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WARMUPS – La Conner’s Sophie Thulen during the preliminary heats for the women’s 100 meter hurdles at the State Track Meet on Friday. – Photo by Jason Miller, courtesy Concrete Herald
La Conner High teams went to great lengths to stay in the running at the State 2B Track Meet in Cheney.
Making their third trip to Eastern Washington this spring, La Conner thinclads went the distance — and then some — while facing top entrants from both sides of the mountains last Friday and Saturday.
Braves’ sprinter Mitchell Grant thrived in the highly competitive climate, showing few ill effects from waging an uphill battle to medal in one of the State Meet’s more grueling doubles — the 200 and 400 meter dashes.
Each boasted a tough field this year, yet Grant emerged with precious metal in both cases.
The La Conner junior won silver in the 400, clocking a time of :50.87, just off the pace set by Northwest Christian-Colbert’s Jack Ammon.
Grant also mined bronze at 200 meters with a :22.86 finish.
He later joined La Conner teammates Rafael Ponce-Venegas, Kolbe Rasler, and Harrison Orkney to place fourth in the mile relay as the Braves finished 10th overall among three dozen schools represented on the boys’ State leaderboard.
The Lady Braves, with middle and long-distance standout Jessica Kiser producing three Top Ten finishes, placed 24th on their side of the State Meet.
Kiser capped a superb senior campaign with seventh place efforts in the 800 and 1600 meters, and a 10th in the 3200.
She hit the tape at 2:32.38 in the 800, and was clocked at 5:38.64 in the 1600.
Her 3200 time was 13:09.61.
Like Grant, Kiser was likewise a presence in the State relays. She teamed with Anna Cook, Nicole Henriksen, and Heather Henriksen to give La Conner a sixth place finish in the girls’ 4x400 meter event.
The Lady Brave quartet finished the mile relay in 4:25.71.
It was part of a busy weekend for Cook, who was 10th in the triple jump, at 32’-9 ¼”.
Depth and versatility were key for both La Conner groups.
Ponce-Venegas reached the final in the boys’ 800 meters, placing seventh at 2:03.92, a race that saw Chandler Teigen of Asotin and Liberty Bell’s Liam Daily each easily break the two-minute mark.
La Conner sophomore Josh Summers, meanwhile, clinched a tie for eighth in the high jump, clearing the bar at 5’-8”.
Raymond won the State 2B Boys’ team crown, edging runner-up Liberty Bell 55-47. The Braves totaled 23.5 points.
Colfax claimed the 2B girls’ team title, running away from second place Northwest Christian-Lacey 99-65. The Lady Braves bested by one point Riverside Christian and North Beach, who tied for 25th.
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