BOYS
Nathan Beamer
Sr. | Arlington
The senior is a standout in track and cross country. He placed second at the 3A state cross country meet this past fall, and finished fifth in the 3,200 and seventh in the 1,600 at last year’s state track meet. His expectations for this spring are to win the state championship in both events.
“Nate is a very hard worker and very competitive and I believe he can accomplish these expectations,” Arlington track coach Judd Hunter said.
Noah Wallace
Jr. | Lake Stevens
Wallace placed fifth in the 800 meters at last year’s 4A state meet. He hopes to run the 1,600 this season as well.
“(He) would be one of our fastest sprinters if we ran him there,” Lake Stevens coach Jeff Page said. “He hopes to place in state in the 1,600 and I’m sure his goal is to be the state champ in the 800, as well as lead our team to another Wesco team title.”
Tim Beard
Sr. | Kamiak
The senior was a state champion in the hammer throw and placed sixth at the 4A state meet in the discus in 2015. This year, Beard is the state leader in the hammer throw and ranked nationally.
“He is looking to repeat his trip to state in the discus and hopefully adding the shot put this year,” Kamiak boys track coach Paul Kirkpatrick said. “And, of course, he is looking to defend his state hammer title.”
Nicholas Blair
Sr. | Everett
Blair finished in the top-five in both the discus and the shot put at last year’s 3A state meet. He hopes to improve on those finishes this season and is off to a good start, having already bettered his shot put mark from a year ago.
“Nick is a great kid, works hard and is a good teammate,” Everett track coach Rachel Zupke said. “He is coachable, positive and an all-around fun kid. His dedication to excel is an awesome example to his peers.”
GIRLS
Chinne Okoronkwo Sr. | Mountlake Terrace
Okoronkwo won 3A state titles in the long jump, triple jump and pole vault in 2015. She recently competed in the New Balance Indoor National Championships, where she won the triple jump with a mark of 42 feet, 11¾ inches. It was a personal best for Okoronkwo and she became Mountlake Terrrace’s first national champion in the sport.
“Chinne is the finest athlete I’ve ever had on any team I’ve coached,” Mountlake Terrace track coach Russ Vincent said. “She has maintained a humble spirit in spite of being a national champion, six-time state champion and more.”
Jordyn Edwards
Sr. | Lynnwood
Edwards won the 400 meters at last year’s 3A state meet and finished fifth in the 200. She also anchored the Royals’ 1600 relay team to a state title. She is a favorite to repeat in the 400 in her senior season.
“Jordyn Edwards is the most talented female sprinter/middle distance runner that I have been fortunate enough to work with in my 50 years of coaching.” Lynnwood coach Duane Lewis said. “Jordyn’s fluid grace on the track is truly hard to equal.”
Madison Yerigan
Sr. | Stanwood
Yerigan, a senior headed to the University of Nebraska, was last year’s 3A state champion in the high jump and finished in the top-three in the 400 meters. She also was last year’s Washington state heptathlon champion.
“She’s a great teammate,” Stanwood track coach Jordan Sneva said. “Her teammates love her on and off (the track). She’s also a great student. She’s got a 4.0 (grade-point average). She brings her ‘A’ game to practice every day and that kind of helps her teammates feed off her positive energy.”
Taylor Roe
Fr. | Lake Stevens
Roe is just a freshman but already has made an impact in cross country and likely will do the same in track. Roe won the 4A girls cross country championship at Kamiak before moving to Lake Stevens over the winter. She hasn’t been with the Vikings long, but already is expected to challenge for several school records.
“Having not seen her compete in a track meet for us yet, I can only comment on what I’ve seen in practice,” Lake Stevens coach Jeff Page said last week. “And from what I’ve seen, she’s a remarkable talent.”
Roe has since competed in a meet against Edmonds-Woodway, winning the 800 meters by more than 17 seconds over the second-place finisher.
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