SNOHOMISH – For the past two years, the Lake Stevens Vikings boys track and field team has had to stand on the outside and look up at their girls team standing atop the winner’s podium.
This year, though, was a different story.
The Vikings dominated the Wesco North track meet, winning by 81.4 points over Snohomish and Cascade. This time they were able to stand alongside the girls team as both held up their championship trophies.
“They were really hungry,” Lake Stevens head coach Jeff Page said. “They’ve been watching the girls be up here the last couple of years. They really wanted it.”
Page said that winning the divisional championship had been a season-long goal.
“It’s been a lot of fun this year. It’s been a goal, something we’ve been talking about all season long and really nice to be able to do it.”
“They knew coming into the season they had more talent then they had in past years past. They kept getting better and better and it’s been a lot of fun being around because it’s been so exciting for them.”
Led by two victories each by Ashtin Mott, Logan Harding and Joey Bywater, the Vikings were able to cruise to their first Wesco North championship since 2000.
“Mott had a great night winning three events,” Page said.
The junior sprinter won the 100- and 200-meter dashes, setting a personal record in the 100, and also helped the 1,600 relay team to victory.
“Looks like we’re top dogs this year,” said Mott.
While Mott was sprinting to his wins, Bywater was cruising to his.
The distance runner took first in the 1,600 on Wednesday, then convincingly won the 3,200 by 22 seconds.
The Vikings third individual, two-event winner was thrower Logan Harding. Harding took first in the discus and javelin and finished fourth in the 110 hurdles.
Snohomish’s Nick Mundell delighted the hometown crowd, setting personal records in the 110 and 300 hurdles while finishing first in both events.
“Today was a great day! I was really worried about the weather but the sun came out and our guys did really well,” Mundell said. “I’ve been waiting four years to break these records, and doing it today in my last year is great.”
The 4A District Championships will begin Wednesday at Stanwood High School.
The top 13 athletes in each event qualify for district with the winners in each race getting an automatic berth in the finals.
At Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium
Team scores-Lake Stevens 202, Cascade 120.6, Snohomish 120.6, Stanwood 90.2, Oak Harbor 63, Monroe 56, Marysville-Pilchuck 50.6, Mount Vernon 40, Arlington 38.
110 hurdles-Mundell (Sno) 15.19; 100-Mott (LS) 11.0; 1,600-Bywater (LS) 4:18.17*; 400 relay-Cascade (Curran, Williams, Pierre, Sepe) 43.06; 400-Teichgrab (Stan) 50.11; 300 hurdles-Mundell (S) 39.75; 800-Roberts (Stan) 1:56.00; 200-Mott (LS) 22.22; 3,200-Bywater (LS) 9:27.86; 1,600 relay-Lake Stevens (Mott, Driscoll, Fountain, McMurray) 3:27.89; Javelin-Harding (LS) 175-10; Discus-Harding (LS) 158-09; Triple jump-Jordan (MV) 45-0; Shot put-Elder (LS) 51-07.25; High jump-Rumble (OH) 6-01; Long jump-Pierre (C) 22-03; Pole vault-Bradshaw (C) 14-06.
*Finals completed on Wednesday.
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