[Editor’s Note: Updated to correct Kari Larson’s events.]
CHENEY — Kari Larson is competing at her fourth straight state track and field meet.
The Forks senior will run the 800- and 1,600-meter races. This is her last chance for a medal.
Spartans coach Pam Gale is impressed, but to her, those races aren’t the craziest thing Larson is doing this week at Eastern Washington University.
She’ll also sing the national anthem at Saturday’s opening ceremonies. And she’s looking forward to it.
“That takes guts,” Gale said. “Running takes guts, but her singing is even more nerve-wracking.”
Larson is one of three Spartans competing along with athletes from Port Townsend and Chimacum at the Class 1A state meet, which begins today and runs through Saturday.
Those three Spartans are competing in five events.
“In all five, we have shots at a medal,” Gale said.
“I hope we’re jingling on the way home.”
Larson has been going to the state tournament every year since she was a freshman.
“This is her fourth trip over here, and . . . I just really think she’s going to win a medal in the 800 or 1,600, I really do,” Gale said.
“It’s just her time. She definitely deserves it.”
Miguel Morales, who won a state wrestling championship earlier this year, is making his third trip to state to compete in the discus.
“We’re just hoping, as a senior, he goes out and has fun and gets a good throw off,” Gale said.
“If he gets a good throw off, he should get a medal.”
Austin Pegram qualified in the 800 and 1,600, and is making his first state appearance.
Pegram, a junior, earned the first individual event win of his career when he took first in the 800 at the Lewis County Invitational in March.
Since then, he has finished in the top four of every 800 and 1,600 race he has run.
He set personal records in both events at the District 4 championships last week.
Pegram has developed a reputation of resiliency.
“When you think Austin is done, he’s not,” Gale said.
Lone Cowboy
Bailey Castillo was the only Chimacum athlete to qualify for the state championships.
This will be Castillo’s second trip to state. As a freshman in 2013, she earned a medal in the javelin by placing seventh.
Since then, the junior has had to fight her way back to Cheney.
She threw the javelin as a sophomore, but was coming back from ACL surgery in her left knee, her plant leg.
“Last year, she was real timid due to her injury. She didn’t want to plant real hard on that one leg,” Cowboys coach Tony Haddenham said.
“As the year’s progressed, she’s gotten more confidence in it.”
Her personal record is 115-02. Equaling that likely would put her back in the medal stand.
“She’s got 115 in her, easy,” Haddenham said. “That’s what she threw as a freshman
“It’s just making sure all the components come together at the right time: How she feels, how the jav comes off her her hand, her ankle. Just have a good throw, basically.
“My expectation for her is to have fun an see what she can throw, and just to experience state again.”
Port Townsend
Ryan Clarke placed fourth in the 3,200 and ninth in the 1,600 for the Redhawks as a junior in 2014.
This past fall, he improved from fifth at the state cross country meet last year to winning a state championship.
He’s due for a similar improvement in track.
“But he has a cold this week,” Port Townsend coach Ian Fraser said.
“It’s kind of a bugaboo on our team.”
Shenoa Snyder (girls discus) and Brennan LaBrie (boys 800) have been even more sick than Clarke.
Other Redhawks, such as Koby Weidner (100) and Seren Dances (long jump and triple jump) have been nursing injuries.
Injuries notwithstanding, Clarke and Weidner, a junior, appear to be the Redhawks’ top state championship contenders based on their seedings.
Clarke is sixth in the 3,200 and eighth in the 1,600, while Weidner is fifth in the 100.
But Port Townsend should have many other athletes in the mix for state medals, including three seniors who are in their first year competing in track and field: Mark Streett (400), Camerson Constanine (200) and Jeff Seton (javelin).
Seton was the Redhawks’ starting quarterback during the fall.
“He decided to give a try to throwing things in the spring, too,” Fraser said.
“He’s improved throughout the season.
“He’s seeded ninth, so he’s got to take a step up if he wants to place.”
Port Townsend also qualified Hanna Trailer (girls 1,600) and the 4×100 relay (Zach Wilson, Weidner, Streett, Constanine, Dances and Alex Brown).
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Sports Editor Lee Horton can be reached at 360-417-3525 or at lhorton@peninsuladailynews.com.
