Camas runs away with district titles

Rain or shine … Papermakers performed the best they could

By Dan Trujillo
May 18, 2017 5:30 am
Sports

Daniel Maton sprints to the finish line in first place. The Camas High School junior clinched district titles in the 1,600- and 800-meter races May 10 and 11, at McKenzie Stadium, in Vancouver. He also helped the Papermakers win the 1,600 relay.

Camas set the tone during the first day of the 4A district track and field meet.

Emma Jenkins, Rachel Blair, Ellie Postma, Madison Child, Halle Jenkins and Brooke Roy swept the top six places in the girls mile run.

“I think we all represented Camas well,” Emma Jenkins said. “Getting first-through-sixth; we’re all really proud of each other. It was just a fun race.”

Alexa Dietz soared to first place in the triple jump with a personal best mark of 35 feet, 11.5 inches.

“I knew it was a good jump because when I did it, it was just effortless,” Dietz said.

Madison Peffers flew above the rest of the field in the high jump.

“I do a few different things before every jump, and then I just sit down and take everything in; soak everything in,” she said.

Peffers looks up at all the people in the stands and everybody surrounding her. She’s not just competing. She’s enjoying the moment she worked so hard for.

“There’s nothing to lose, so let’s just go for it,” Peffers said.

Daniel Maton and Yacine Guermali finished first and third in the boys mile.

“I kind of just took it out slow, if they were going to let me lead,” Maton said. “And then, I just used my 800 wheels at the end.”

Cade Greseth beat the competition around the track in the 400 dash.

The next day turned from sunny to rainy, but the Papermakers performed even better.

Nkem Aduka clinched first place in the girls discus and shot put.

Dietz added a long jump title to the triple jump she won the day before.

“I got passed up by a half-an-inch, and knew I needed to make the next one really big,” Dietz said. “I just scooted back and hoped that adrenaline would kick in. I jumped, and just kept my legs up for as long as possible.”

Emma Jenkins, Halle Jenkins, Child and Roy finished top four in the 3,200. Maton took first place in the boys 800 and helped the Papermakers win the 1,600 relay.

“I felt good with 300 to go. I was like, ‘Alright, let’s go for it,'” Maton said. “I feel good going into the rest of the postseason. It was a tough last 300, but it was worth it.”

In the end, the Camas boys beat Union 114-98 for the district team title May 10 and 11, at McKenzie Stadium in Vancouver.

Yacine Guermali, David Connell and Jackson Lyne finished top three in the 3,200. William Sun won the 300 hurdles and took second in the 110 hurdles. Marcus Gray grabbed second place in the shot put and Cooper McNatt claimed second place in the high jump.

The Camas girls collected 154 points to surpass Union for the team title by 48.

Cambryn Gulzow claimed first place in the 300 hurdles and third place in the 110 hurdles. Emma Ware earned second place in the 100 hurdles.

Postma placed second and Blair followed in third in the 800 run.

Ahmika Kluka took second place in the javelin and Maggie Wells secured second place in the shot put. Riley Truitt rose to second place on the pole vault.

Emily Karkanen, Aliya Ponder, Gulzow and Karsyn Quade earned second place in the 800 relay.

Camas competes in the regional track and field meet Friday and Saturday, at French Field in Kent.

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