Two Snohomish girls accept scholarships
Published 3:43 pm Monday, March 10, 2008
As their final prep track season begins, Jessica Yates and Ellie Bonner don’t know how the spring will unfold. But they are certain about who they’ll compete for at the next level.
Yates and Bonner, senior teammates on the Snohomish High School track and field team, have both formally accepted track scholarships from Pac-10 Conference programs.
Yates, a jumper, signed an NCAA National Letter of Intent with Washington State University, and Bonner, a distance runner, signed with the University of Washington.
Yates participated in three events at the 2007 Class 4A state championships, placing second in the triple jump with a mark of 37 feet, 10.25 inches. She also placed eighth in the long jump.
Last month Yates competed in a meet hosted by Washington State and set a personal record in the triple jump. Her winning distance of 39 feet, 8 inches Feb. 23 in Pullman demolished her previous best (38-10) and ranks No. 2 on the state’s all-time high school list, according to Washington Track Weekly.
Yates, who didn’t play basketball this school year and instead focused on honing her jump technique, also had a personal-best long jump at the WSU event. Her 17-9 jump topped her old record by 4 inches.
Meanwhile, Snohomish’s Bonner enters the track season as one of Washington’s best distance runners. This past fall she finished 12th at the 4A girls state cross country championships. This past May she was 11th in the 4A 3,200-meter final.
Another Wesco all-star hoops event
Local basketball fans have another chance to watch many of the area’s best players next week. The Wesco North vs. South High School Senior All-Star Games are March 19 at Jackson High. The girls game starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by the boys game at 8:15 p.m. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for youths. Organized by Meadowdale girls basketball coach Dan Taylor, the games will feature boys and girls who earned All-Wesco honors this past season. For team rosters and coaches, go to The Herald’s prep sports blog, Double Team, at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
Meadowdale’s Jones on 3A all-tourney team
Eryn Jones, a senior guard from Meadowdale, was named to the 3A girls basketball all-tournament first team. Jones, a Portland State University recruit, averaged 19.2 points (first among tourney players), 5.5 assists (second) and 8.2 rebounds (fifth) in four games last week at the 3A state tourney in Seattle. She helped Meadowdale go 3-1 and win the fifth-place trophy. Jones also averaged 4.0 steals, which tied her for second-most, and made 28 of 31 free throws (90.3 percent).
Hillestad resigns
Marc Hillestad resigned after 13 years as head coach of the Cedarcrest girls basketball team. Hillestad, who took over a program that had lost 30 consecutive games, according to a school press release, was twice named conference coach of the year. This past season Cedarcrest was 7-7 in Cascade Conference contests, 11-12 overall and advanced to the 2A District 1 tourney.
Mike Cane, Herald Writer
