Girls track teams three-peat as league champions

To “three-peat” is fun. Just ask the members of the Camas and Washougal high school girls track and field teams.

Once again in 2011, the Panther and Papermaker girls defeated all of their opponents in league to capture their third straight league championship trophies. The Camas and Washougal boys were on the same path, until both teams lost their final league meets of the season.

“A lot of kids have set the foundation for success. You hope success breeds success,” said Camas girls coach Alisa Wise. “You’re not always going to be on top. It’s a special place to be, winning league championship after league championship. Go out and find some friends and be a part of continuing that tradition.”

Competing shorthanded, the visiting Papermaker girls handled Columbia River 89-61. Megan Kelley had quite a day on the track for Camas. The senior tied a 24-year-old school record in the 100-meter dash, when she crossed the finish line in first place with a time of 12.24 seconds. She also snatched first in the 400 (57.25 seconds), 200 (24.97 seconds) and the long jump (16 feet, 6 inches).

Filling in for an absent Sara Slayton, Kimi Knight finished first in the 100 (16.25) and the 300 hurdles (49.25). She also helped the Papermakers win the 1,600 relay.

“Sara always pushes me to do my best. I really wanted to win those races for her and for the team,” Knight said. “After all of that hard work in practice, it is possible to do all of those events and do great.”

After notching first in the high jump, Lauren Neff ran the third leg of the winning 1,600 relay.

“I love trying new events. It’s always a plus for me,” Neff said. “The relays are a whole different energy. I love it.”

Megan Napier (5:26.57) and Camille Parsons (5:26.75) were neck-and-neck in the mile run. Austen Reiter (2:26.53) and Parsons (2:31.66) captured first and second in the 800. Andrew Kaler earned first for the Camas boys in the 1,600 (4:31.09) and the 3,200 (10:14.44). Chip Sudbeck clinched first in the discus (127-4) and the shot put (44-7).

The Washougal girls secured the league title with a 20-point victory over Mark Morris May 3, at Longview Memorial Stadium. The girls are 14-0 in league meets over the past three years.

“We all wanted to be league champions again,” said senior Kelley Young. “It’s quite an accomplishment doing it for the third year in a row.”

“I’m really shocked that we can have such a consistent team,” added junior Kendall Utter. “It’s cool to see that we have a lot of younger kids participating. It makes me think we can go after that fourth [league title].”

Utter took first in the 800 (2:38.22) and the 1,600 (6:09), and Young grabbed first in the 300 hurdles (49.57). Young, Kelsey Lagerquist, Kaitlyn Johnson and Kari Johnson captured first in the 400 and the 800 relay races, with times of 53.09 seconds and 1:53.12.

Lagerquist also earned first in the 200 (27.59), Hannah Wright won the 3,200 (13:53), Michelle Greear gained first in the shot put (27-11), Mackenzie Pfeifer placed first in the discus (80-7), Sydney Niemi notched first in the javelin (90-10), Katie Wright leaped to first in the long jump (14-10) and Kaitlyn Johnson jumped to first in the triple jump (31-3 1/2).

The Panthers competed at the Southwest Washington Invitational Friday, in Woodland. Brendan Casey finished first for the boys in the pole vault (14-6) and fourth in the javelin (151-11). Dylan Croeni snatched first in the 1,600 (4:29.8) and fifth in the 800 (2:02.58). Sean Eustis earned second in the 800 (1:59.8) and third in the 3,200 (9:52.56). Isaac Bischoff took third in the discus (135-8).

Utter earned first for the girls in the 800 (2:31.8). Young scored second in the 100 (15.96) and the 300 hurdles (48.8). Wright finished third in the high jump (5-0).

The 3A district track meet occurs for Camas Wednesday and Friday, at McKenzie Stadium. Washougal is at the 2A sub-district meet Wednesday and Friday, in Woodland.

“I would love to see all of my teammates progress to districts and state,” Young said. “You could be neck-in-neck in a race, but you have to find the drive to push yourself even harder. That’s what it takes.”