A grand sweep for Washougal

Five distance runners did something for Washougal that will always be remembered.

Aiden Pullen, Troy Prince-Butterfield and Gabriel Dinnel grabbed the top three places for the Panthers in the 1,600-meter run. Prince-Butterfield, Pullen, Collin Manning and Caleb Bischoff finished top four in the 800. Tanner Lees, Pullen and Dinnel earned top three in the 3,200.

This combined effort helped the Washougal boys track and field team beat Woodland by a landslide 109-36 to become league champions May 3, at Fishback Stadium.

“One person can’t sweep all the distance races. It takes at least three people. We got that today, and even more,” Pullen said. “This will always be a memory to me. It was a total team effort. I’m proud to have been a part of that.”

Pullen and Prince-Butterfield both jumped into the 1,600 relay to complete the quadruple for Washougal. Could Pullen go for one more?

“I’m not allowed to,” he said. “Today was just for points. There was a lot of pressure going into this meet. If we lost, we had to share this with them. It’s good to see our team step up and take the league title.”

Washougal jumpers Kyle Hoesly, Ryan Dyba, Tanner Coltrane and Matt Rotundo tried their luck at the 1,600 relay. Hoesly started off the race and turned some heads with his sprinting ability. By the end of the lap, he was huffing and puffing while trying to stay ahead of the competition.

“That last 100 felt like an elephant was on my back,” Hoesly said. “I was competing for a spot on the main team. I hope I did it. I push myself.”

Hoesly, Rotundo and James West entered the high jump event for the first time this season. West cleared 5 feet, 6 inches and finished in second place. He also clinched first place in the pole vault with a leap of 11-6.

Performing in the high jump gave Hoesly more spring in his step. He won the long jump (19-6.5) and took second place in the triple jump (38-0). Rotundo notched first place in the triple jump (41-1.5).

Hoesly thanked Rotundo for encouraging him to join the track and field team.

“He’s the one who told me to come out and challenge him. I hope I’m doing good for him. I hope I’m pushing him,” Hoesly said. “I like being competitive. This is just like a family, like football is. It’s a brotherhood and a sisterhood.”

Christina Murray eclipsed her personal best in the pole vault. She won the with a leap of 10-3.

“It felt really good to get over my plateau,” she said. “As you’re falling, you have this feeling that you finally accomplished what you have set out to do.”

The Washougal boys captured first place at the Spuuder Track and Field Classic Friday, at Ridgefield High School.

The Panthers racked up 84 points to win the 20-team meet. R.A. Long took second place with 69.5 points.

Josh Biscoff won the discus for Washougal with a season-best throw of 157-2. Rotundo snagged first place in the 110 hurdles with a personal best time of 15.55 seconds. Aubrey Kraft clinched first place in the shot put (51-8.25).

Pullen placed second in the 1,600 (4:42.16), Prince-Butterfield took third place in the 800 (2:04.76) and Dinnel earned fourth place in the 3,200 (10:21.97).

West soared to third place in the pole vault with a personal best leap of 12-6. Rotundo took third place in the triple jump (40-9.5).

Washougal hosts the 2A sub-district meet Friday, at Fishback Stadium. Events begin at 3:30 p.m.