This year, Dunn, a junior from Hockinson, does not assume anything will be a sure thing at the Class 2A boys state track and field meet next week.

For the second year in a row, Dunn sprinted to titles in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races Friday at the 2A District 4 boys meet, setting himself up for a chance at state glory in Tacoma.

“State’s going to be a different story, though,” he said.

He wasn’t suggesting he cannot win there; just that the competition will be more intense.

He has learned a lot this past year. In 2007, as a sophomore, he left Tumwater High School believing one, two, or even three state championships would be there for the taking.

It didn’t happen.

This year, he has more respect for the process.

“I think I’m more of a veteran this time. I know what to do now, how to carry myself on the track,” Dunn said. “I feel more prepared than I ever have in my life. I feel like I can take it on and bring home some stuff this year.”

It’s not as if he wiped out at state in 2007 — he had two second-place finishes and a sixth — but he wanted more. This year, he wants more, too, but he won’t go into the meet thinking a state title is a given.

Dunn will have some company from Southwest Washington at the state meet. Seven other athletes, including two champions, qualified, as did two relay teams.

Cody Barton of Ridgefield came back with a gutsy final lap to win the 1,600 for the second year in a row. Woodland’s Hayden Woodard won his second pole vault title in a row.

Hockinson ended up second to Mark Morris in the team points. The Monarchs won the title with 78, nine more than the Hawks.

Dunn, with his three wins, which included two meet records, and a third place with his teammates in the 400 relay, had 36 points.

While his individual performance mirrored 2007’s district meet, Dunn said there was something different this year. In 2007, he won, but he could tell his opponents were close.

Not anymore.

“It feels like I established a dominance in our league and our district,” he said. “It feels amazing.”

Dunn finished the 100 in 10.96 seconds, then won the 400 with a meet-record time of 49.20. He capped his evening with another record, coming in at 22.02 seconds in the 200.

Barton’s win was not unexpected — he won last year, after all — but the way he won was interesting. He was battling for third and fourth place with 400 meters to go, then scorched the field with a 58-second final lap to win in a time of 4:30.75.

“My plan was to stick to the leaders,” he said. “I knew it was going to be a kicker’s race, and I have a great kick.”

Woodard said it was “cool” to finish high school with back-to-back titles at district. He wouldn’t mind one more first place, though.

“It’s going to be tough because the same kid who beat me last year will be back again,” he said, referring to his runner-up finish to Wes Chamberlain of Ephrata at the state meet.

Woodard added that he has been getting high enough marks in practice, and that it is just a matter of getting it done in a meet.

Woodland was the second-best team from Southwest Washington, scoring 52 points to finish eighth.