Vashon High School senior Colin Andrus qualified to compete at the state 1A track and field championships, which will take place this weekend.

Andrus secured a berth in the state meet when he placed fourth in the 800 meters at the Tri-District tournament, held last Thursday and Saturday at King’s High School in Shorline. 

Andrus also just missed setting a Vashon  record when he finished the two-lap race in 1:58.73, the second-fastest finish in VHS history.

From the gun, all eight competitors in the race pushed forward at a fast and frantic pace, which left Andrus temporarily in seventh place, even though he clocked a 58 second split at the conclusion of the first lap. 

Then, looking as confident as ever, he started passing runners until in the final 150 meters, where Colin had positioned himself and held onto fourth place.

“I executed my plan as far as strategy and pacing to perfection,” Andrus said. “This is by far the best race I have ever run. I am very excited to be competing in the state meet.” 

Andrus also qualified to compete in the state cross country meet last year.

He will leave Thrusday for the state competition, which will be held at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, just outside of Spokane. 

Rachel Hoffman, Alia Payne and Samantha Clements also competed at the Tri-district meet last week. 

Hoffman qualified for the finals and placed eighth in the long jump with a leap of 14’10”. She cleared 4’2” in the high jump. 

Alia Payne ran a personal record in the preliminary round of the girls 800 meters by clocking a 2:32.33. However, she missed the finals by three places. 

Samantha Clements set a personal record in the triple jump, covering a distance of 30’4”. 

— Kevin Ross is a track and field coach at Vashon High School.