Published: Thursday, May 15, 2008
PREP 2A GIRLS TRACK: S. Whidbey's Calderwood wins triple jump title
By Nick Patterson Herald Writer
DUVALL -- Cayla Calderwood was staring disaster right in the face.
The South Whidbey sophomore, one of the premier leapers at the Class 2A Northwest District 1 girls track and field meet, wrenched her back on her second attempt during Wednesday's triple jump competition. As a result, the top seed in both the triple jump and the high jump was in danger of missing out on the state meet all together.
However, Calderwood dug deep and found the reserves necessary to claim her first district title.
Calderwood overcame her injury to leap 35 feet and win the triple jump to highlight the first day of the district meet, held at Cedarcrest High School.
"It's exciting," Calderwood said about her first district title. "Actually, this will sound a little bit weird, but I was pretty disappointed because I hurt my back, so I was just trying to fight through it. It turned out being good enough."
Calderwood also finished second in the high jump, making her the only Cascade Conference athlete to qualify for state in multiple events Wednesday.
A total of four events were completed during Wednesday's opening day. Sehome took the early lead in the team competition with 32.5 points, with the Calderwood-led Falcons sitting in second with 22. The meet concludes Friday.
Calderwood was feeling strong early in the day, having a personal best in the triple jump nullified by a scratch on her first attempt. However, trouble came on the second attempt.
"It's been hurting me since Monday a little bit," Calderwood said of her back. "I came out really strong on my first jump, but I scratched it. Then on my second jump I was coming out with my first foot and didn't get it up and around enough, so it just twisted."
However, Calderwood later managed to grab the lead. Then she anxiously passed on the remainder of her jumps, diligently checking her position following each round.
With the drizzly weather keeping everyone's distances down, Calderwood was able to prevail despite jumping more than a foot shorter than her personal best.
A handful of other Cascade Conference competitors also finished in the top four to qualify for state:
n In the 3,200 meters, Lakewood's Sarah Dunn finished second (11 minutes, 21.94 seconds) and Cedarcrest's Brenna Eldredge finished fourth (11:37.94).
n In the discus, Lakewood's Tawnya Hulslander took second with a toss of 119-7.
n And joining Calderwood at state in the triple jump were Cedarcrest's Bre Decker (third at 34-6.25) and Archbishop Murphy's Lauren Moran (fourth at 34-1.75).
At Cedarcrest High School
Team scores (through four events) -- Sehome 32.5, South Whidbey 22, Bellingham 20.5, Lakewood 18, Burlington-Edison 17.5, Cedarcrest 14, Anacortes 10, Blaine 9, Archbishop Murphy 7.5, Mount Baker 3, Sultan 1, Granite Falls 1. 3,200 -- Moore (Sehome) 11:14.90; Discus -- Hammond (Anacortes) 135-4; High jump -- Nordlund (Burlington-Edison) 5-1; Triple jump -- Calderwood (South Whidbey) 35-0.
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