Community Notebook: La Center middle school runner among nation’s fastest

Joe Blanshan, an eighth grader at La Center Middle School, has clocked one of the nation’s fastest times in the 1,600 meters this season for middle schoolers.

Blanshan finished in 4 minutes, 38 seconds at a meet in Castle Rock on April 17.

According to national results database Athletic.net, that is the fastest 1,600 time this season among eighth-graders nationwide.

Blanshan, who also trains with Vancouver-based Whisper Running, also clocked 9:33 earlier this season at the Tiger Invitational. That is faster than any other middle school time on Athletic.net, but since that was an all-comers race and not a sanctioned middle school competition, the time doesn’t appear on the database.

Pacific FC soccer team reaches regionals

The Pacific FC Earthquakes, a U14 girls soccer team based in Ridgefield, is headed to regionals after winning the Oregon Youth Soccer Association Presidents Cup earlier this month.

The Earthquakes will compete in the U.S. Youth Soccer Presidents Cup Far West regional from June 11-16 in Norco, Calif.

Rowing club has good day at Dexter

Vancouver Lake Rowing Club had 33 athletes compete at the Covered Bridge Regatta on April 14 at Dexter Reservoir east of Eugene, Ore.

Eleven Vancouver Lake entries took first place in their heats, leading to a second-place finish in the team standings.

Grace Dojan, Kate Bricker and Jordan Griffith each won their women’s junior singles races.

Bricker and Mara Cassidy won their two-person varsity heat. Tessa Patterson, Madi Skundrick, Lauren Coop and Caroline White rowed to victory in the Junior Novice 4 category.

Seven Vancouver Lake junior varsity entries won their heats.