3A TRACK: Siofele needs just one toss for state title

TACOMA — Union's Carolina Siofele wisely heeded the advice of her coach Thursday.

"I was really nervous," the senior discus thrower said at the Class 3A state track and field meet at Mount Tahoma High School. "I came in seeded first. There was pressure in my head, like, 'I have to stay at that mark..'

"My coach was talking to me, 'Relax, it only takes one throw.' "

For Siofele, that throw finally came in the fifth round of the six-round competition. She recorded a mark of 128 feet, 7 inches, nearly three feet better than the qualifying mark that had placed her atop the field.

That was enough to give Siofele a state title, as she finished well ahead of the 122-10 posted by runner-up Anna Kaminski of Bainbridge. Anna Adamko of Columbia River finished sixth.

"I felt good about it," Siofele said, "but I was really, really nervous. I felt so much pressure."

Siofele was in fifth place before unleashing her winning toss. But, as she knows, it only takes one.

In other action at the Class 3A meet:

n Kaleb Kallappa of Columbia River captured the first of what could be four victories at this meet, winning the 3,200-meter wheelchair race in 8:35.69.

"For me, one of my main goals is to make it to the Paralympics, and hopefully the 2012 Paralympics," Kallappa said. "So races like this, I'm focusing on the long-term goal."

Kallappa also is scheduled to compete in the 800, 1,600 and discus wheelchair events.

— Sarah Bobbe of Columbia River finished third in the girls 3,200 with a time of 11:11.32, about eight seconds ahead of her qualifying time from the regional meet. Carey Parker of Seattle Prep won the state title in 11:00.51.

— Three Clark County athletes placed in the boys pole vault, led by Bogdan Goncharuk of Fort Vancouver in sixth place at 13 feet, 9 inches. Prairie teammates Taylor Schmidt and Blake Bier tied for seventh at 13-6.

Bryce Borer of Mercer Island won the event with a mark of 15-3 — 9 inches higher than anybody else.

— Josh Reiter of Camas was sixth in the boys 3,200 with a time of 9:26.83. Kyle Boe of Columbia River finished ninth.

— Schmidt also posted the No. 2 qualifying mark in the boys 110-meter hurdles, advancing with a time of 14.70 seconds. Marc Jackson of Hudson's Bay also advanced to today's final.

— The Camas team of Shelby Bodily, Megan Kelley, Seanna Pitassi and Dakota Forgey led qualifying in the girls 1,600 relay with a time of 3:58.73. Prairie did not advance to the finals.

— Union advanced to the finals in the girls 800-meter relay, qualifying seventh.