On May 13 and 14, the Pirate track and field team traveled to Orting for the first time in many seasons for the Nisqually League Championships. Orting had just completed construction of a new track facility.

Senior Kate Straube placed first and took the Nisqually League title in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 50.5 seconds. Straube, who was an exchange student in Germany last year, also qualified for the district meet in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.4 seconds.

Other athletes on the girls’ team who will participate in the finals for tri-districts — comprised of 17 schools representing the Nisqually, Emerald City and Whatcom leagues — are Savannah Krug in the 800 meters and the Pirates’ 4×400 relay team consisting of Kate Struabe, Emma Lodes, Alia Payne and Samantha Clements.

The district qualifiers for the guys includes Marshal Montgomery in the javelin, Tyler Stoffer in the high jump, the 110-meter high hurdles and 300-meter hurdles, Landon Summers in the high jump, Colin Andrus in the 800 meters and James Spencer in the 400-meter dash.

Emma Levant, a Vashon resident who attends Charles Wright Academy, also participated in the league championship, placing second in the 100-meter hurdles, second in the long jump and third in the 300-meter hurdles. Levant was also a member of the Charles Wright winning 4×400 relay team. As one of the top four finishers in each event, she will attend Tri-Districts.

The Tri-District championship meet will take place at King’s High School in Shoreline May 20 to 22. The top six girls and top five boys from each event there will advance to the state meet in Cheney.

— Kevin Ross