Lyndsey Leatherman
Javelin, Shot put, Discus | Sr. | Arlington
Leatherman has placed at state in all three previous years of her high-school career. At last year’s track state championships she placed third in javelin, shot put and discus respectively.
This year as a senior, Leatherman’s goal is to win the state championship in all three events, something her coach Judd Hunter said is a real possibility.
“Lyndsey is a strong young lady that is super-competitive,” Hunter said. “She doesn’t like to come up short in competition. She works hard on and off the track to meet her expectations and her family is very supportive of her chasing her dreams.”
Kaleb Dobson
Hurdles, Long jump | Sr. | Cascade
Dobson, also a star wide receiver on the football team, was a state competitor as a junior in several events, and finished eighth in the 300 hurdles and 16th in the long jump.
In his final year at Cascade, Dobson will be looking to improve on those finishes this year.
Cascade head coach Christopher Crockett said Dobson is a leader and sets a great example for his teammates with his work ethic.
“His determination drive and perseverance will lead him over hurdles on the track and in life,” Crockett said. “The legacy he will leave here at Cascade will be known for years to come.”
Mikayla Pivec
800, 1,600, 3,200, Javelin | So. | Lynnwood
Much like she did in basketball, Pivec had an immediate impact on the Lynnwood track team last season as a freshman. She is a top-10 returner in the 800, 1600, 3200 and javelin this season.
In her first year of high school she set Lynnwood school records in the 800, 1600 and javelin and recorded the second-best javelin throw in the U.S. among freshman according to her coach Duane Lewis. She ultimately placed sixth at state in the 3200 and ninth in the javelin.
One of her goals this season is to break the school-record in the 3200 held by her distance coach at Lynnwood Stephanie Tastad.
Chinne Okoronkwo
Triple jump, Pole vault, Long jump | So. | Mountlake Terrace
As a freshman, Okoronkwo found great success. She was the 3A state champion in the triple jump, runner-up in the pole vault and finished sixth in the long jump.
Okoronkwo wasn’t the only one in her family to win a state title at last year’s state championships. Her older brother Gifton was the boys 3A triple jump champion.
In her sophomore season, Okoronkwo will be looking to repeat as the triple jump champion and improve on her performances in the pole vault and long jump. She also competes in the high jump for the Hawks.
Okoronkwo, who was selected as part of a national triple-jump project designed to improve United States triple jumpers, has lofty goals of winning a national championship and one day competing in the Olympics.
Andrew Stich
Hurdles, Javelin | Sr. | Lakewood
Stich is an accomplished hurdler for the Cougars that finished seventh in the 300 hurdles at last year’s state championships. As a senior, Stich will be looking to improve on that performance this season.
“Andrew is incredibly motivated and driven,” Lakewood head coach Jeff Sowards said. “This winter his preparation was incredible. He sometimes did his work alone and to be able to prepare for such a high-level of performance is a testament to his focus on his goals.”
Stich also competed in the State Decathlon Championships last spring placing 11th.
Sowards also credited Stich for being a team player and said he is “quick to make sure his training partners are excelling too. That leadership will be an asset to the Cougars as they look to repeat as Cascade Conference champions.
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