SNOHOMISH — Mark Pangilinan’s stature might be unorthodox for a hurdler, but then again, it’s nice to be different. After all, most people don’t a state berth, let alone four.
Leading the Marysville-Pilchuck boys track team to a second-place finish at the District 1 meet May 21, Pangilinan, a senior, earned a title in the 100-meter, finishing with at time of 11.06.
“I was most definitely expecting to go far in a lot of my races,” he said. “You get to run against the same guys for three years and it’s really fun when a couple of new guys come in, but you get to know everyone.”
Along with the 100-meter race, Pangilinan was a member of the top finishing 4×100 relay team (43.25) with A.J. Kvangnes, Tyler Thompson and Cody House. But sprinting wasn’t the only talent Pangilinan displayed, as he finished third in both the 100-meter hurdles (14.76) and the 300-meter hurdles (40.57).
“Speed,” he said. “That’s most of where it comes from. I get out of the blocks much faster than most of the guys because I run the 100, but I haven’t really raced much in the 300, so that was a surprise.”
The Tomahawk boys finished with 84 points with Jackson earning the title at 106.
Other Tomahawk boys earning a state berth were Cody House, who finished third in the 400 with a time of 51.89 and Connor Hemming, who was second in the pole vault at 13-03. The top three finishers in individual events and relays earned a trip to the 4A state tournament, which is at Mount Tahoma, May 27-29.
The girls were led by district champion pole vaulter Sarah Clark. Clark highlighted a trio of pole vaulters that swept the state berths, earning all three spots. Behind Clark’s height of 10-06 was senior Riley Taitingfong and sophomore Summer Cull, who both reached a height of 9-09.
Also reaching state individually was Cali Cull in the long jump, who traveled 16-08.25, earning third place.
Both Cull sisters were members of the title-winning 4×400 relay team, and the second-place 4×100 relay team, which finished in 3:59.35 and 49.84, respectively. Those teams were also comprised of senior Alisha Oden and junior Dacia Heckendorf.
The M-P girls finished fourth as a team, scoring 90 points with top honors going to Stanwood at 118.
GRACE GIRLS 4×100 RELAY EARNS TITLE
Grace Academy’s 4×100 girls relay took home the Eagles’ only tri-district crown at King’s May 21. The team, consisting of Katie Mittelstaedt, Sydney Holt, Amanday Lyons and Sarah Wennersten, finished the race in 54.31 to earn top honors.
That was one of two Grace relays to earn a trip to state, with the 4×200 team of Lyons, Holt, Nieka Moss and Sarah Wennersten finishing in 1:54.55 to earn third place. The top three individuals and relay teams advanced. Moss also finished second in the triple jump at 31-02.
For the boys, senior Garrett Weinberg led the way with a second-place showing in the 100 meter with a time of 12.16.
COUGARS’ SCOTT EARNS A PAIR OF STATE BERTHS
Lakewood junior Andre Scott led the way for the Cougars, earning state slots in both the long jump (20-11) and the high jump (42-10.75) after finishing runner-up in both events.
The top four individuals and relay teams earned spots at the 2A state meet. Other boys traveling to Mount Tahoma are freshman Justin Peterson in the high jump (6-0) , senior Blair Diamond in the 110-meter hurdles (15.69), senior Taylor Guske in the1,600 (4:25.84) and the 3,200 (9:34.46), and senior Hick Howe in the 800 (1:59.06).
Kelsey Anderson finished fourth in the 800 for the girls with a time of 2:27.14 to earn a state spot, along with senior Chrystle Clark in the 100-meter hurdles (16.31) and junior Samantha Adams in the javelin (104-02).
