The Battle for Everett superiority

The annual Everett School District track and field meet, also known as the Everett City Championships, is today. Boys and girls from Cascade, Everett and Jackson will get started at 4 p.m. at Everett Memorial Stadium.

On the line, of course, are city bragging rights. This year a format change makes the meet more meaningful: Coaches agreed to combine the boys and girls team scores of each school to crown a true city champion, Everett boys track coach Doug Hall said.

Another unique quirk: The meet’s final event will be a co-ed 4-by-400-meter relay.

To me, the most intriguing event will be the boys 400 (4-by-100) relay. Cascade and Everett are both ranked among the top five in the state, according to Athletic.net.

Cascade's team - Paul Heer, Derek Sepe, Julian Willis and Lorne Bridgford - is No. 2 with a season-best time of 42.86 seconds. Everett is fifth (43.19). The Seagulls' runners are J Hopkins, Rendel Jones, Nick Thomas and Joe Giesick.

Maybe the city rivalry can push the squads to a state-best time. The current leader is Todd Beamer (42.74).