La Conner thinclad makes splash at elite Solberg meet

La Conner High track team members did their Civic duty on Saturday.

As in taking part in the elite Birger Solberg Invitational at Civic Stadium in Bellingham, one of only two high school meets in Washington state that stages the iconic steeplechase event.

The grueling 2,000 meter contest challenges entrants with a series of obstacles, most notably a water hazard.

And, in the case of Civic Stadium, a water hazard stocked with goldfish.

La Conner’s Budda Luna, a multi-sport standout for the Braves, went fishing for gold of another sort when he joined the two-dozen member steeplechase field assembled in Bellingham.

Luna didn’t medal, but did keep his head well above water in an event for which it is obviously difficult to train and prepare. Few high schools have a water hazard area where the steeplechase – which basically combines distance running and hurdling – can be regularly practiced.

Thus the beauty of landmark Civic Stadium, home to the Western Washington University track team, and site of numerous collegiate competitions. Steeplechase has long been among the more popular events on the college circuit.

For fans, that is.

Contestants often hit the finish line exhausted, banged up, and occasionally sopping wet.

Luna, for his part, completed the Bellingham course in Boeing time – clocking a 7:47.88 in Saturday’s steeplechase final.

That placed him squarely in the middle of the pack, sandwiched between Mitchell Pelzer of Mount Baker and Ian McGaughey of Meadowdale.

Luna would further showcase his versatility with a 19’-1¾” effort in the long jump, good for a Top Ten finish.

Luna’s teammate, fellow La Conner High senior Brady Nelson, continued his superb work of late in the javelin. Nelson, an Everett Community College signee, mined silver at Bellingham with a toss of 159’-9”. Only Steven Bucy of Kamiak bettered that throw.

La Conner’s Geoffrey McGaughey, who came in seventh, and Kaden Murdock 13th, were also part of the javelin field.

Nelson, for his part, added an 11th place finish in the high jump.

McGaughey placed ninth in the shot put with a heave of 42’-11 1/4”.

Other notable Braves’ finishes included freshman Charlie Cram in the 1,600, 19th, and 3,200 meters, 31st ; Kolbe Rasler in the 200, 27th, and 400 meters, 16th; Arjuna Adams in the 300 meter hurdles, 18th; and Murdock in the discus, fifth.

Murdock outdistanced by more than six feet Jon Cox of Lakewood for a Top Five finish.

On the girls’ side, La Conner’s Sarah Hastings won bronze in the discus at 107’-10”, and placed fourth in shot put with a 34’-0” toss.

Sofie Thulen picked up fourth place honors in the 100 meter hurdles with a :16.77 clocking, and was fourth in the 300 hurdles with :49.08, as well.

Lady Braves sprinter Emma Lee was fifth in the 100 meters at :13.17 and seventh in the 200 with a :27.75 finish.

Sage Burgmeier placed 10th in the javelin with a 96’-6” throw, a four-foot cushion over Makenna Peterson of Sedro-Woolley, who was 11th in a 30-entrant field.

Brianna Porter, who was 19th in the 400 meters, added a 17th place finish in the javelin.

The La Conner thinclads continue to go places in more ways than one.

After yesterday’s league meet in Mount Vernon, the Braves and Lady Braves travel on Saturday to the multi-regional Cashmere Invitational.