Elma sends three relays to state
Panting heavily after crossed the finish line in the 4x400-meter relay, Brandon Butcher stated the obvious.
“I’m really tired,” he said.
That relay was Butcher’s last race of the day, and ended with a third trip to the podium at Tumwater District Stadium. Butcher, an Elma High School junior, qualified for the Class 1A state meet in three events at the 1A Southwest District track and field championships on Thursday night.
“It’s kind of weird,” he said. “I’ve never been to state. I’m new, so I’m really excited.”
This is Butcher’s first year competing in track and field. He took second in the 400 at 52.33 seconds, and ran a leg of both of Elma’s relays. The 4x100 team of Dylan Bennett, Ira Hartford, Jake Zwarun and Butcher took third (44.85) to advance.
The 4x400 squad of Lukas Starks, Bennett, Hartford and Butcher took second (3:32.79) after leading the majority of the race. Montesano pulled away on the final leg to win the title.
“We ran as hard as we could, but Monte … it’s always a competition between Elma and Monte,” Butcher said. “This time they beat us, but next time we’ll get ’em.”
Hartford also took third in the 200 (23.68), while Elma senior Asa Quimby finished second in the discus (135 feet, 2 inches) to advance.
The top three finishers in each event moved onto the 1A state championship meet, which begins at Eastern Washington University in Cheney on Thursday.
Elma’s 4x400 girls relay team of Maddie Clark, Cheyanne Jines, Jayla Mason and Yarely Rojas also advanced with a third-place finish (4:19.89).
Jines gutted out the final leg to secure the Eagles the final spot. So much so, that she needed assistance off the track — and assistance getting down from the podium.
“I cramp up pretty bad after, but it’s worth it,” she said. “I just go as hard as I can for as long as I can, and, if I have anything left in the tank, I just push as hard as possible.”
Elma’s Megan Peterson finished second in the shot put (36-03) behind Montesano’s Jordan Spradlin — the defending 1A state champion. This is Peterson’s second consecutive trip to state in the event.
“I got ninth last year, which is one away from podium,” she said. “This year I’ve got to make podium.”
Three athletes from Tenino also advanced. Jack Burnham took second in the shot put (44-03 1/2) and Chase Blankenship took third in the triple jump (41-02).
Nihls Peterson, a senior, qualified with a second-place finish in the 110 hurdles (16.85) and third-place finish in the high jump (5-10).
He hasn’t competed in track and field since his freshman year.
“I played (club) basketball my sophomore year during the spring time, and last year I played baseball. I got tired of that and came back to track,” he said.
Worked out OK, he supposes.
“Good day for me,” he said.
Eatonville won both the boys (89 points) and girls (136) team titles. La Center’s Jenna Melanson set a meet record in the 3,200 (11:15.87), and Kalama’s Kaelyn Shipley set a record in the javelin (150-01).
2B Southwest District track and field championships
Northwest Christian swept the boys (115 points) and girls (99) team titles at Raymond High School on Thursday.
Luke Schilter secured two district titles in the 800 (2:02.79) and 1,600 (4:28.57). The Navigators also had the top four finishers in the 3,200, with Corban Phillips taking first at 10:02.1. Lee Thibodeau also took first in the 400 (51.92).
Eliana Summers swept both girls distance races with a 5:40.96 finish in the 1,600 and 12:17.81 in the 3,200, while Heidi Sowers won the 300 hurdles at 47.76.
The 4x400 girls relay team of Qi Kan, Elizabeth Stottlemyre, Megan McSheffrey and Sowers also took first at 4:10.63. Stottlemyre won the javelin at 126-10.
Rainier’s Alec Miller won the boys javelin (165-04). Peyton Dungan — the 2B defending state champion in the girls shot put — took first at 40-06.
4A West Central District track and field championships
At Kent, Olympia High School’s David Woodward qualified for state, placing second in the javelin in the 4A West Central District track championships with a throw of 182 feet, 7 inches. Teammate Jacob Steen also qualified, finishing fifth in the high jump after clearing 6-1.
Timberline’s Keshara Romain punched a ticket to state, too. She placed fourth in the triple jump with a leap of 36 feet, 9 1/2 inches, finishing behind first-place Saudia Heard of Curtis, who is the reigning 4A state champion in the triple jump.
1A SOUTHWEST DISTRICT STATE QUALIFIERS
The top three finishers from each event qualified for the Class 1A state track and field meet at Eastern Washington University on May 24-26.
