Three Vashon High School athletes competed in the 1A state track and field championships last weekend, and one returned with a medal from the prestigious tournament. Two young islanders who attend private schools in Seattle also put forward award-winning performances at State, which took place at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.
The Vashon standout at the event was easily Abigail Kim, a Seattle Christian freshman who won all three events she competed in, beating mostly older athletes from around the state.
Kim claimed the victory in the girls 100-meter dash in a photo finish with Amarah Nicholson from Medical Lake, as they both sprinted to a time of 12.68.
Kim had a bigger margin of victory over the same competitor in the 200-meter dash to take the state title in 25.54, a personal record for the sprinter. She also stood on top of the podium with a first place finish in the long jump, with a leap of 18 feet, 4.5 inches.
Kim, who competed at the Junior Olympics last year, plays on an elite club soccer team and recently won the state 1A soccer tournament with her Seattle Christian team, said she almost didn’t join the track team at her high school this year because she was so busy with soccer. She’s glad she did, she said, as she enjoyed going to State and especially enjoyed competing alongside her good friend and former McMurray Middle School teammate Annika Hille.
“When we were in middle school we both wanted to go to State together, so we both got to go,” Kim said. “She’s good, too.”
Hille, a freshman at VHS, placed 12th in the triple jump with a best of 32 feet, 9 inches. She also placed 13th in the long jump with a leap of 15 feet, 2 inches.
Sophomore Graham Peet, who attends The Northwest School, brought home a medal from State. He placed fourth in the boys 3,200 meters with a time of 9:50.
VHS senior Landon Summers finished out his high school career on the big stage in Cheney, but missed qualifying for the finals in both the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter hurdles by just one place.
The lone Pirate to brandish a medal at State was junior Garret Starr. Starr made the finals in the boys triple jump and placed eighth overall, allowing him to bring home a piece of hardware. He had a best measurement of 40 feet, 4 inches.
After the tournament, Starr said he was pleased with his performance, as it had been his goal to place in the top eight at State.
“The 1A meet itself was a great atmosphere and very intense,” he said.
— Kevin Ross is a track and field coach at Vashon High School. Natalie Johnson contributed to this report.
