TACOMA — Arlington’s young field phenoms saved the best for last.

Freshman Blake McPherson and sophomore Stephanie Van Slageren, both javelin throwers, uncorked their best throws of the season at the state tournament, with Van Slageren’s throw good for fourth place in the 4A girls contest.

On her second throw in the second flight, Van Slageren hit a mark of 128-2, over a foot and a half better than her previous best this season and qualified for the event finals with district competitor Kaci Jones of Stanwood, who congratulated her on the throw with a high five. McPherson’s best mark was about three feet longer than his previous best and he placed 10th in his first state contest.

“He didn’t make finals, but that’s pretty stinking good for a freshman,” said Arlington track coach Judd Hunter.

Freshman Max Bryson didn’t quite match his personal best for the season, but hit 6-6 in the boys high jump, where he placed seventh.

With a strong anchor leg by junior Alisha Oden — who came off of a seventh-place finish in the girls 400 finals — the Marysville-Pilchuck 4×400 relay moved up two places from their finals-qualifying race to place sixth in the event. Relay teammate Alexandra McDonald also competed in the girls 100 hurdles, where she placed 13th, and the 300 hurdles, where she placed 11th.

Junior pole vaulter Sarah Clark placed eighth in a three-way tie with a mark of 10-0, earning points for the Tomahawks and senior Jenna Welsh placed 10th in the javelin, her best mark of 115-0 about seven feet short of qualifying for finals.

The M-P boys 4×400 relay placed eighth in their heat and 13th overall with a time of 3:26.86, the squad’s best time all season, according to senior Travis Sanderson, who ran on the team. It was the first time the relay had qualified for state in several years.

“The younger guys were a little disappointed, but Dylan (Knudson, a senior) and I weren’t,” he said. Sanderson said he plans to join the Marines this year and hopes to continue competing in track events in the military.

Marysville-Pilchuck junior Alisha Oden also placed 15th in the girls 200, Arlington senior Amanda Wreggelsworth placed 16th in the 300 hurdles and the Tomahawk girls 4×100 relay of Summer Cull, Cali Cull, Dacia Heckendorf and Oden placed 13th with a time of 50.74. Cali Cull, a junior at M-P, placed 16th in the triple jump with a mark of 33-8, after scratching on two other attempts. Arlington junior Virginia Wilson competed in the girls high jump, but failed to make height.