By Aaron Coe
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH – Those Waterhouse girls like to make things interesting.
Snohomish long jumping sisters Katelyn and Courtney Waterhouse both leapt a meet-best 17 feet, 1 inch at Wednesday’s Western Conference North Division competition.
Courtney Waterhouse, a sophomore, continued the family tradition of waiting until the last possible attempt for a great jump. On her final leap, she tied her senior sister, who struggled at the state meet last year before making the finals and ultimately placing fifth.
They admit to a small amount of sibling rivalry, but were happy with the 1-2 finish on their home field, Snohomish’s Veterans Memorial Stadium.
The senior proved she is not quite ready to pass the torch to her younger sister. Katelyn Waterhouse won the long jump because her second-best jump was better than that of her sister, who set a new personal best.
“We’re close,” Katelyn Waterhouse said. “We felt we had the potential to do this. We’ve been jumping well all year. We push each other.”
For the sophomore, the pressure was off on her final attempt because she has already assured herself of a berth in next week’s District I meet.
“I knew I was going to district, but I really want to (set a personal record),” Courtney Waterhouse said. “It was pretty cool.”
Four event finals were contested on Wednesday with the remaining 14 scheduled for Friday at Snohomish. The top four finishers in each event qualified for the district meet, which will be held at Stanwood High School next Wednesday and Friday.
Emily Kling gave Snohomish a 1-2-3 finish in the long jump. She led the event for a while after leaping 16-8.75, before the Waterhouses typical last-minute heroics. All three will compete in Friday’s triple jump.
It may not have been Lucy Miller’s best race, but she managed to lead the 3,200-meters from start to finish. Miller, who finished second at the 2001 state meet in 10 minutes, 48.70 seconds behind a record-breaking performance from Enumclaw’s Alison Tubbs, did what it took to win on Wednesday. Lake Stevens’ Amber Nickelson breathed down her neck the entire way, but Miller held her off and finished in 11:31.57.
Miller, a soccer player who freely admits that she’s not entirely fond of running, also finished second in an 800 heat to qualify for Friday’s final.
“I’m not real crazy about running eight laps,” said Miller, who is running the 800 only to help the Snohomish team earn more points. “I went out a little slow today because I’d just run in the 800.”
Stanwood’s Michelle Handlesman won the discus with a throw of 123-6. Marysville-Pilchuck’s Sarah Smith threw the javelin 117 feet for victory.
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