Only two schools will be represented in all three girls relay races at this week’s Class 4A state track and field championships in Pasco.
Shorewood is one of them.
The Thunderbirds took second in all three relays during the finals of the Northwest District 4A meet May 21 at Stanwood High School.
Each team recorded a season-best time. The top two finishers in each event at districts received state berths.
“It’s always fun if you get your relays through,” Shorewood coach Cecil Jackson said. “That makes it exciting because that means you’re taking a lot of people to state.”
The team of Annie Boone, Akosua Fordjour, Katie Whittle and Nicole Kopta took second to Lake Stevens in the 400-meter relay in 49.75 seconds.
Christa Brediger, Kopta, Whittle and Fordjour ran a 1:46.82 to finish second behind Lake Stevens in the 800 relay.
Boone, Hilary Zetlen, Elizabeth Schoch and Amy Simon placed second to Marysville-Pilchuck in the 1,600 relay in a time of 4:04.06.
“I don’t remember ever sending all three relays to state before,” Jackson said. “Some kids have really come into their own this year. We’re running some good times and I think we can go even faster.”
Fordjour qualified for state for the fourth time in the 200-meter dash (25.90) and the third time in the 100 (12.56). She finished a close second in both events to Lake Stevens sprinter Jessica Hinton.
“If there were five more meters, she would have won (the 100),” Jackson said. “She’s a strong closer, but she’s not so good out of the blocks. We’re going to experiment with her start.”
Simon earned Shorewood’s remaining individual berth by placing second in the 400 (59.49).
“Amy ran injured last year,” Jackson said. “She stuck it out and hung in there and battled. That gave her the determination for this year.”
Lauren Sego finished third in the javelin and Rachel Eckerlin was third in the 3,200. The pair will go to Pasco as alternates.
Shorewood tallied 86 points to match its fourth-place finish from a year ago. Lake Stevens (198) captured the team title, followed by Snohomish (104) and Stanwood (96).
On the boys side, Kevin Klein continued to drop time in the 800. He sliced three seconds off his league meet mark for a winning time of 1:55.56.
In previous seasons Klein focused on the 1,600 and 3,200 races. This spring, he and Jackson looked at the competition in the distance events and changed their game plan.
“He deserves so much recognition for what he’s accomplished this year,” Jackson said. “He’s not a traditional 800 runner. He’s a cross country guy.”
Anteus Wright was sitting in first place in the triple jump with his leap of 43 feet, 2 inches until Mount Vernon’s Evan Jordan topped him by one inch on his final attempt.
“For awhile, he had a district crown staring him right in the face,” Jackson said.
Klein also finished third in the 1,600 and Tyler Dobbs was third in the javelin for the Thunderbirds, who took sixth in the team standings.
Everett coasted to first place with 177 points, followed by Marysville-Pilchuck (84), Edmonds-Woodway (69), Arlington (65), Kamiak (58) and Shorewood (54).
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