Tobias Merriweather came out to Wednesday’s 4A/3A Greater St. Helens League Invitational track and field meet with the goal of hitting some specific times in the 100 and 200 meters.
He did that.
His goal in the 400 meters was to score his team some points, and the Union junior ended up winning that event as well.
“I didn’t expect to win,” Merriweather said. “That guy from Mountain View (Payton Rush) has been working all season (on the 400) and has been getting some good times. So I just wanted to stay with him and see what I had at the end. I had enough, so I kicked it in.”
He also kicked it in during the 400 relay, edging out Camas’ Isaiah Spear at the line, even though both teams timed in 43.46 seconds.
“My teammates have been telling me all year ‘as long as you get the baton, you’ve got to win,’ ” Merriweather said.
The junior won the 100 in 10.95 seconds and the 200 in 22.01 seconds.
The 100-200-400 sweep was a Union thing on Wednesday as the Titans’ Brinley Jackson did the same on the girls side.
Jackson breezed to wins in the 100 in 12.23 seconds, the 200 in 24.90 seconds and the 400 in 58.67 seconds.
Winning three individuals events is one thing. Winning four is another.
That’s what Prairie’s Kara Mattson did, taking the 100 hurdles (15.11), 300 hurdles (46.08), long jump (17-5) and triple jump (37-9.5).
“It was pretty tough with how my events were scheduled — the long jump right with the 100 hurdles, and then the triple jump right with the 300,” Mattson said. “Doing all four events is kind of new to me. I just started doing the triple jump this season. I love to bound.”
Adding to her taxing afternoon was the fact that the long jump pit is located at the top of McKenzie Stadium, requiring Mattson to make repeated trips up and down the stadium stairs.
“I think that might have been the hardest part of my day,” Mattson joked.
Kelso’s Josie Settle placed second to Mattson in the long and triple jumps, but she won the girls high jump at 5-1.
Mountain View’s Jasmine Bates was a two-event winner, taking the 800 (2:23.58) and the 1,600 (5:23.67)
Other winners in the girls meet included Camas’ Gracie Buzzell in the 3,200 (11:49.20), Union’s Ariel Ammentorp in the shot put (36-4), Skyview’s Jordan Mann in the discus (115-11), Camas’ Shea McGee in the pole vault (11-6), Heritage’s and Katie Peneueta in the javelin (113-2).
Camas’ Evan Jenkins was a two-event winner on the boys side, taking the 800 (1:56.79) and the 1,600 (4:18.27).
Other boys winners included Camas’ Connor Hayward in the 3,200 (10:33.43), Prairie’s Kenneth Ogbeama in the 110 hurdles (14.73), Union’s Cason Shepard in the 300 hurdles (39.13), Evergreen’s David Kailea in the shot put (45-0.5), Heritage’s Isaac Washington in the discus (137-1), Camas’ Mark Harimoto in the javelin (153-10), Prairie’s Ian Davis in the long jump (20-6), Union’s Benjamin Haywood in the high jump (6-2), Kelso’s James Fenter in the triple jump (41-8.5) and Union’s Peter Syth in the pole vault (13-6).
Camas’ boys and girls teams outdistanced Union for the team titles.
