The Vashon High school track and field team had its strongest showing of the season on Thursday, May 5, when the Vashon girls won their meet at Cascade Christian and the boys placed second.
As the Pirates stepped onto the track for their last league meet of the season, they were determined to represent themselves well as a team. The maximum number of events an athlete can compete in is four, and many Vashon athletes loaded up on events to attain the highest score overall.
This effort resulted in three hours of non-stop action for the Vashon coaches and spectators, and it would pay off for the Pirates in the end.
For the first time this season, the Vashon girls claimed an overall victory with 95 points. Cascade Christian was 11 points behind with 84 points. Seattle Christian took third with 41 points, followed by Life Christian with 2 points.
The boys also had a breakthrough of their own, placing second overall with 78 points. Seattle Christian followed with 26 and Life Christian had 17. Cascade Christian won the meet with 96 points.
Claiming victory for the boys team in the 100 meters at a time of 11.8 and in the 200 meters in 24.7 was James Spencer. Colin Andrus also won the 800 meters, stopping the watch at 2:12.
In the boys 1600, Andrus won again with a personal best time of 4:45, followed by Aidan Cyra in second, also with a personal best of 5:03.
In the 300 meter hurdles it was a clean sweep with Sage Everett, Codi Williams and DJ Barnes breaking the tape, all with personal bests.
Tyler Stoffer had a leap of 5’10” in the high jump and finished second.
The girls also turned in stellar performances. Alia Payne won the 800 meters in 2:39, which is the fourth-fastest in the league this year.
Maddi Groen won the 1600 meters in 6:25, and the girls’ 3200 saw a pirate sweep with Groen winning in 13:23, followed by Peri Roberts in second and Savannah Krug in third.
Erica Walker threw personal bests in javelin and discus, as did Kirsti Edwards in the javelin.
Vashon coaches and athletes were all enthused about the overall performance of the team. This Thursday and Friday, the Nisqually League championship meet will take place at Orting Middle School at one of the best stadium and track facilities in the area.
At this two-day meet, the top athletes will advance to the 1A tri-district championships.
— Kevin Ross is a track and field coach at Vashon High School.
