SNOHOMISH — After a rebound year in 2022, the 33rd annual Eason Invitational was back in town for the second consecutive year at the Veterans Memorial Stadium, and it one-upped itself in a major way.
With meet entries from 90 schools, the highly-anticipated track meet succeeded last year’s 57, putting it fully back on the map as local athletes fared well against a talent-packed field from across the Pacific Northwest.
Here’s a look into Saturday’s top local storylines:
KAMIAK SENIOR BREAKS THROUGH TO SWEEP GIRLS HURDLE EVENTS
Kalia Estes was motivated to come back and make a name for herself at the 2023 Eason Invite as a hurdler, and she checked those goals off her list.
Estes placed fifth in the 100-meter hurdles and second in the 300-meter hurdles in at the Eason in 2022. This season, she gets to nail up first-place ribbons for both.
She ran the 100 hurdles in 15.29 seconds and the 300 in 45.14, which was 1.67 seconds faster than her time the previous go-around when she finished second and .11 seconds off of first. She was also a part of the Knights’ second-place finish in the 4×400 relay along with Annabelle Heiman, Natalie Roberts and Emma Barrett as Kamiak placed second in overall team scoring (47 points).
“This was such a great meet,” Estes said. “I wasn’t sure how it was gonna go. Last year, it was a crazy experience for me because it was my first year of track, so it was great to be back and see some familiar faces. I think with big meets like this, it’s always a great experience to get new PRs and meet a lot of cool people. It’s always great to win going up against good competitors.”
SNOHOMISH GETS A HOMETOWN VICTORY IN BOYS 400
Senior Panther Avery Keith rose to the occasion in the 400-meter dash, finishing in 49.44 seconds, which succeeded his ultimate goal coming into the event. He didn’t place in 2022.
Keith, a Division-III Puget Sound University commit, also contributed to the Panthers’ 4×400 relay team with Kai Yoder, Brendan Cross and Parker Jackson, which nabbed a first-place mark of 3:26.71.
“I’ve wanted to win this race for so long,” Keith said. “It was a tough two years where we didn’t have it with COVID, so this was a huge goal of mine to make it this far. I was hoping to get it under 50 (seconds) and that would be a major PR, and I ended up beating that. I’m really happy with my time, and I’d love to keep it going at state.”
Snohomish’s Avery Keith wins the 400m boys finals during the Eason Invitational at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Snohomish, Washington on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
GLACIER PEAK, MARYSVILLE PILCHUCK SCRATCH SURFACE IN GIRLS SHOT PUT
Local schools ended up with three names in the top six for girls shot put.
Bothell senior Haedyn Bambolo, an Arizona signee, set the bar high with her first-place mark of 46 feet, a spot that was nearly 8 feet further than any other thrower on Saturday.
Marysville Pilchuck junior Gianna Frank came through with a personal-best, garnering second at 38 feet, 3.5 inches, while Grizzlies sophomore Madison McCallum took third (35-02). Fellow GP teammate Lesieli Fifita, a senior, finished sixth at 34-03.
“Getting to see two girls in the finals was great for us,” Glacier Peak coach Becki Duhamel said. “It’s a really big confidence booster and I think it puts a lot behind them going into our district championship meet. It’s (also) important for the kids to see those big marks, so they see where they can go.”
OTHER NOTABLE PLACERS
— Meadowdale senior Tresley Love placed first in the girls 400 for the second straight year, boasting a time of 57.75 seconds. She was the Class 3A state title winner in 2022.
— Everett junior Shukurani Ndayiraglje took second in the boys high jump (6 feet, 4 inches), falling to Kennedy Catholic sophomore Geron White who cleared 6-foot-8. Ndayiraglje also placed sixth in the long jump (21-03.0).
Everett’s Shukurani Ndayiraglje performs the high jump during the Eason Invitational at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Snohomish, Washington on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
— Stanwood junior Grace Crain brought in a second-place finish in girls javelin, throwing 118 feet. Snohomish junior Ellie Wetmore took fifth with a 110-04 mark.
— Snohomish sophomore Baella Stich placed second in the girls long jump with a 17-06.25 mark while Oregon City senior Sophia Beckmon launched herself 21 feet, 4.25 inches, which set a national leading mark. Stich also earned seventh in the 400 (1:00.20).
— The Kamiak boys distance-medley crew of Max Kaduce, Jaedyn Chase, Mason Hammons and Will Lesyna took first place with a time of 11:03.57.
TEAM SCORES
Boys top five: Kentridge (44 points), Sehome (37 points), Eastside Catholic (35 points), Oregon City (28 points), Kamiak (25 points).
Girls top five: Oregon City (68), Kamiak (47), Stanwood (37.5), Snohomish (35), Bothell (34).
Stanwood’s Abigail Danielson wins heat four of the girls 100m hurdles prelims during the Eason Invitational at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Snohomish, Washington on Saturday, April 22, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
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