PREP TRACK: Stanwood freshman throws her way to state

Published 11:10 pm Wednesday, May 20, 2009

SHORELINE — Kaci Jones may have surprised her opponents, but Jones’ success is no shock to her coaches and teammates.

A powerful, confident freshman from Stanwood High School, Jones qualified for the state track and field meet in two throwing events Wednesday, winning the javelin and placing third in the discus during the Class 4A District 1 track and field championships at Shoreline Stadium.

Jones is an all-around hard worker who has honed her technique since early grade school, Stanwood coach Jordan Sneva said: “She’s on her way to becoming one of the best throwers around and in the history of Stanwood High School. We’ve known about her for a long time.”

Jones started throwing in second grade and has steadily gotten better. She also plays volleyball but cherishes the solo aspect of track and field. “I love that it’s individual and everything is on you,” said Jones. “You have to train yourself and work hard and it’s all on you. You don’t have to depend on a team.”

In the javelin, Jones and Marysville-Pilchuck senior Jenna Welsh tied for first with top throws of 125 feet, 9 inches. But Jones won the tiebreaker because her second-longest toss (125-2) was better than Welsh’s (119-3).

In the discus, Jones snared the third and final state berth. She finished behind winner Brittany Jones of Cascade (135-7) and Kamiak’s Emily Anderberg.

Stanwood’s Jones scored 20 points in her two events, helping the Spartans (42 points) take a commanding lead over Cascade (26) in the girls team standings. The top three finishers in each district event qualify for the state meet next week in Tacoma. The two-day district championships conclude Friday with the rest of the field finals and most of the track finals, which were set up by Wednesday’s prelims.

Stanwood’s Jones will compete in the shot put Friday and is expected to contend for yet another state berth.

On the track, Jackson distance standout Alison Ponce added another impressive run to her stellar spring. The senior surged to a victory Wednesday in the 3,200-meter run and demolished the meet record. Her time of 10 minutes, 53.81 seconds was more than 8 seconds faster than the old record, set by Snohomish’s Kara Sporrong in 2005.

Cascade’s Jones, the discus champ, will compete in the shot put Friday. Last year she went to state in both events. After enduring frustration earlier this season because she was unhappy with her marks, Jones has “all the confidence in the world” now, Cascade coach Chris Crockett said.

“She’s relaxing,” he said, “and she’s having fun.”

Oak Harbor’s Shantae Young (long jump) was also a winner. She prevailed with a distance of 17-6.25.

At Shoreline Stadium

Girls team scores through first day (meet concludes Friday): 1. Stanwood 42 points, 2. Cascade 26, 3. Mountlake Terrace 22, 4. Arlington 17, 5. Marysville-Pilchuck 16, 6. Jackson 15, 7. Snohomish 13, Tie-8. Oak Harbor, Kamiak 12, 10. Edmonds-Woodway 5, 11. Lake Stevens 4.

State qualifiers from Wednesday finals (go to Athletic.net for complete results)

3,200-1. Alison Ponce (Jackson) 10:53.81*, 2. Minna Fields (Stanwood) 11:01.6, 3. Breanna Huschka (Cascade) 11:06.57; Discus-1. Brittany Jones (Cascade) 135-7, 2. Emily Anderberg (Kamiak) 119-4, 3. Kaci Jones (Stanwood) 112-8; Javelin-1. Kaci Jones (Stanwood) 125-9, 2. Jenna Welsh (Marysville-Pilchuck) 125-9, 3. Stephanie Van Slageren (Arlington) 122-5; Long jump-1. Shantae Young (Oak Harbor) 17-6.25, 2. Jenna Donohue (Mountlake Terrace) 16-11, 3. Titi Chikoore (Mountlake Terrace) 16-10.75.

*Meet record.

Mike Cane: 425-339-3471, mcane@heraldnet.com. Check out the prep sports blog Double Team at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/doubleteam.