By Chris Trujillo
Herald Writer
SULTAN – Just in case her competitors forgot about her, South Whidbey runner Sandy Gabellein made sure to leave behind a lasting reminder of her talent.
That was 20 years ago and no one since has been able to match her record-setting time of 5:14.2 in the 1,600-meter run.
At least no one had until Friday’s 2A Northwest District track and field meet held in Sultan.
Mount Baker senior Krishnek Bobeya led three other competitors in shattering Gabellein’s 20-year-old record. Bobeya finished first in the event with a time of 5:09 – 5.1 seconds faster than Gabellein’s time. Meridian’s Kira Harrison finished second (5:10.1), Mount Baker’s Kristen Rohde finished third (5:11.5) and South Whidbey’s Karen Schwager completed the race fourth.
“I was kind of shocked that I beat the record,” said Bobeya, who returns to the state meet for the fourth consecutive season. She finished third in the 3,200 in each of the first three years. Last year, she finished 11th in the 1,600.
“The air was dry. And that’s a bad thing. There’s nothing in your throat. And you get really thirsty right away.”
The top three competitors and any one meeting the state standard time advance to next week’s state meet. Schwager became the first fourth-place competitor to advance to the state meet after beating the state time of 5:20.96 by six seconds with a time of 5:14.2. Her mark tied Gabellein’s mark set in 1982.
“I was so scared because I knew I was in fourth place and fourth doesn’t get you to the state meet,” Schwager said. “But I am so excited that I tied the record. It felt like we were running at a fast rate. I am so happy.”
Schwager also qualified for the state meet in the 3,200 after finishing behind winner Krishnek, who won with a time of 11:21.29.
Amber Nash led Lakewood with a first-place finish in the 300 hurdles and a second-place finish in the 100. South Whidbey’s Katy McGillen qualified for state after winning the 100 hurdles and the high jump. She finished second in the long jump.
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