MARYSVILLE — The Cougar track and field team once again made an impression at the Tomahawk Classic on Saturday, April 27, at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
“Don’t wait, don’t wait. Believe! Believe!” cheered head coach Jeff Sowards as the boys 4×800-meter relay team of Drew Cabales, Alex Cooper, Peter Espinoza and Jake Ryan made its way around the Quil Ceda Stadium track.
“I am so inspired right now,” said Lakewood girls pole vaulter Taylor Studzinski as she looked on. “Coach Sowards is the most inspirational person. He’s not even cheering me right now, but I am inspired anyway.”
The cheering must have had the same impact on the relay team, as Ryan crossed the finish line ahead of all other runners. The team took first place with a final time of 8:46.58.
Studzinski and fellow pole vaulter Tasha Del Pozo may have used that inspiring support to take top spots in their event as well. Studzinski placed seventh with a final height of eight feet, while Del Pozo placed 11th with a height of seven feet.
Cougar junior Skylar Cannon took first place in the girls javelin with a distance of 117 feet, 11 inches.
Justin Peterson won the high jump with a height of six feet.
Senior Ariel Jensen took first in the 800-meter race with a final time of 2:24.59, which was her second fastest time this year.
Junior Andrew Stich took first place in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.17, and second place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 41.30. Junior Ryan Whitehead took third place with a time of 42.84.
The invitational hosted 12 teams from across Washington, from 1A to 4A classifications.
“Randy Davis and his volunteer staff did a great job of putting it on,” said Sowards of the meet. “Our kids did pretty well. On the boys side, we took second place overall and we held our own against some pretty good teams.”
It was the last regular season meet for the Cougars, who move on to the Cascade Conference Championships on Thursday, May 2, at King’s High School at 4:30 p.m. Only the top 16 individuals from the conference qualify for that meet, however, those who don’t qualify will compete in a last-chance meet at Sultan High School on Friday, May 3.
M-P athletes also had some standout performances at the Tomahawk Classic.
For the boys, Austin Joyner took first place in the 100-meters with a time of 11.73, while Deion Stell finished in first place in the 200-meters with a time of 23.05.
M-P’s 4×100 relay team of Joyner, Clifford Paulk, Chris Jones and Stell crossed the line in first place with a time of 44.06.
With a throw of 48-04.50, M-P’s Juan Ventura took third place in the shot put.
The Tommies’ Chris Jones took third place in the long jump with a leap of 19-06.50. In the triple jump, Zach Verge finished in third place with a jump of 40-09.50.
For the M-P girls, Amanda Klep finished in second place in the 100-meters with a time of 13.24 and she finished in second place in the 200-meters with a time of 26.35. Lacy McLean finished in first place in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 48.37.
M-P’s 4×100 relay team of Bianca Acuario, Klep, Mackenzie Nolte and McLean finished in second place with a time of 50.92, while the 4×400 relay team of Bri King, Ryleigh Wolfington, Klep and Nolte ran to a second-place finish with a time of 4:11.70.
The Tommies’ Anglica Cleveland had a third-place finish in the discus with a throw of 100-07.
The Tomahawks compete next on Friday, May 3, at the Stanwood Invite which begins at 4:30 p.m., at Stanwood High School.
