King’s boys favorite to repeat in Class 1A

  • By Tony Dondero Enterprise reporter
  • Friday, March 28, 2008 1:12pm

The King’s boys track team is the hands down favorite to repeat as Class 1A state champions this spring.

With four individual state medalists back, along with two relays that medaled last year, the Knights look formidable.

The Knights had 27 athletes at state last year, 14 boys and 13 girls.

“We have a lot of talent back,” coach Daunte Gouge said. “We lose the Dull brothers (Jeff and Evan) which is a huge loss just in their character and senior leadership.”

But the Knights have superstar junior Josh Fuller back who swept the 100, 200 and 400-meter titles and anchored the winning 1,600 relay.

“We’re trying to figure out what he’s going to do this year. There’s thoughts of him trying to go for the triple crown again but I think we might, depending on what happens, we might actually try to go for the school record in the 4×100,” Gouge said. “So he would actually pick two individual races and be on two relays.”

Senior Tony Yakovich, who took fourth in the triple jump and seventh in the long jump at state last year, is stronger and faster, Gouge said.

Yakovich may focus on the 100 and the two relays as well as the triple jump.

“Those are decisions that are going to be made by committee, including the athletes,” Gouge said with a chuckle. “Those are tough choices.”

Senior Bryan Ayers will compete on both relays and junior Jean Blatchford will run on the 400 relay. Blatchford will also run in the 100 and compete in the pole vault.

Senior Victor Swanson, who took home a second-place medal in the discus and third-place medal in the shot put last year, is the 1A leader the shot put right now.

Junior John Burley, who placed sixth in the triple jump last year, returns in the triple and long jumps this year.

Junior Erik Halvorson, who will compete on the 1,600 relay, is also the Knights’ top distance runner.

Junior Brandon Dean may come back later in the season to help the distance crew after surgery to repair a broken hip.

Sophomore Sean Brugger is the top 110 hurdler in 1A right now and freshman Curtis Clauson is ranked 10th. Raymond Zhang is also in the mix for the Knights in the 110 hurdles. Senior Austin Dean will compete in the 300 hurdles.

Junior Kyle Talbot who competed at state in the high jump also returns.

Senior Alex Lehman, a state qualifier in the javelin, returns in that event as well as the pole vault.

“We have more depth than last year,” Gouge said. “I think we’ll score more points than we did last year.”

On the girls side, the Knights lose javelin and discus double-medalist Danielle Clauson, who led them to a third-place finish last year.

But there’s plenty of talent left and the Knights are among the top contenders in Class 1A.

Junior Olivia Thomas, who placed second in the 800 and 1,600 at state last year, said she hopes to give it her best shot to win titles in both this year. Despite running a school record time in the 800, Thomas, the favorite, got beat. Lizzie Jewson, who beat Thomas in the 1,600, has graduated and Thomas has the top time in 1A so far this year in that event.

Thomas also will compete in the 800 and 1,600 relays which should represent King’s at state this year.

Senior Megan Northey also competes in the 800 and 800 relay and senior Erin Bremond is in all three relays. Sophomore Hillary Quinn is in the 400 and 1,600 relay.

The distance crew after Thomas is a talented group. Sophomores Morgan Hamm (1,600, 3,200), Adele Eslinger (1,600, 3,200) and Makenzie Taylor (800, 1,600) are all looking good.

Sophomore Alison McConnaughey looks strong in the shot put, discus and javelin and could possibly be a state qualifier.

Sophomore Anna Cesari, who came out to get in shape for volleyball, is the second-best javelin thrower on the team.

About 110 athletes turned out for King’s this season.

As far as competition at state goes, the Connell boys and girls teams look strong as well as the Lakeside (Nine-Mile Falls) girls. Bellevue Christian, Seattle Academy, Nooksack Valley and Lynden Christian look tough in the bi-district.

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