Jackson cruises to track and field title

Jackson flexed its legs and successfully defended its 4A District 1 boys track and field championship.

Led by its strong distance crew, the Wolfpack ran away from the field, scoring 106 points to finish ahead of second-place Marysville-Pilchuck (84) May 21 at Snohomish High School.

Grant Grosvenor continued his impressive string of postseason victories by taking first in the 800- and 1,600-meter races.

“Grant’s on fire right now,” Jackson coach Eric Hruschka said. “He’s really coming into his own and establishing himself as one of the best Jackson track athletes ever.

“He’s in good shape going into state.”

A week ago, Grosvenor won the 800 and 1,600 and set a Wesco South Division meet record in the former event.

Teammate Mitchell Briggs finished first in the 3,200 and was second in the 1,600, which earned him his first berth to state in that event.

“Mitchell looked good,” Hruschka said.

Briggs spent the winter on the swim team and the extra conditioning has served him well, Hruschka said. Briggs will run cross country and track and field at Brigham Young University.

“His leadership has been phenomenal,” Hruschka said.

Other Jackson state qualifiers included Blake Nelson (third in 800), Sean Roe (second in 3,200) and Colton Niblack (third in the discus). Niblack finished sixth in the event at the league championships. The throw of 139 feet, 7 inches broke Timothy St. Marie’s sophomore record. St. Marie, now at Cascade, won the event with a throw of 151-9.

Jackson’s 1,600 relay team took third place. Hruschka likes the team’s prospects of advancing to the finals.

While the Timberwolves took the team honors, Edmonds-Woodway junior Alec Fellows was the individual standout, winning three events (long jump, 200, 110 high hurdles) and finishing second in the triple jump. His jump of 45-6 in the triple jump was a school record.

“We’re thinking he can place in four events,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Rick Fillman said.

A top three finish in the 110 hurdles seems realistic.

“He’s starting to get to the point where he’s running very consistent in that race,” Fillman said. A top eight finish in both of the jumps also is a strong possibility, Fillman said.

“It’s difficult to make it to state in four events,” he added.

Senior Katie Tougas finished second in the girls 100 and long jump. She also helped the 400 relay team to a third place finish.

Tougas has been dealing with a hamstring injury the last month of the season.

“It’s affected her starts more than anything else,” Fillman said. “So we’re trying to focus on the starts.”

The 400 relay team actually had a shaky handoff, so Fillman was pleased to come in third.

“I’m excited to see what we do this week,” he said. “If we run with a clean handoff we’ve got a chance to get into the finals. We’re working this week to clean that up.”

Edmonds-Woodway’s Amia Nash took first in the 400 with a near perfect race.

“If she does the same thing this week, she’ll make it into the finals,” Fillman said.

Nash’s appearance at state in the 400 is the first for a female Edmonds-Woodway athlete in that event.

Jackson’s Samantha Bowers took first place in the shot put.

Other state qualifiers included Mountlake Terrace’s Nina Penner (second in the 800) and Jackson’s Kiana Eaton (second in the discus).

At the 3A District 1 boys meet, Lynnwood’s Coleman Bryant won the 100 and Meadowdale’s Matt Crichlow finished second in the 3,200.

Lynnwood’s Hannah Lemm won the girls 800 and Laycee Hill captured the shot put. Meadowdale’s Julia Young won the pole vault and the Mavericks’ 400 relay team was second.

Archbishop Murphy’s James Guy took second in the 200 at the 2A District 1 boys championships. Archbishop Murphy’s Matthew Downey finished second and teammate Patrick Throckmorton was fourth in the javelin. On the girls’ side, Archbishop Murphy’s 800 relay team took fourth.

In the 1B Tri-district girls meet, North Sound Christian’s Lynne Washio won the 1,600 and Jenna Otis took second in the 100 hurdles, Washio also took second in the 400 and 800 and was third in the 3,200. Otis was third in the 300 hurdles and long jump. North Sound Christian’s Tori Speck took second in the pole vault and Jess Castor was third in the triple jump.