rathbone (53.5) of Hanford trailed Kayser.   Ellie Heiden of Kamiakin scored in the girls’ 400M with her time of 60.2.  Angelique Whitstockin (62.7) & Kylie Drynaan of Mead (62.7) came home essentially together to take 2nd & 3rd.     Blake Gerling of Walla Walla & Josh Hawes of Hanford both earned a share of the 200 meter title with their time of 23.0.  Walla Walla’s Kailee Davisson scored in her second event and this time was the winner, when she was clocked in 27.30 in the 200M.  Alyssa Power (27.4) was barely edged at th wire & her second place time was 27.40.

     Evan Maack of Mead was victorious in the 100M with a solid 11.00, while Jonah Hoc of Walla Walla was not far behind with his time of 11.30.   The girls 100M triumph was shared by Alyssa Powell of Richland, Kylie Fraga of Southridge & Malia Maack of Mead, who were all credited with a time of 12.80.   Sadie Sparks of Chiawana & Andrea Smith shared first in the 100M hurdles (then 2nd in Washington), while the guys’ edition went to Blake Gerling of Walla Walla.  That time tied him for 4th in the state.    Mike Smith of Mead & Bodie Simpson of Kennewick were both clocked in 41.10 to end up sharing the 300M Hurdles title as well as 8th in the state.   Melanie Valdez of Chiawana won a close race against Shelby Court (49.20) of Hanford & Emma Kost (49.50) of Mead.   Valdez was timed in 48.10.

     Elizabeth Quick of Richland moved into a state tie for second place, when she claimed the high jump with  5-06.00.  Veronica Bradley was successful at the same height but had more misses to finish second in the meet.   Southridge’s Chris Hauester of Southridge took the boys’ high jump with a leap of 6-00.  A vault of 13-00 by Mead’s  Jared Wehde and the combination of fewer missus led to victory over his team mate Michael Green.    The top three in the girls’ pole vault all achieved 13-00 but the victory went to Elizabeth Quick.  Bailee Jacka of Dear Park & Elizabeth Ennis of Mead earned 2nd & 3rd.    Andrea Smith of Southridge triumphed in the  Long Jump with 16-08.5 to easily claim that event.  The girls’ Triple Jump was a very close event, as Erica Floyd of Southridge leaped 33-11.00, yet did not have a lot to spare in comparison with Jade Redmon (33-07.0) of Mead & Torrin Crawford of Walla Walla (33-02).  

     Shakeem Lakes of Richland barely missed moving into the state top ten in the Triple Jump with his winning effort of 41-08.50.   Not far behind in the event was Jon Peckham of Mead (41-03.50.  In the discus Seth Regalado of Mead was the leader with 145-10 & Dennis Christiansen of Richland was second with 143-07.   For the girls it was Sydney Christiansen of Walla Wall, who scored with 118-09.  Mead’s Courtney Hutchinson went 36-06.5 to earn top billing over Kaylin Coleman (34-09) of Kennewick & Ariana Baloeras (32-05) of Chiawana.   Matt Ellmore of Mead was the only guy to break the barrier of fifty, which put him 1-01 ahead of Dan Hughes (49-05) of Chiawana. 

   Maureen Mills won the girls’ javelin with 118-07 to easily distance the field.  The young men’s javelin saw a number of fine scores, which were lead by the  176-01 of Sam Hilnes of Mead.  Hanford’s Cameron Wagner (163-05) took second while Chris Wright (156006) & Jaden Espinosa (155-07) garnered the next two places.