There are so many ways that this past week was incredible, so it's really difficult to know where to begin. It's so gratifying as a coach to see my athletes have great success, especially knowing how much time and effort they have all put into that success. We've been blessed with some better weather in this past week, giving us some of our best individual and team performances we've seen so far this year. One of the most intriguing parts of seeing our success at this point in the season is knowing that we are only 1/2 way through the season, and the best is yet to come.
Although it doesn't make sense to begin chronologically with what happened second, the enormity of the accomplishments deserve to take the top billing for the past week's accomplishments. Considering the number of athletes that enter, the number of schools and states that attend from all over the country, and the standards needed to even get into the Arcadia Invitational, just being there is an accomplishment and a honor. 
Our four boys who went not only represented Kentwood and the state of Washington very well, but helped to put themselves "on the map" for Track and Field in the West Coast and throughout the USA. All four boys that went to the meet set season bests in the events they were entered in. Sophomore Devin St. Clair flew 20' 9 3/4" in the Long Jump on his only legal jump of the competition. Junior Chris Selvar ran his season's best time in the 800 with his time of 1:58.84. Senior Eric Brill also ran his best time of the year in the 2 mile, with a 9:42.90 time Friday night. Senior Michael Chinchar wrote his name into the permanent record book though with a historic performance Saturday night in the Mile. Michael took the lead from the pack from the very beginning and kept that pace throughout the race. With one lap to go, Michael had a lead somewhere near 30 meters when Charles White from Cherry Creek burst off of the final corner with a furious kick, but as Michael sensed his competition gaining on him, he turned on his own kick, and crossed the finish line first, in 4:09.67, the fastest mile time in the country to this point. You can watch the race for yourself and see Michael's post-race interview here. This meet, needless to say, will go down as one of the greatest in Kentwood history. (Photo credit above to John Dye from dyestat.com)
Our four boys who went not only represented Kentwood and the state of Washington very well, but helped to put themselves "on the map" for Track and Field in the West Coast and throughout the USA. All four boys that went to the meet set season bests in the events they were entered in. Sophomore Devin St. Clair flew 20' 9 3/4" in the Long Jump on his only legal jump of the competition. Junior Chris Selvar ran his season's best time in the 800 with his time of 1:58.84. Senior Eric Brill also ran his best time of the year in the 2 mile, with a 9:42.90 time Friday night. Senior Michael Chinchar wrote his name into the permanent record book though with a historic performance Saturday night in the Mile. Michael took the lead from the pack from the very beginning and kept that pace throughout the race. With one lap to go, Michael had a lead somewhere near 30 meters when Charles White from Cherry Creek burst off of the final corner with a furious kick, but as Michael sensed his competition gaining on him, he turned on his own kick, and crossed the finish line first, in 4:09.67, the fastest mile time in the country to this point. You can watch the race for yourself and see Michael's post-race interview here. This meet, needless to say, will go down as one of the greatest in Kentwood history. (Photo credit above to John Dye from dyestat.com)Earlier in the week, the rest of the Kentwood squad had an impressive meet of their own against powerful Federal Way high school. Although the Girls team lost to Federal Way 55-86, many 
Girls saw personal best and season best marks. One athlete that stepped up this week was Sophomore Ashley Luther. Ashley had one of her best days for her young career with a season best time in the 100m (13.71, placing 2nd), running a season best split in the 4x4 (64.1) and setting a lifetime PR in the Long Jump (15'11 1/2", placing 2nd). Ashley's Long Jump moved her into the Top Ten list in 8th place. Event winners for the Girl's team on Thursday were Freshman Dana Wareham in the 200m (27.86), and the 400m (61.75, moving her to #3 all time for Kentwood), Sophomore Lauren Scully in the 800 (2:39.25, a season best), Sophomore Lindsey Moore in the High Jump(5'4") and Senior Jillian Jainga in the Pole Vault (7'0", moving her to #7 all time for Kentwood). There was one Freshman record set in this meet by Clarisa Hammer in the 100 Hurdles with her time of 18.4. Hammer took the record at the beginning of the season, but then had it taken a week ago by fellow Freshman Aiesha Goodlow, and now has taken it back. The Girls' dual meet record is now 1-3.
Girls saw personal best and season best marks. One athlete that stepped up this week was Sophomore Ashley Luther. Ashley had one of her best days for her young career with a season best time in the 100m (13.71, placing 2nd), running a season best split in the 4x4 (64.1) and setting a lifetime PR in the Long Jump (15'11 1/2", placing 2nd). Ashley's Long Jump moved her into the Top Ten list in 8th place. Event winners for the Girl's team on Thursday were Freshman Dana Wareham in the 200m (27.86), and the 400m (61.75, moving her to #3 all time for Kentwood), Sophomore Lauren Scully in the 800 (2:39.25, a season best), Sophomore Lindsey Moore in the High Jump(5'4") and Senior Jillian Jainga in the Pole Vault (7'0", moving her to #7 all time for Kentwood). There was one Freshman record set in this meet by Clarisa Hammer in the 100 Hurdles with her time of 18.4. Hammer took the record at the beginning of the season, but then had it taken a week ago by fellow Freshman Aiesha Goodlow, and now has taken it back. The Girls' dual meet record is now 1-3.The Boys squad faced one of their toughest dual meet challenges of the season in their dual meet with Federal Way. Federal Way came int the meet undefeated and had many positive matchups with our Boys. The Kentwood Boys stepped up to the challenge though, defeating the Eagles by a score of 80-54. Because of the Arcadia Invite on Friday and Saturday, the four boys going to the meet were limited (by their coaches) to only a few events, thereby limiting the depth that has served the Boys team so well this year. Several Boys stepped up in their absence, picking up the slack and delivering big. Senior Danny Smith stepped in for the missing Chinchar and Brill by winning both the 1600m (4:46.61) and 3200m (10:35.10). Seniors Kramer Wahlberg, Jake Logar and Freshman Thomas Zavada also stepped in and took 2nds and 3rds, allowing for a Kentwood sweep of those distance events. Other event winners for the Boys team were Junior Demetius Bronson in the 100m (11.20), Sophomore Devin St. Clair in the 200m (23.21) and tied Sophomore Junior Gauldin in the Triple Jump (42' 1 1/2", moving Gauldin to #7 all time for Kentwood) , Senior Mark Hoffman in the 800m (2:05.09), Sophomore Steven Warner in the 300 Hurdles (41.57, moving him to #9 all time for Kentwood), and Sophomore Cody Fishel in the High Jump (6'2"). A Freshman Record was set this week by TJ Markus, with his Shot Put of 40'10". The Boys team now has a league dual meet record of 4-0. Total team results for the Federal Way meet can be found here.
This Saturday brings us our first Invite for the whole team, the Tacoma Invite at Mt. Tahoma High School. This Invite is exciting for several reasons; for one the facility in which it is held at one of the premiere High School Track and Field facilities in the state, and secondly it gives our athletes a good taste of what their district track meet will be like, since our district meet is there. There are 32 schools coming to this Invite, and each team is allowed one entry per event, so there will be many quality athletes and many quality competitions to be had.
I have posted several reminders for athletes competing or attending the Tacoma Invite under our message board link on the website, so please see that for more details for the meet. Lets hope for sunshine and a great meet!
Coach Roche
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