High school track begins twilight of season (video)

It’s clear as day, or twilight in Friday’s case, that the high school track and field season is picking up speed.

Several dozen athletes from 11 local schools competed at the John Ingram Twilight Meet at Columbia River High School.

Just as twilight is a time of transition, many of those athletes used Friday’s meet to shift gears.

Yes, there was plenty of horseplay and laughter under Friday’s filtered sunshine. But with district and state meets less than six weeks away, it was also time to get serious.

Union’s Bailey King has some serious goals for his senior season. Last weekend in Arcadia, Calif., he threw the discus 181 feet, which is the second farthest mark this season by a Washington athlete.

But King doesn’t just want his first state title. He wants the state record of 207 feet, 2 inches set in 1997 by Vinnie Pecht of West Valley (Spokane).

“I’ve thrown close to it in practice,” he said. “But I’d like to get healthy and throw it out there. It mostly depends on the wind.”

King overcame a sore back Friday to win in 166 feet, 11 inches. He also won the shot put in 51 feet, 4.5 inches.

The Union boys also had winners in Michael Ugarov (200 meters), Miguel De La Melena (800 meters), Carter Clay (110 hurdles) and Ryan Grimm (long jump). The Titans also won both relays and won the team title with 148 points, 40 ahead of second-place Kelso.

Columbia River won the girls title with 119.5 points, just 6.5 ahead of Union. The team of Tiarra Ringold, Sophie Landers, Allison Frank and Grayson Burke won the 400 and 800 relays. Yaiydenn Lopez-Perez won the shot put and discus.

While some athletes in Friday’s meet are already state caliber, other up-and-comers are trying to reach that level.

Hockinson’s Alyssa Chapin is just a sophomore. But after winning the 100 hurdles in a personal-best of 15.99 seconds, Chapin believes this season will be a breakthrough.

“This year I’ve been working on the three-step, which gets my legs going much quicker,” she said. “It looks like I’ll be able to go to state this year, so I’m really excited for that.”

Hockinson’s Kedrick Johnson was taking it easy on Friday. He only competed in three events.

Johnson won the 100 meters and the triple jump and anchored Hockinson’s 400 meter relay. He usually competes in the high jump, in which the senior qualified for state last year.

How does Johnson balance the constant cycle of warmups, competition and recovery?

“It’s hard, but I just keep eating, lots of water and take my rest when I can,” he said.

As the sun set on Friday’s meet, Johnson was among many athletes whose track season is looking bright.

“We have a lot of good coaches who are always pushing us and teammates who are pushing me,” he said. “Things are looking good so far.”

Ridgefield’s Chloe Lindbo matched Johnson for versatility. The senior won the 400 meters, 800 meters and high jump.

