The stars come out for Pasco

Apr 14, 2006

By Sandy Ringer

Seattle Times staff reporter

Jessica Pixler of Eastlake is part of a sizzling field in the girls 1,600 meters, which looks to be the premier event in the 45th annual Pasco Invitational track-and-field meet Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium.

The event features the top five girls in the state, according to season-best times thus far. Pixler, a senior who placed third at the Class 4A state meet behind two Bellarmine Prep standouts, is seeded second behind senior Megan O\'Reilly of Mount Spokane. O\'Reilly, fifth at state last year, has run a state-best 4 minutes, 49.42 seconds to Pixler\'s 4:57.83.

Katrina Drennen of Sumner, who has gone 5:02.3 this year and has a career best of 4:59.9, is next in line, followed by Chelsea VanDeBrake from Eisenhower of Yakima (5:05.66 season, 5:05.5.5 career) and Jane Larson of Cedar Park Christian (5:06 season, 5:05.6 career).

Larson, the reigning Class 2A state champion in the 1,600 and 3,200, won last year\'s race ahead of Bellevue\'s Kelsey Walker, who is also scheduled to compete.

The meet has drawn 1,612 entries from 112 schools, making it the largest single-day high-school meet in the nation.

Junior Devin Brooks of Holy Names will be back trying to defend her Pasco title in the 100 hurdles, while Everett senior Cori Moore seeks a third consecutive title in the girls 800. Moore comes in with a state-leading 2:17.3, but has a personal best of 2:11.6. Pixler (2.17.6 season, 2:17.0 career) is also entered.

On the boys side, the shot put should be a showdown between Cameron Elisara of Ferris (62 feet, 5 inches) and Korian Morris of Renton (61-1). Elisara won the 4A state title last year, while Morris is the defending 3A state champion in both the shot and discus, where he is seeded No. 1 based on last year\'s career-best 195-3.

Trent Arrivey of Woodinville is top-seeded in the high jump with his career-best 6-9. He already has gone 6-7 this season. Shorecrest\'s Jesse Hoffman ranks No. 1 in the long jump (career-best 22-11 ¼).

J.J. Jackson of Sumner, who hopes to win both hurdle events at the 4A state meet next month, is entered in those two races and will go up against Kamiakin\'s Kyle Schauble, the state leader in both.

Attrail Snipes of Rainier Beach, who won the 200 here last year, is entered in the 100 and 400. He is the defending 3A state champion in the 400.