But not by his measure, which is championships. Cunningham was The Columbian’s all-region Player of the Year in football, but his team placed second in the Greater St. Helens League. In wrestling, Cunningham finished third at state.

Cunningham is determined to make amends in track and field. He stamped himself as a state title contender Friday at the GSHL-KingCo Class 4A bi-district meet by winning the discus with a throw of 162 feet, 5 inches.

“If I could get a state championship in this, it would be a great way to go out,” said Cunningham, who is among a handful of throwers around the state who have thrown in the low to mid 160s.

Cunningham didn’t place during his first try at state last year, but says he’s a far different discus competitor this season. It’s all in the preparation.

“Last year, I listened (to the coach), but I wasn’t focused,” Cunningham said. “I realized this takes practice.”

Cunningham was one of five Clark County athletes to win a championship during an abbreviated first day of the two-day bi-district meet in McKenzie Stadium. Today’s schedule includes 26 of the 35 events at the bi-districts.

The top four from each bi-district event advance to state May 23-24 in Pasco.

Battle Ground’s girls won three titles. Gaby Dixson easily won shot with a throw of 39-3 3/4, Kayla Smith was a runaway winner in javelin and Lindsey Wessa narrowly claimed the pole vault.

Smith, who went to state last year but didn’t place, won javelin with a throw of 132-8, a little more than a foot shy of her personal best. With the state’s best throwing around 135 feet, Smith figures in the championship mix next week.

Evergreen’s James Monk played a successful game of come-catch-me when he posted a mark of 22-5 3/4 with his first attempt in long jump. No one was able to surpass the personal best of Monk, a junior who heads to state for the third time in long jump.

“It’s time to do something,” said Monk, who placed seventh at state last year.

Clark County schools qualified at least one athlete for state in each of Friday’s nine events.

CLASS 4A BI-DISTRICT MEET
At McKenzie Stadium
First of two days
BOYS
(Top four to state)
Long jump: James Monk, Evergreen, 22-5 3/4; Mickey Mukai, Inglemoor, 22-2 1/4; Ty Lang, Heritage, 21-11 3/4; Anthony Johnson, Garfield, 21-9 3/4.
Discus: Donavan Cunningham, Heritage, 162-5; Jackson Pierce, Bothell, 150-7; Mike Maroni, Evergreen, 137-8; Kellen Jones, Ballard, 133-10.
High jump: Amin Tufa, Roosevelt, 6-4; Anthony Johnson, Garfield, 6-4; Tyler Lane, Skyview, 6-2; Jamaal Thomas, Garfield, 6-2.
3,200: Aiden Irish, Redmond, 9:44.00; Trey Perry, Bothell, 9:53.25; Shane Weldon, Heritage, 9:54.25; Billy Wilkens, Inglemoor, 9:56.74.
GIRLS
(top four to state)
Pole vault: Lindsey Wessa, Battle Ground, 10-3; Karis Anderson, Roosevelt, 10-0; Aimee Teuscher, Evergreen, 10-0; Amy Sturdivant, Redmond, 10-0.
Triple jump: Tess Parent, Inglemoor, 37-10 3/4; Maggie Pietka, Mountain View, 36-2 1/2; Lan Voba, Eastlake, 35-8 3/4; Natalie Lambert, Eastlake, 35-3.
Javelin: Kayla Smith, Battle Ground, 132-8; Kate Lilly, Inglemoor, 121-8; Ally Mueller, Redmond, 119-0; Shara Moss, Bothell, 119-0.
Shot: Gaby Dixson, Battle Ground, 39-3 3/4; Rakayala Robertson, Garfield, 34-0; Sabrina Grandke-Bawab, Juanita, 32-10 1/2; Kenna Campbell, Woodinville, 32-6.
3,200: Sarah Lord, Redmond, 11:15.94; Devin McMahon, Redmond, 11:16.03; Lauren Hammerle, Ballard, 11:52.16; Priscilla Timmons, Skyview, 11:54.49.