On Thursday, March 24, the Vashon track and field team found themselves a little shorthanded due to finals week as they headed to their second meet of the year at Orting High School. Chimacum and Cascade Christian also competed.

In the boys’ meet, Orting came in first with 103 points, Chimacum followed with 81, Cascade Christian had 30 and Vashon had 20. 

Orting also won the girls’ meet with 137 points, followed by Cascade Christian with 63, Chimacum with 22 and Vashon with 20. 

Pirate highlights included Colin Andrus winning both the 800 meter in  2:11 and the mile in 4:58.

James Spencer took first in the 200, winning in 24.13. In the discus event, Stephan Cooper set a personal record by over 8 feet with a throw of 65 feet, 10.5 inches. 

For the girls, Taylor Hernandez placed third in the 100-meter hurdles, with a time of 21.46, and Alia Payne had a third-place finish in the 400 meters at 1:07.79. 

Maddi Groen had a pair of third place finishes as well. In the 3200 she covered the eight laps in 14:18, and she had a time of 6:37 in the 1600. 

Coach Marcella Murphy said she is pleased at the progress and enthusiasm that the team is showing at this point in the season. 

The Pirates’ next meet is at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 31 at Charles Wright.

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