PREP 4A GIRLS TRACK: Monroe’s Brennan sets school record in javelin
Published 10:18 pm Wednesday, May 14, 2008
EVERETT — A little bit of balance made a huge difference for Kelsey Brennan.
On her second of three throws in the district javelin finals, the senior from Monroe High School nearly stepped too far during her follow through. It would have been a scratch, disqualifying her toss.
“Oh man, stay back! Don’t fall forward,” Brennan said she was thinking at the time.
She maintained her stability, so the throw counted. And what a throw it was.
Brennan broke her school record by a foot Wednesday, launching the javelin 136 feet, 8 inches. It was easily enough to make her the javelin champion during day one of the Class 4A Northwest District Girls Track and Field Championship Meet at Everett Memorial Stadium.
It was a busy day for Brennan, who placed second in the discus with a top throw of 116-7. She qualified for next week’s 4A state championships in both events.
The top three finishers in each individual event and the top three relay teams qualify for the state meet May 23-24 in Pasco. The district meet concludes Friday. Field events begin at 5 p.m. and track events start at 6 p.m.
Immediately after heaving her best javelin throw, which traveled more than 12 feet further than the No. 2 finisher’s top effort, Brennan jogged to the discus area. The events occurred simultaneously so she repeatedly shuffled back and forth. It was more exciting than just sitting around, she said.
“I like it. It keeps your adrenaline going,” said Brennan, who is seeded sixth for Friday’s shot put competition.
The state javelin runnerup last year, Brennan said she hopes to win it this season. Through last week she was ranked No. 1 in 4A. The 2007 winner (Brittany Aanstad of Lake Stevens) graduated.
Brennan is a first-time state qualifier in the discus, an event she first tried late last season. Javelin remains her passion.
“It’s my favorite — always has been,” Brennan said.
Later in the evening one of Brennan’s teammates used a come-from-behind effort to earn a trip to the state meet.
Monroe’s Lyndy Davis was in fourth place — and in danger of not advancing — with about 200 meters to go in the 3,200-meter run. But she powered through the final turn, passed the other three runners in the lead pack and won in a season-best time of 11:04.62.
“I’m winning this,” Davis said of her mindset when things looked bad during the last lap. “I had to. I knew I had it in me.”
Other girls event winners were Cascade’s Brittany Jones (discus), Snohomish’s Jessica Yates (long jump) and Marysville-Pilchuck’s Robin Mueller (pole vault). Jones and Yates were both seeded No. 1 in their respective events.
Mueller cleared 10 feet in her first attempt and led a rare 1-2-3 sweep by M-P in pole vault. Michaela Caldwell (second place) and Sarah Clark (third place) also vaulted the same height for the Tomahawks. Their order of finish was determined by who had fewer failed attempts at 10 feet.
Northwest District 4A Track and Field
At Everett Memorial Stadium
Team scores: 1. Marysville-Pilchuck 48, 2. Snohomish 47, 3. Monroe 34, 4 Stanwood 26, 5. Jackson 25, 6. Mountlake Terrace 22, 7. Cascade 16, Tie-8. Lake Stevens and Kamiak 4, 10. Shorewood 3, 11. Edmonds-Woodway 1.
State meet qualifiers from Wednesday finals (district meet concludes Friday)
3,200 — 1. Davis (Mon) 11:04.62, 2. Bonner (Sno) 11:05.06, 3. Verma (Stan) 11:06.11.
Javelin — 1. Brennan (Mon) 136-8, 2. Hovick (MT) 124-6, 3. Welsh (M-P) 120-10.
Discus — 1. Jones (Casc) 122-6, 2. Brennan (Mon) 116-7, 3. Gatterman (Sno) 113-0.
Long jump — 1. Yates (Sno) 18-0, 2. Sam (Jack) 16-10, 3. Donohue (MT) 16-9.5.
Pole vault — 1. Mueller (M-P) 10-0, 2. Caldwell (M-P) 10-0, 3. Sarah Clark (M-P) 10-0.
Writer Mike Cane: mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.
