SHORELINE — If Jackson’s Jeff Helmer was tired after his first-place finish in the 3,200-meter finals at the Western Conference 4A South Division championships, he sure didn’t show it.
Seconds after completing eight laps in a blazing meet record time of 9:20.12, Helmer sprinted to the opposite end of the track to give his coach a hug and celebrate what was one of the top individual efforts at the 10-team competition that concluded May 14 at Shoreline Stadium.
“I felt it was good. It’s where I wanted to be,” said Helmer, who finished more than 11 seconds ahead of Kamiak’s Kelly Spady.
The two were neck and neck for most of the race before Helmer pulled away from Spady with about a lap to go.
“I felt I was going pretty hard and it’s always nice to run against Kelly because he’s always good competition for me and we’re pretty good friends off the track too,” Helmer said. Earlier in the week, Helmer took first place in the 1,600 with a time of 4:22.23, also ahead of Spady, who was about a second slower.
Both of Helmer’s times were personal bests, an indication to Jackson coach Eric Hruschka that his sophomore standout is headed in the right direction.
“He’s been getting faster every week,” Hruschka said. “He ran a lifetime best in the mile and a lifetime best tonight. He just ran a great race. He’s in great shape. He’ll be ready to roll. He ran the last lap in 61 seconds. That’s really moving at the end of the two mile.”
Up next for Helmer is the finals of the Northwest District 4A championships, which are scheduled for tonight (Friday, May 21) at Stanwood Stadium.
Helmer is cautiously optimistic about his prospects at districts.
“I had some low points in the season. I seem to be coming on,” Helmer said. “I’m just going to hope for the best.”
Helmer was the only winner for Jackson but plenty of other Timberwolves had performances that brought a smile to Hruschka’s face.
The Jackson 400 boys relay team of Brett Jones, Chris Jackson, Andy Williams and Johnie Kirton took third place (44.81) but secured a No. 1 seed to districts since the two teams that beat the Wolfpack, Lynnwood and Shorecrest, are 3A schools.
Senior Brianna Rockenstire finished third in the 100 hurdles (16.98) and third in the javelin (107-9). Her time in the hurdles was a personal best by .5 seconds.
Rockenstire took third in her 100 hurdles preliminary heat.
“I was lucky to make it into the finals and I ended up taking third in the finals,” she said. “I was really excited about that. I ran my best race of the year by far … It felt really good the whole race.”
Earlier in the season Rockenstire heaved the javelin further than her longest throw at the Wesco South championships.
“Hopefully I can come back at districts and do really well,” Rockenstire said.
Sophomore Allison Graham posted a pair of fourth-place finishes in the 1,600 (5:25.99) on Wednesday and 3,200 (11:54.08) on Friday. Both times were season bests.
“My season is a lot different … from last year,” Graham said. “I’ve just kept getting better every meet. Last season, it was way up and down.
“I’ve focused more this season.”
Graham’s goals at districts are simple.
“I would like to get on the awards stand for one of them and do better than I did this week,” she said.
Jackson’s Cory Tupling finished eighth in the shot put (46-21/2), one spot behind Kirton (46-5). Tupling’s throw, however, was a personal best by two feet.
“He really had a great day. He’s working really hard,” Hruschka said.
Kirton also finished sixth in the discus (137-1).
Senior Phil Collins finished third in the 800 (1:59.90) and broke the two-minute barrier for the first time in his career. He clocked the sixth-fastest time in school history.
Whitney Rock placed third in the pole vault (9-0) and also set a school record. Senior Jenny Morris took third in the 400 (1:01.34) and sixth in the 200 (27.28). Her time in the 400 broke a school record from 1996.
Other Jackson highlights included: Kevin Salke (seventh in the boys 400, 52.72); Steven Body (fourth in the javelin, 158-4 and fifth in the boys 300 hurdles, 42.46); Shawn Klaus (third in the high jump, 6-0); Allison Body (third in the girls 300 hurdles, 48.10); Katie Boulanger (fifth in the girls 300 hurdles, 49.77); and Laice Valera (seventh in the girls 800, 2:33.24).
The Shorewood girls (196 points) and the Everett boys (204) took home trophies. The Jackson boys (75) were fifth, while the Wolfpack girls (59) were seventh.
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