CHENEY — Jordan Spradlin closed out a magnificent high school careers in style. Seth Bridge perpetuated a family tradition.
Karlee Freeman easily passed a state gut check. And Devin Merksick and Sean Sath registered dramatic victories.
That Twin Harbors quintet captured titles on the final day of the State 1A/2B/1B Track &Field Championships on Saturday, May 27, at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.
Montesano senior Spradlin added a third state girls 1A discus championship to a similar feat in the shot put.
Class 1A
Spradlin concluded her high school career with a sixth state title. The University of Arizona-bound senior’s winning discus throw of 139-3 (on her second attempt of the day) was five feet better than her victorious mark of a year ago and seven feet more than her previous season best (although well short of her PR in that event).
Colville’s Josie Cox was second at 120-9 and Okanogan’s Jill Townsend, the state leader entering the meet, placed third at 120-6.
“Jordan threw really well today,” Monte girls coach Doug Schupbach said. “I think she had (three) throws over 130.”
Elma freshman Jillian Bieker was fifth in the girls 300 hurdles (47.04). Elma’s Brandon Butcher was eighth in the boys 400 meters (51.85).
Class 1B
Mary M. Knight’s Kaylee Sowle added to her state title collection by triple jumping 35 feet.
Otherwise it was a rather lean day for area competitors in this classification.
Taholah’s Celisha Ralston was sixth in the girls discus at 101-2. Taholah’s Levi Jackson, the boys javelin champion, barely fell short of a state medal in the shot put with a ninth-place finish.
North River’s Forrest Carbaugh was ninth in the boys 1,600.
Wishkah coach Bob Eager noted a number of near-misses on the part of his troops, including Brooke Haskey’s ninth-place finish in Friday’s girls 100 meters.
Kaitlyn Ferry, who registered a two-foot PR in the girls triple jump, and Will Fultz drew Eager’s praise.
“We’re quite a young group,” Eager noted. “I was pleased with their efforts and happy for their year.”
Second day
Four Twin Harbors throwers earned repeat titles, while North Beach’s Tawni Blankenship also vaulted her way to the top of the podium on the second day of state track competition.
Montesano’s Jordan Spradlin won her third consecutive state girls 1A shot put championship on May 26 at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.
Raymond’s Karlee Freeman overcame an injury to earn a similar three-peat in the girls discus at the 2B meet at the same location.
North Beach’s Seth Bridge, the defending state champion in the boys discus, captured the 2B shot put title and set a meet record in the process.
Taholah’s Levi Jackson notched his second straight 1B boys javelin title, also at Eastern Washington.
Blankenship captured the girls 2B pole vault title.
Aberdeen’s Bryan Sidor and Faith Cardenas were among the top qualifiers in their events at the state 2A meet at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School.
Class 1A
Spradlin threw 44-10 to nab her third straight state shot put crown. The Montesano senior finished six feet ahead of Okanogan’s Jill Townsend.
Montesano’s Shayla Floch matched her PR of 5-2 to take fourth in the girls high jump.
Elma’s Brandon Butcher qualified fourth in the boys 400 meters.
Class 1B
The state leader entering the meet, Taholah senior Levi Jackson bettered his previous mark by some 12 feet to capture a second straight boys 1B javelin title. His personal-best throw of 181 feet was 11 feet better than runner-up Justin Andrews of Yakama Tribal.
Taholah’s Nettie Mail was fifth in the girls shot put at 33-5 1/2. Naselle’s Lillian Zimmerman won that event at 35-4 3/4.
Mary M. Knight nabbed a pair of state championships. Kaylee Sowle won the girls long jump at 17-10 1/4 and Ian Frost took the boys discus with a throw of 156-8.
