Papermaker boys and girls handle Evergreen

Grayson Anderson got into a different orbit Thursday.

The Camas High School senior soared the bar set at 6 feet. Then 6-2. Then 6-4. Then 6-6.

The crowd of athletes and coaches watching his every move gave Anderson a few last bursts of energy in the thrusters. He finally came to a rest at 6 feet, 6 inches on the day, feeling accomplished.

“You always hope for days like this, but they don’t come around all that often,” Anderson said. “This is why I do track and field.”

This was the first time Anderson got the opportunity to close out a track and field meet. The Papermakers had already locked up their victories against Evergreen, but that didn’t stop them from coming over to the high jump pad to watch Anderson.

“Everything was in the right place, so I decided to put on a little show,” Anderson said. “This just wasn’t the day for a 6-8, but that day is coming soon.”

Anderson’s personal best in the high jump is a 6-8.5. He finished third at the state meet in 2012, with a 6-6.

“To know that I’m getting that high already means good things are going to come,” he said.

Anderson also does the 100- and the 200-meter dashes to get a little more leg power behind those jumps. He won the 100 Thursday, with a time of 10.89 seconds.

The Camas girls defeated Evergreen 114-36, and the Papermaker boys beat the Plainsmen 109-36, at Cardon Field.

Camille Parsons earned first place in three events. The senior won the 800 (2:27.06) and the 1,600 (5:26.28) before helping Kimi Knight, Alissa Pudlitzke and Alexa Efraimson win the 1,600 relay (4:14.94). Pudlitzke placed first in the 3,200 (11:14.62), Efraimson finished first in the 400 (58.27) Knight took first in the 300 hurdles (47.24).

Amber Corbett grabbed first in the javelin (116-7) and the shot put (34-7). Nikki Corbett notched first in the discus (102-8) and second in the shot put (32-9). Jordan Davis won the 100 hurdles (16.15) and the 200 (27.64). Caleigh Loftstead earned first in the pole vault (9 feet) and second in the long jump (15-1.5). The Camas girls also won the 800 relay (1:52.65).

Chris Durrett clinched first for the Papermaker boys in the shot put (49-3.5) and second in the discus (131-1).

“Before I even stepped into the ring, I could tell it was going to be a good throw,” Durrett said of setting a new personal best in the shot put. “It just felt right in my hand.”

Josh Ryan snagged first place on the triple jump (42-4.5) and the long jump (21-2). Isaiah Ephraim earned first in the 110 (16.18) and the 300 (42.3) hurdles. Blaine Behert won the pole vault (13-6).

Andrew Kaler (9:43.88), Tucker Boyd (9:46.32) and Daniel Osterhage (10:37) grabbed the top three places in the 3,200. Riley Hein (4:35.53), Andrew Duffy (4:37.25) and Taryk Boyd (4:41.44) were in the top three in the 1,600. Cole Zarcone clinched first in the 200 (23.23), Jackson Cutler took first in the 400 (52.86), Ryan Gunthar grabbed first in the 800 (2:06.27). The Camas boys also won the 1,600 relay (3:39.12).

The Papermakers enter the John Ingram Twilight track and field meet Friday, April 12, at Columbia River High School.