Prep girls track and field: Broome seeing complete revelation as mid-distance runner
May 22-Mark down April 25, 2026 as the day that Alexandra Broome fell in love with the 400-meter dash.
It was the gearUP Eason Invite when the Tumwater High School star broke 60 seconds in just the fourth time she's ran the event. To her, it felt like home.
"This is where I'm meant to be," Broome said.
From being a true distance runner to thriving in the mid-distance, the junior claimed a pair of close individual event victories, ran the third leg on the 800 relay and anchored the Thunderbirds first place 1,600-meter relay as the final exclamation point of their team Class 2A District 4 Championship on Thursday night at W.F. West High School.
Broome was the only area athlete, boy or girl, to be a four-event winner. She reset her PR in the 400 at 58.85 and picked up a nip-and-tuck win in the open 800 in 2:19.10. She'll be in four events next week in Tacoma, the two individuals and both relays.
"I really enjoy the 400 and 800, I enjoy going fast," Broome said. "There's a lot more thought process and the 800 is more mental. Positive self-talk has helped me a lot."
In her first two years in the program combined, she ran a total of two open 400s. Her events were mainly the 800 and 1,600 as a freshman, then she medaled in the 800 and the 1,600 relay last spring.
Now, she's filled up her schedule and feels she is in the best shape of her life heading into the final week of her penultimate prep season.
"I'm trying my hardest, doing a lot of different techniques and more lifting," Broome said.
Thursday's win in the 400 came with the most drama.
Columbia River's Olivia Banfield led through the first 200 meters and was looking to pull away, but Broome kept close with her and was neck-and-neck down the homestretch. Broome ended up winning by .04 seconds.
"I'm just going to go for it," Broome said. "I was not expecting that at all. It was great."
Then in the 800, Broome led the first lap before W.F. West's Joy Cushman spurred ahead with 300 to go. Coming around the final turn, it was Broome that pulled away and won by three seconds.
She cruised on the final leg of the 1,600 relay and set up Tumwater in prime position to claim the 800 relay. Now, she'll look to double her state medal output from last season.
"I am really excited for state," Broome said.
The Thunderbirds went 1-2-3 in the discus, which per head coach Jordan Stray, might be the first time that's happened at districts in school history. Abigail Krause unleashed a PR of 116-06 to win while Paige Henderson (110-11) and Avery Hunter (105-11) rounded out the top-three.
Krause has surpassed triple digits in four straight meets after never throwing farther than longer than 95 feet in her career.
"I have started to stop thinking about my throws," Krause said. "Whatever happens, happens. At the beginning of the season, even thinking about hitting 100 (feet), I was so hungry for it. Everything clicked."
There's nothing fancy with Krause's form or technique in the discus, just strength. Her favorite event is shot - which she finished third - but she has enjoyed the recent discus success.
"I'm starting to slow down and tweak things here and there," she said.
For the last two years at state, the Tumwater senior has placed 12th in shot and failed to make the finals. That's the only prerogative in Tacoma next week is to at least place top-nine and guarantee three more tosses.
"It has taken a toll on me," Krause said. "I feel more confident. The third time is the charm."
Tumwater also won the 400 relay and Ashlyn Hufana claimed the long jump. Black Hills had a pair of runner-ups in Ambrielle Wallace (high jump) and Hailey Tinsley (javelin). Centralia saw Desiray Crockett (100 hurdles) and Anna Jones (400) each record new career-best times and top-three finishes.
For W.F. West, Cushman also recorded a third place performance in the 1,600.
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