Eight La Conner High thinclads make state trials

La Conner High School’s Tommy Murdock qualified for the 2023 Washington State 2B Track & Field Championships in Yakima May 25-27.

Murdock captured top honors in the boys’ Northwest Bi-District 110 and 300-meter hurdles events in Coupeville on Saturday. He leads eight La Conner students into the three-day state trials next week.

Murdock ran a 15.45 in the 110s and a 40.07 in the 300s.

But that tells only half the story.

The junior also secured state berths in the 100 meters, which he won with a 12.53 clocking and as a member of the Braves’ triumphant 4x400 meter relay team, which posted a 3.37.86 finish.

Murdock was joined on the mile relay by Jacob Pommels, Isaac Kitchen and Thomas Kitchen.

Pommels, a senior, will also compete in the 200 meters, which he claimed with a personal best 23.45.

Senior Isaiah Price punched his ticket to state with a bi-district best javelin toss of 137-2.

On the girls’ side, Lydia Grossglass, Morgan Huizenga and Maeve McCormick qualified for state.

Grossglass placed first in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 52.13. Huizenga recorded a personal best and first place finish with a toss of 101-10 in the javelin. McCormick prevailed in the long jump at 15-0, also a new personal mark.

While only bi-district first place finishers advance to state, there were several other performances meriting attention.

Pommels finished second to Murdock in the 100-meter dash at 12.64. Thomas Kitchen (24.09) and Simon Bouwens (24.36) ran second and third, in the 200, each setting personal records.

Isaac Kitchen, runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles, finished with a personal best time of 17.30. He set a personal standard in the 300-meter hurdles, placing second in 44.72.

Brenden Kitchen ran his best time in the 400 meters, placing third in 57.22. Floyd Dent clocked a personal best in the 3200 meters, finishing fifth at 11:56.41.

Pommels, Price, Thomas Kitchen and Kali Adams were silver medalists in the 4x100 relay, crossing the finish line in 45.99.

Alexzander Martin, with a heave of 103-6, finished second in the discus.

Huizenga was second in the bi-district girls’ high jump at 4-10.

Grossglass and Emily Smith recorded new personal bests with bronze medal finishes. Grossglass reeled off a 13.87 in the 100 meters and Smith went 25-2.75 in the triple jump.

Josie Adams was fourth in the discus with a top personal throw of 66-3.

Coupeville swept the bi-district team competitions.

The Coupeville boys outdistanced second place La Conner 194-146. Friday Harbor (131) was third and Northwest Christian of Lacey (39) ran fourth.

The Coupeville girls outpaced Friday Harbor 225-109. La Conner (83) edged Northwest Christian of Lacey (72) for third.