Record day for Camas runners

Cade Greseth, Luke Albert, Dustin Zimmerly and Adam Ryan ran themselves into the record books at Camas High School Saturday.

The four Papermakers capped off the West Central District meet, in Kent, by winning the 1,600-meter relay with a school record time of 3 minutes, 21.9 seconds.

“It was a really successful race for us,” Ryan said.

“It’s nice to have our name in the record books with another fast time,” Zimmerly added.

Greseth said the race could have ended in a disaster. He was running full tilt when it came time for the first hand off, but Albert took off faster than he anticipated.

“I fell down trying to catch up to him,” Greseth said. “Luckily, the baton was already in Luke’s hands.”

After that mishap, it was smooth sailing for the Papermakers. Albert and Greseth are honored for the opportunity to compete with Ryan and Zimmerly for the last time at state.

“I’m going to race hard for these seniors, and try and help them win a state championship,” Albert said.

Ryan also won the 400 dash (49.49 seconds) and took second place in the 800 (1:55.04). This sets the Camas High School senior up for a busy Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Mt. Tahoma High School, in Tacoma.

Greseth, Albert, Zimmerly and Ryan try to qualify for the 1,600 relay state finals Thursday. Ryan then enters the 400 and 800 preliminary heats Friday. He is vying for three championship races Saturday.

“We’re all in the best shape we have been all season,” Ryan said. “We’re ready for that kind of performance.”

Ryan, Greseth and Zimmerly will be running together in the 800 at state. Greseth finished third in this event at the West Central Districts (1:55.53) and Zimmerly followed in fifth (1:56.19).

Daniel Maton clinched first place in the 1,600 (4:20.88) and fourth place in the 3,200 (9:23.84). Yacine Guermali grabbed third place in the 1,600 (4:21.94) and fifth place in the 3,200 (9:24.76). Jacob Bedmont finished in fifth place on the pole vault (12-6) and Cody Williams claimed sixth place in the javelin (166-8).

Rachel Blair gained second place for Camas in the girls 1,600 (5:00.21) and fourth place in the 3,200 (11:08.2). Emma Jenkins earned second place in the 3,200 (11:03.64) and fifth place in the 1,600 (5:08.43). Stephanie Knight notched fourth in the javelin (115-10), Caleigh Lofstead claimed fifth in the pole vault (10-3), Madison Peffers placed sixth in the high jump (5-0), Nkem Aduka took seventh place in the shot put (38-3.75) and Amika Kluka secured seventh in the javelin (109-5).