On to state! Boys are district champions!

For a program that has never had a league champion, we were thrilled to achieve that for the first time. We had taked as a team about how cool it would be to put up a banner in the gym under, Track and Field, League Champs, and it was very cool to achieve that. Lost somewhere in the mix was the thought that the boys team could add another banner under the district championship banner. Well, that thought definitely isn't lost anymore.

West Central District is the largest and perhaps the most competitive district track meet in the state. To advance to state from this district usually puts you in the top teir at the state meet, so it's an incredible honor for any athlete to get to state. That being said...we have a lot of people going to the state meet.

I guess it would make sense to begin with the obvious candidate to qualify for the state meet, Michael Chinchar. Michael came into the meet with the fastest time in the district in the 1600 and the 3200, and Friday night he won the 3200 easily with his season best time of 9:14.13. Saturday though, saw a competitor with a time much closer to his own and a stiff headwind coming into the homestretch. Michael went out fast in the first 800, but that stiff wind caught up with him and with 200m to go, Charlie Williams of Gig Harbor had caught and passed Michael. Michael refused to quit though, and kicked past Williams to win with a time of 4:18.33. It was not Michael's best time by far but he had perservered through an excruciating final lap to beat a worthy opponent. Williams doubled his misery when he was also outkicked in the 800 by our Chris Selvar, giving Kentwood district champions in all three running events.

Joining Michael at state next weekend will be his partner in crime, Eric Bril. Eric set a huge PR in the 3200 (9:27.61) to take fourth and qualify for his first state track meet. Another big win came from Chris Selvar in the 800, where he also out-kicked Charlie Williams to win in the time of 1:55.67. These three guys scored half of our 70 team points in just these three events. I guess this goes to show how important a cross country team is to a track program. (These guys placed 7th at state cross country last fall).

Others that will be making the trip trip to Pasco are first time state competitors (and Sophomores) Steven Warner in the 110 and 300 Hurdles and Cody Fishel in the High Jump. It is an extraordinary feat for a Sophomore to advance to the state meet, so to have two achieve that is a sign that bodes very well for the future of this program. Both Steven and Cody are capable of standing on the awards podium this year. Also going are both of our boys relays (4x100: Nikiel Taylor, Devin St. Clar, Chris Selvar and Demetrius Bronson; 4x400: Demetrius Bronson, Steven Warner, Devin St. Clair and Chris Selvar), who, according to the times coming in, both have a great shot to come home as medalists. This promises to be a great meet for this program.

Also qualifying for the state meet and winning at districts were Lindsey Moore... no, not in the High Jump, but in the Javelin. Lindsey threw an 18 foot PR and won the district meet! Not bad considering it's only the fourth meet she's ever thrown in! Lindsey did qualify in the High Jump too, jumping 5'4" and placed 2nd. Also qualifying for the state meet was Dana Wareham in the 400. Dana pulled off a very impressive feat of qualifying for the state meet as a Freshman with her finals time of 59.91.

The amazing season coninues! On to state!

Coach Roche