he Pirate track and field team hosted a meet last Thursday, with the action taking place at Charles Wright Academy because Vashon’s track doesn’t meet the standards to host an official meet. The other participating schools were Bellevue Christian, Chimacum and Charles Wright.

The Pirate tracksters had several outstanding performances that led to a few first-place finishes that day.

Garrett Starr, a junior who competed in his first-ever track meet, took first in both the long jump and triple jump events. His long jump of 19 feet, 5 inches, was the seventh longest leap by 1A track competitors so far this season.

Starr also leapt 38 feet, 1 inch, in the triple jump and also placed second in the 100 meter race in 12.2.

Freshman Annika Hille helped the girls team with a first-place win in the 100 meters in 13.45. She also won the long jump event with a leap of 15 feet, 2 inches. Hille also tied for first with Shelby Hall of Bellevue Christian in the triple jump at 30 feet, 3.5 inches. Hille capped off her busy afternoon with a second-place finish in the 200 meters with a time of 26.88. Katie Mayer of Charles Wright just edged her out at the finish line. Hille and Mayer have the two fastest times in the state for 1A girls track so far.

Italian exchange student Giacomo Paganoni ran to a second-place finish in the 400 meters in 57.89, and junior Maddi Groen placed second in the 800 meters in 2:46, just shy of a personal record.

Other notable performances were senior Elan Peterson placing third in the triple jump at 32 feet, 6 inches, and senior Olin Nespor placing third in the boys 800 meters in 2:20. The next track meet for the Pirates is scheduled for Thursday, April 18, back at Charles Wright. This time the Tarriers will be hosting. Cedar Park Christian will compete as well.

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