The Vashon Pirate track and field teams did well at the Lewis River Invitational at Ridgefield High School on Saturday, April 26.

The Pirate girls placed third out of eight teams with 84 points, and the boys placed fifth out of eight teams with 38 points.

“In the sport of track and field the focus can be placed on individuals having great performances,” said coach Kevin Ross.

“However, at Lewis River it was the team that put together a great day of competition with athletes placing in up to four events and competing in extra races to score points for the team,” he added.

The girls 4X400 team ran their fastest race at 4:28.9, placing second just behind Lindbergh High School.

Anchor runner James Spencer wove his way through a crowd of three competitors in the final 80 meters of the race to help the guys 4X400 relay team to a third-place finish in the time of 3:55.11. Spencer also placed third in the boys 400 in 55.12.

Also gutting it out to a personal record in the girls 400 was freshman Emma Lodes in 65.4, placing second.

In a near photo-finish in the girls 100 hurdles, Kate Straube just pulled ahead of Charity Arn from Woodland High School at the tape in a time of 16.58 to get the victory. Straube also came back to win the 300 hurdles at 48.66.

Jacqueline Jewell ran side by side with Anna Resendiz from Lindbergh for much of the girls 3200 before exploding in the final 400 meters and pulling away for the victory in 12:36.

Perhaps the best motivational speech came, said Ross, from assistant coach Lea Heffernan as she put on the line a Blizzard treat from Dairy Queen if Tim Hill could break 120 feet in the javelin. He did not mess around, Ross said. On his third throw, the tape measure read 130’6, placing Hill fourth overall and upgrading the Blizzard into the full meal deal.

Earlier in the week, the Pirates made a return trip to Steilacoom High School on Thursday, April 24, to take on the host Sentinels along with Fife and Life Christian.

Early on in the meet, Jewell won the 3200 in 12:40 and following in second place was teammate Leigh Sheridan at 13:24 to complete a Pirate sweep.

In the 1600, freshman Savannah Krug beat her personal best by 12 seconds as she recorded a 5:45.

The relays had a strong showing with the 4X100 posting a 54.34, picking up their speed from last week’s meet, and the 4X400 ran their fastest time of the season at 4:31.

Senior Keller Cyra had a strong performance for the boy’s team as he ran a 5:03 in the 1600 and high jumped 5’4”. Spencer dropped his 400 time to a 55.44, and freshman Max Gulassa won the Iron man award as he set a personal best in the 1600, 300 hurdles, 800, and 3200, all in the same meet.

Josh Cox went 16’7” in the long jump to help out with scoring for the Pirate boys.

In the throwing events, Tim Hill threw the javelin 113’3 feet, and Hayden Campbell had a mark of 34’5.5 in the shot put.

The final league meet is Thursday, May 1, at Charles Wright Academy with Orting and Foster.