BOYS TRACK AND FIELD
JOHN INGRAM TWILIGHT MEET
At Columbia River High School
Team scores — Union 148, Kelso 108, Hockinson 76, Ridgefield 71, Columbia River 69.5, Prairie 58, Skyview 41, Hudson’s Bay 33.5, Mark Morris 28, Seton Catholic 25, Fort Vancouver 5.
100 meters — 1, Kedrick Johnson (H) 11.40; 2, Rey Green (U) 11.60; 3, Nathan Kunz (CR) 11.61;
200 — 1, Michael Ugarov (U) 23.15; 2, Sammy Chhim (K) 23.70; 3, Jayson Schlotz (S) 23.70;
400 — 1, Brandon Lehto (R) 51.72; 2, Ryan Grimm (U) 51.82; 3, Brett Hallett (K) 53.80;
800 — 1, Miguel De La Melena (U) 2:01.81; 2, Brandon Lehto (R) 2:02.55; 3, Silas Griffith (R) 2:04.63;
1,600 — 1, Silas Griffith (R) 4:37.60; 2, Aidan Lowman (K) 4:39.00; 3, Tristan Robins (U) 4:42.60;
3,200 — 1, Kyle Peterson (H) 10:10.78; 2, Sam Andersen (R) 10:20.41; 3, Aidan Lowman (K) 10:26.27;
110 hurdles — 1, Carter Clay (U) 15.38; 2, Stephen Chan (HB) 16.05; 3, Cristian Velez (HB) 16.31;
300 hurdles — 1, Cole Walker (H) 41.53; 2, Tavis Chunphakvenn-Pinkney (S) 43.24; 3, Stephen Chan (HB) 43.51;
400 relay — 1, Union 44.05; 2, Hockinson 45.17; 3, Columbia River 45.19;
1,600 relay — 1, Union 3:38.72; 2, Columbia River 3:46.88; 3, Hockinson 3:46.98;
Shot put — 1, Bailey King (U) 51-4.5; 2, Colton Johnson (K) 46-8; 3, Mason Shell (CR) 44-2.5;
Discus — 1, Bailey King (U) 166-11; 2, Colton Johnson (K) 129-5; 3, Lane Andersen (R) 128-8;
Javelin — 1, August Schulda (MM) 159-4; 2, Noholoa Lidstone (CR) 139-10; 3, Jordan Gladson (K) 137-10;
High jump — 1, Joseph Creamer (S) 5-10; 2, Quin Benning (HB) 5-8; 3, Rashaan Bohanan (P) 5-6;
Long jump — 1, Ryan Grimm (U) 20-6.5; 2, David Tran (P) 20-0.5; 3, Seth Tripp (P) 19-9;
Triple jump — 1, Kedrick Johnson (H) 42-10; 2, Willie Tran (U) 40-9.5; 3, Warren Higgins (K) 39-0;
Pole vault — 1, Trent Beavers (K) 14-0; 2, John Marshall Niemela (CR) 13-0; 3, Dane Kitchens (MM) 11-6.
GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD
JOHN INGRAM TWILIGHT MEET
At Columbia River High School
Team scores — Columbia River 119.5, Union 113, Kelso 85, Prairie 81, Ridgefield 81, Skyview 72, Hudson’s Bay 53.5, Seton Catholic 34, Hockinson 33, Mark Morris 15, Fort Vancouver.
100 meters — 1, Dai’lyn Merriweather (U) 12.36; 2, Grayson Burke (CR) 12.64; 3, Carlee Sams (K) 12.78;
200 — 1, Jai’lyn Merriweather 25.40; 2, Grayson Burke (CR) 26.10; 3, Carlee Sams (K) 26.72;
400 — 1, Chloe Lindbo (R) 1:01.50; 2, Elena Carrion (SC) 1:03.00; 3, Vanessa Nicacio (U) 1:03.60;
800 — 1, Chloe Lindbo (R) 2:26.70; 2, Katie Vroman (P) 2:28.10; 3, Lexie Rutherford (R) 2:29.50;
1,600 — 1, Hannah Kneeshaw (P) 5:30.30; 2, Lexie Rutherford (R) 5:31.40; 3, Serena Smith (U) 5:43.00;
3,200 — 1, Cassie McKinney (U) 11:38.50; 2, Allie Connell (U) 12:23.70; 3, Kara Wood (K) 12:30.30;
100 hurdles — 1, Alyssa Chapin (H) 15.99; 2, Erykah Weems (HB) 16.12; 3, Ellie Walker (CR) 16.14;
300 hurdles — 1, Erykah Weems (HB) 45.54; 2, Alyssa Chapin (H) 46.46; 3, Valerie Schmidt (P) 50.54;
400 relay — 1, Columbia River 51.35; 2, Hudson’s Bay 52.71; 3, Skyview 53.80;
800 relay — 1, Columbia River 1:52.48; 2, Kelso 1:55.08; 3, Ridgefield 1:55.68;
1,600 relay — 1, Union 4:19.31; 2, Prairie 4:23.03; 3, Hudson’s Bay 4:28.55;
Shot put — 1, Yaiydenn Lopez-Perez (CR) 33-8; 2, Ally Harman (K) 31-4.5; 3, Abigail Brotherton (P) 31-3;
Discus — 1, Yaiydenn Lopez-Perez (CR) 116-10; 2, Hailey Haggard (U) 109-7; 3, Reilly Watts (CR) 105-10;
Javelin — 1, Kristin Mury (K) 126-8; 2, Hannah Nienaber (P) 105-8; 3, Kasey Gould (U) 93-6;
High jump — 1, Chloe Lindbo (R) 5-2; 2, Emily Takayoshi (U) 5-0; 3, Kennedy Breier (U) 4-10;
Long jump — 1, Tayla Beavers (K) 16-2; 2, Mckenna Moore (R) 15-4; 3, Kathierine Schaefer (P) 15-4; Triple jump — 1, Mckenna Moore (R) 32-8; 2, Katherine Schaefer (P) 32-1.5; 3, Andrea Demlow (CR) 32-1.5;
Pole vault — 1, Tayla Beavers (K) 11-0; 2, Lindsay Marshall (CR) 9-6; 3, Sarah Ellis (CR) 9-6.