BOYS
100: 1. Anthony Nash, Hoquiam, jr. (11.49); 2. Jacob Herz, Kalama, soph. (11.57); 3. Zarak Scruggs, Eatonville, jr. (11.95).
200: 1. Anthony Nash, Hoquiam, jr. (23.14); 2. Nate Myklebust, Castle Rock, soph. (23.51); 3. Ira Hartford, Elma, jr. (23.68).
400: 1. Josehia Hotz, Eatonville, sr. (51.88); 2. Brandon Butcher, Elma, jr. (52.33); 3. Austin Pegram, Forks, sr. (52.97).
800: 1. Conner Lovell, Montesano, sr. (1:58.24); 2. Jarod Hulsizer, Kalama, jr. (2:01.78); 3. Brock Schoene, Seton Catholic, soph. (2:02.21).
1,600: 1. Jarod Hulsizer, Kalama, jr. (4:37.33); 2. Alan Ensastegui, Forks, sr. (4:38.84); 3. Dorion Dewitt, Eatonville, sr. (4:40.62).
3,200:
110 hurdles: 1. Jeremy Scott, La Center, jr. (16.64); 2. Nihls Peterson, Tenino, sr. (16.85); 3. Ryan Donohue, Eatonville, soph. (16.92).
300 hurdles: 1. Jeremy Scott, La Center, jr. (42.47); 2. Artimus Johnson, Hoquiam, jr. (42.82); 3. Ryan Donohue, Eatonville, soph. (43.13).
4x100 relay: 1. Hoquiam (Chris Smith, jr.; Artimus Johnson, jr.; Trystan Skorzewski, sr.; Anthony Nash, jr.), 44.7; 2. Eatonville (Ray Springer, jr.; Logan Moose, sr.; Zarak Scruggs, jr.; Josehia Hotz, sr.), 44.76; 3. Elma (Dylan Bennett, sr.; Brandon Butcher, jr.; Ira Hartford, jr.; Jake Zwarun, sr.), 44.85.
4x400 relay: 1. Montesano (Donovan Albert, soph.; Keegan Darst, sr.; Conner Lovell, sr.; Logan Truax, sr.), 3:29.77; 2. Elma (Dylan Bennett, sr.; Brandon Butcher, jr.; Ira Hartford, jr.; Lukas Starks, sr.), 3:32.79; 3. La Center (Jeremy Scott, jr.; Kellan Sullivan, sr.; Thomas Dreyer, soph.; Tanner Dreyer, soph.), 3:35.7.
Shot put: 1. Talib Meeks, Castle Rock, sr. (42-02½); 2. Jack Burnham, Tenino, jr. (44-03½); 3. Colton McLucas, Hoquiam, sr. (44-½).
Discus: 1. Talib Meeks, Castle Rock, sr. (136-04); 2. Asa Quimby, Elma, sr. (135-02); 3. Cole Baysinger, Forks, soph. (132-01).
Javelin: 1. Ryan Espedal, Hoquiam, jr. (161-0); 2. Dustin Johnson, King’s Way Christian, sr. (153-02); 3. Nick Lamberton, Seton Catholic, jr. (146-09).
High jump: 1. Cole Baysinger, Forks, soph. (6-0); 2. Conner Lovell, Montesano, sr. (5-10); 3. Nihls Peterson, Tenino, sr. (J5-10).
Pole vault: 1. Luke Nichols, Stevenson, jr. (12-09); 2. Tucker Buffington, Eatonville, jr. (12-06); 3. Tucker Wetmore, Kalama, soph. (12-03).
Long jump: 1. Ray Springer, Eatonville, jr. (21-½); 2. Thomas Dreyer, La Center, soph. (20-02½); 3. Kyle Gonzales, King’s Way Christian, sr. (19-06¾).
Triple jump: 1. Logan Truax, Montesano, sr. (42-11); 2. Zarak Scruggs, Eatonville, jr. (42-½); 3. Chase Blankenship, Tenino, soph. (41-02).
GIRLS
100: 1. Kari Staples, King’s Way Christian, sr. (13.22); 2. Alexa Graddy, Eatonville, sr. (13.38); 3. Rilea Wolfe, La Center, jr. (13.50).
200: 1. Emma Skinner, Hoquiam, jr. (26.48); 2. Brailee VandenBoom, Eatonville, sr. (26.9); 3. Kari Staples, King’s Way Christian, sr. (26.93).
400: 1. Elena Carrion, Seton Catholic, soph. (1:00.47); 2. Elyse Goulet, Hoquiam, fr. (1:03.33); 3. Laynie Erickson, La Center, fr. (1:03.61).
