Pater’s sprints help L. Stevens claim title

By Aaron Coe

Herald Writer

BELLINGHAM – The victories just keep coming for Lake Stevens sprinter Tanya Pater.

No one was even close to Pater as she easily won the 100- and 200-meter runs Friday at the 3A Northwest District meet in Bellingham Civic Stadium.

Her dominance and the contributions of a very deep Lake Stevens team led the Vikings to an easy team victory.

“We all just go out and do our best, and the points just add up,” Pater said. “It feels really good.”

As easy as her individual races were, Pater had her work cut out for her as she began the anchor legs of the Lake Stevens 800 and 1,600 relay races.

In both events, Pater faced a 10-meter deficit against the front-runners. Both times, Pater made up the distance and more to lead the Vikings to first-place finishes.

Because of a strong headwind, Pater’s times were not her best, as was the case with most runners Friday. But, Pater made it clear by her performance on the track that she will be one of the sprinters to beat at the state meet next week.

The top three finishers in each event Wednesday and Friday qualified for next week’s state meet at the Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma.

“I’ve still got a lot of work to do,” said Pater, who placed in both events at state last spring. “It’ll be interesting. There are several of us that are running about the same times.”

Pater said that perhaps the most exciting part of the 100 was finding out that Vikings teammate Lori Anderson had also qualified.

“I didn’t see where she finished, but it was great when I found out she got third,” Pater said. “That’ll make next week even more fun.”

Arlington’s Cam Jensen also won with large margins, but her finish in the 300-meter hurdles was not what one would call an easy victory.

Yes, she blew away the field as she always seems to do. But she stumbled over the last hurdle, then tumbled across the finish line.

“I was just worried about tripping someone, so I tried to make sure I was in my lane,” Jensen said. “It was kind of shocking. It scared me a little.”

Jensen, who also won both events at last year’s meet, said she’s not fond of running in the wind, but it was not a factor in her fall.

“It wasn’t a perfect day, but it could have been a lot worse,” Jensen said. “I’m just glad it happened today. Hopefully it won’t happen next week.”

Nikki Tepley of Stanwood was the only runner to finish under a minute (58.66 seconds) in the 400 as she helped the Spartans finish second as a team. Lynnwood teammates Kilie Maus and Sarah Owens finished second and third, respectively, in the event.

Stanwood’s Zoe Urness won the 800, just ahead of Monroe’s Sarah Johnson and Arlington’s Vandenekart,who also qualified for state.

Everett’s 400-meter relay team finished second.

Stanwood’s Devin wall leapt 16 feet, 5 1/2 inches to qualify in the long jump.

Maisie Todd of Lake Stevens finished third in the shot put. Vikings teammate Amber Nickelson was second in the 1,600.

Stanwood’s Chelsea Ruhoff cleared 9 feet, 6 inches to place second in the pole vault. Everett’s Molly Loesche was third.

Everett’s Marjona Oliver qualified in the 200 with a third-place finish. Everett teammate Sharon Bjella and Lake Stevens’ Amy Kruckeberg finished second and third, respectively in the high jump.