With 2A State Championships set to start this Thursday and run for three days at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma, and 1A/2B/1B State Championships set to start on the same day at Eisenhower High School in Yakima, here are a few of the athletes to watch in each classification before the events begin.
2A Boys - Mount Tahoma Stadium (Tacoma)
Lucas Hoff, W.F. West: The junior is one of the top javelin throwers in the state, and with a district-seeded throw of 153 feet, 6 inches, and more in the tank, Hoff could threaten to place at the state championships as the No. 7 seed.
John Hoffer, Tumwater: Finishing fifth at the cross country state championships last fall, Hoffer is also an exceptional distance runner on the track, coming in with the 10th-fastest seeded 3200-meter time and the ninth-fastest seeded 1600-meter time in the field.
2A Girls - Mount Tahoma Stadium (Tacoma)
Amanda Bennett, W.F. West: Coming in with the furthest javelin toss in the 2A classification across the state, Bennett is the top seed in the javelin and could be in good position to medal after finishing just short of making state a year ago as a freshman. The sophomore also anchors the Bearcats’ 4x200-meter relay, looking to upset a few teams and make the finals after earning the final berth at the district race.
Annabelle Clapp, Tumwater: One of just five athletes in the field with a sub-minute 400-meter dash, and also a top-5 seed in the 800-meter run, Clapp could be poised for a few medals on the track for the Thunderbirds, while also helping out Tumwater’s 4x200-meter relay as one of the top-seeded teams in the field.
1A Boys - Eisenhower High School (Yakima)
Carson Schall, Tenino: Though Schall didn’t finish in the top-3 in districts and earn the automatic qualifier to the state championships, his time at districts was so fast that he reached the state standard and advanced as a wild card in the 110-meter hurdles and could turn some heads in a strong field.
1A Girls - Eisenhower High School (Yakima)
Trinity Tafoya, Tenino: With a legit shot at a medal, Tafoya is the sixth seed in the shot put finals, with a district toss of 36 feet, 7 inches. A three-sport athlete at Tenino, Tafoya could cap a stellar prep career with a medal with a strong showing in Yakima.
2B Boys - Eisenhower High School (Yakima)
Conner Olmstead, Toledo: The senior Riverhawk is in good position for several state championships, as a top-half seed in each event he’s taking part in Yakima this weekend. Olmstead has the third-highest high jump mark (6 feet, 1 inch), third-fastest 400-meter time (51.12), and is a key piece on both the Toledo 4x100 and 4x400-meter relays, which will compete for state titles on the championship’s final day Saturday.
Max O’Neill, Napavine: One of the most well-rounded athletes in the area, O’Neill made state in two sprint events, a throwing event, and a jumping event and will be a busy athlete this weekend. The senior has the top-seeded 100-meter dash (11.03), is one of two runners in the field with a sub-23 second 200-meter dash (22.85), and should challenge to place in the shot put (40 feet, 10 inches) and long jump (19 feet, 2.5 inches).
2B Girls - Eisenhower High School (Yakima)
Brooklyn Sandridge, Onalaska: The Logger senior has the second-fastest seeded 300-meter hurdle time in the field (49.56), is in the top group of the girls discus (104 feet, 8 inches), and could make a run (and jump) in the long jump with a seeded jump of 15 feet, 1.5 inches), but a personal best 16 feet, 3 inches, which would be the second-furthest jump in the field.
Morgan Hamilton, Napavine: A four-event qualifier, the senior could make some noise in the 100-meter dash (13.08), 400-meter dash (1:02.56), long jump (15 feet, 3 inches), and as the leadoff of Napavine’s 4x100-meter relay (53.36).
1B Boys - Eisenhower High School (Yakima)
Carter Phelps, Pe Ell: The Trojans’ hurdler extraordinaire has the second-fastest seeded time in the 110-meter hurdles (15.85), and the third-fastest in the 300-meter hurdles (42.82), while also running with Pe Ell’s 4x400-meter relay as its second leg.
Christian Paz Tapia, Mossyrock: The sixth seed in the 800-meter run (2:10.34) and the fourth seed in the 1600-meter run (4:46.98), Paz Tapia has a good shot at medaling in each event he’s running in, including as Mossy’s leadoff in the 4x400-meter relay and as an alternate on its 4x100.
1B Girls - Eisenhower High School (Yakima)
Caelyn Marshall, Mossyrock: Class 1B’s top seed in the javelin, the reigning state third-place finisher will look for her first individual title this year after tossing a season-best 119 feet, 6 inches to win districts. Marshall is also the third leg of Mossy’s 4x100-meter relay, and serves as an alternate on its 4x400.
Charlie Carper, Pe Ell: The Trojans’ lone girls state participant, Carper is a four-event qualifier, with solid times in the 100-meter dash (13.58), 100-meter hurdles (17.11), 300-meter hurdles (52.11), and a good leap in the long jump (14 feet, 5 inches).