800: 1. Jorie Freitag, Seton Catholic, sr. (2:26.94); 2. Emily Padgett, Eatonville, jr. (2:28.56); 3. Aidan Liddiard, Columbia (White Salmon), sr. (2:29.58).
1,600: 1. Jenna Melanson, La Center, sr. (5:21.23); 2. Megan McDaid-O’Neill, Seton Catholic, jr. (5:39.31); 3. Rachel Luther, Columbia (White Salmon), soph. (5:39.8).
3,200: 1. Jenna Melanson, La Center, sr. (11:15.87)*; 2. Isabelle Snyder, Eatonville, soph. (11:52.82); 3. Megan McDaid-O’Neill, Seton Catholic, jr. (11:57.84).
100 hurdles: 1. Alondra Garcia-Casarez, Columbia (White Salmon), soph. (16.86); 2. Madison Schupbach, Montesano, soph. (17.43); 3. Sarah Turcic, King’s Way Christian, fr. (17.55).
300 hurdles: 1. Sarah Turcic, King’s Way Christian, fr. (48.49); 2. Jasmine Cooper, Kalama, jr. (49.12); 3. Alondra Casarez-Garcia, Columbia (White Salmon), soph. (49.25).
4x100 relay: 1. Eatonville (Natasha Henley, jr.; Alexa Graddy, sr.; Skyler Simon, fr.; Brailee VandenBoom, sr.), 51.79; 2. King’s Way Christian (Haley Hutchin, soph.; Madi Bertrand, fr.; Tasia Roderick, fr.; Kari Staples, sr.), 52.56; 3. Montesano (Taylor Birdsall, sr.; Shayla Floch, jr.; Jennifer Johnson, sr.; Madison Schupbach, soph.), 52.84.
4x200 relay: 1. Eatonville (Natasha Henley, jr.; Alexa Graddy, sr.; Kaitlyn Rath, fr.; Brailee VandenBoom, sr.), 1:05.03; 2. King’s Way Christian (Haley Hutchin, soph.; Madi Bertrand, fr.; Tasia Roderick, fr.; Kari Staples, sr.), 1:50.56; 3. Hoquiam (Kayla Delahanty, soph.; Elyse Goulet, fr.; Karlie Krohn, soph.; Emma Skinner, jr.), 1:50.99.
4x400 relay: 1. Seton Catholic (Susanna McNichol, fr.; Kennedy Lake, jr.; Jorie Freitag, sr.; Elena Carrion, soph.), 4:15.99; 2. Hoquiam (Kayla Delahanty, soph.; Courtney McCormick, jr.; Alexis Delahanty, soph.; Elyse Goulet, fr.), 4:18.34; 3. Elma (Maddie Clark, fr.; Cheyanne Jines, jr.; Jayla Mason, fr.; Yarely Rojas, jr.), 4:19.89.
Shot put: 1. Jordin Spradlin, Montesano, jr. (44-7); 2. Megan Peterson, Elma, sr. (36-03); 3. Stacia Bell, Columbia (White Salmon), sr. (33-07).
Discus: 1. Jordan Spradlin, Montesano, jr. (131-10); 2. Stacia Bell, Columbia (White Salmon), sr. (118-03); 3. Shelby Vermeulen, La Center, sr. (113-09).
Javelin: 1. Kaelyn Shipley, Kalama, jr. (150-01)*; 2. Samantha Swartout, Eatonville, soph. (114-04); 3. Sierra Block, La Center, sr. (113-03).
High jump: 1. Brailee VandenBoom, Eatonville, sr. (5-02); 2. Shayla Floch, Montesano, jr. (J5-02); 3. Lauren Thiesies, Columbia (White Salmon), sr. (5-0).
Pole vault: 1. Madeline Madison, Eatonville, jr. (8-0); 2. Josie Partridge, Seton Catholic, soph. (J8-0); 3. Rachel Zolp, Stevenson, jr. (7-06).
Long jump: 1. Shayla Floch, Montesano, jr. (16-07¼); 2. Sierra Block, La Center, sr. (15-10¾); 3. Lizzy Capoeman, Hoquiam, soph. (15-03¼)
Triple jump: 1. Kennedy Lake, Seton Catholic, jr. (32-03½); 2. Natasha Henley, Eatonville, jr. (32-02); 3. Jaelin Hotz, Eatonville, fr. (31-11½).
* - 1A Southwest District meet record
This story was originally published May 19, 2016 at 10:22 PM with the headline "Elma sends three relays to state."