The Nisqually League track and field championships, which took place last Thursday and Friday, showcased athletic talent from Vashon High School and seven other schools that participated in the shadow of Mount Rainier at Orting Middle School.

After scores from the many events at the championships were added up, the Orting High School girls, with 198 points, and the Charels Wright boys, with 162.5 points, took home trophies and the titles of Nisqually League champions. Vashon’s girls team took fifth overall with 48.3 points. The boys took sixth with 44 points.

Several Vashon athletes qualified at the meet to move on to the Tri-district championships, which will be held at King’s High School in Shoreline this Thursday and Saturday.

Rachel Hoffman will move on to districts in both the high jump and long jump, as she cleared 4’6” in the high jump and set a personal record of 15’2” in the long jump to take third place.

Alia Payne ran a time of 2:38 in the 188 meters to place fourth and qualify for districts. 

Colin Andrus will represent the Pirate boys in the 800 meters, as he finished second in a time of 2:02. Andrus and Habtamu Rubio of Port Townsend were fighting it out in the last 150 meters. 

To advance to the Tri-district meet, athletes must have placde in the top four at this meet or have one of the next best four times that are combined with the other league meets. It is possible that there may be more Pirates that have qualified after the press deadline.

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