BELLINGHAM – The runners at Lakewood High School broke two school records and set many personal ones at the Birger Solberg Invitational at the Civic Field Athletic Complex in Bellingham on April 6.

“We had 60 kids that competed and they all did really well,” said head coach Jeff Sowards. “We had two school records broken. One was Ellen Knowles, who broke the record in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, and Ariel Jensen, who broke the record in the 800-meter.”

Knowles, a sophomore, finished with a time of 9:05.7 and Jensen finished with a time of 2:19.34.

“A couple of our other outstanding performances include Skylar Cannon, who took second place in javelin,” said Sowards. “She had one of her best series of throws ever probably, they were all in the 120s, so that was good.”

Junior Cannon’s final throw, which put her in second place, was 122-10.

On the boys side of things, both sprinters and distance runners made great strides.

“Ryan Whitehead, who was running in the slow heat, actually ended up being the fourth fastest in the 300-meter hurdles with a new personal record,” said Sowards. “It was a great performance by him.”

Junior Whitehead finished the hurdles with a time of 43.47.

“Douglas Davis ran a league-leading time in the 3,200-meter and placed sixth,” said Sowards. Sophomore Davis finished with a time of 10:03.9.

On Saturday, April 13, the Cougars are sending 20 athletes to the Pasco Invite, the largest single-day high school track and field event in the nation.

“There are teams from all over — Washington, Oregon, Idaho — and the standards are very stiff to get in,” said Sowards. “We are sending 20 kids this year, which is our largest contingent that we’ve taken. You go to a meet like that to prepare for the state meet.”