SPSL NORTH: AT A GLANCE

• FAVORITE: Kentwood.

• CONTENDERS: Tahoma, K-M.

• SLEEPERS: Kentridge, Kentlake.

• LEAGUE OUTLOOK: Now this should be fun. KW came into its own last season, winning the school’s first-ever SPSL North track and field title. To get it done, the Conks had to go through perennial powerhouse Tahoma, which had won 36 SPSL North meets in a row and four consecutive league crowns. KW knocked off Tahoma  89-61. But can the Conks do it again? By state’s end, Tahoma still finished higher, taking third at the state meet while KW took sixth. This spring, the two longtime rivals should go 1-2 once again, and in either order. The Conks return a loaded bunch, led by star sprinter Holly DeHart, thrower Alyx Toeaina, distance specialist Kailey Ulland and middle-distance runner Megan McNally among others. KW also will receive a huge boost from Madelayne Varela (100, 200 and 400), who transferred from Kentlake. With all that in mind, the Conks are going to be a tough bunch to beat. That being the case, the Bears bring plenty of firepower, including their 4 x 100 relay team (Kassie Jensen, Cassidy Richmond, Paige Hammock and Mande McKinney), which won a state crown last spring. Meanwhile, the Bears possess (again) one of the state’s top long-distance runners, led by Elizabeth Oosterhout, Julianna Mock and Lauren Clawson. And while it may be a two-team fight at the top, Kent-Meridian cannot be overlooked. The Royals finished in third last year, but return most of their talent, including standouts Jenna Crain (pole vault), Chelsea Muskelly (high jump), Alexia Martin (distance), Chloe Watson (triple jump), Martesha Scott (relays) and Juliana Adams (pole vault). Martin took 13th at state in the 3,200 last year (11:17.24) and has it in her to move higher this spring. Muskelly also was among the state’s best last spring, grabbing a fourth-place finish in the high jump (5-2). … KL may have lost Varela, but still brings back considerable talent. Led by long-distance specialist Sarah Robbins, a standout in the fall on the cross country terrain, Megan Rogers (3,200), Nichole Kuntz (800), Terra McGinnis (800, 1,600), Gabriela Suarez (throws) and the one-two punch of Becca Peterson and Julie Bolstad in the pole vault. … Of all the teams in the North this year, however, Kentridge may make the biggest jump. The Chargers finished in fourth last spring, but return state placers Amelia Carpenter (seventh in the pole vault, 10-9), Kim Concillado (eighth in the pole vault, 10-0) and Katie Lake (ninth in long jump, 16-08.25) along with distance specialist and multi-sport standout Molly Shiroishi.

 

ATHLETES TO WATCH

NAME                        SCHOOL                  EVENT(S)                 YEAR

Holly DeHart              Kentwood                   Sprints                      Sr.

Notable: Gritty competitor has the wheels to repeat as 200-meter state champ.

Alexia Martin              Kent-Meridian              Distance                    Jr.

Notable: Kent-Meridian’s distance specialist took 13th at state a year ago.

Madelayne Varela          Kentwood                   Sprints                     Jr.

Notable: Former Falcon took eighth at state in the 100, 200 and 400 last spring.

Chelsea Muskelly           Kent-Meridian                Jumps                    Jr.

Notable: This Royal has springs on her feet, leaping to fourth-place finish (5-2) at state.

Kim Concillado                 Kentridge                   Pole Vault                Sr.

Notable: Delivered a solid eighth-place finish (10-0) in the pole vault at state last spring.

Amelia Carpenter              Kentridge                   Pole Vault                Sr.

Notable: Along with Concillado, provides KR with vaunted 1-2 punch in event.

Jenna Crain                    Kent-Meridian                 Pole Vault               Sr.

Notable: Has the ability to be standing atop the podium by the end of spring.

Megan Rogers                     Kentlake                    Middle Distance           Jr.

Notable: Falcon standout entered the week among leaders in the 800 and 1,600.

 

 

CIRCLE THE CALENDAR

Arcadia Invitational, April 8-9: KW will be at this California-based invitational, which brings together the top teams in the nation. If the KW girls have a good showing, look out for the state meet.

Pasco Invitational, April 16: Kentlake, Kent-Meridian, Kentridge and Tahoma all will be on tap in one of the top meets of the year.

South Puget Sound League Meet, May 11 and May 13, Kent-Meridian High: The SPSL has more top-tier track athletes than any league in the state. This will be one of the few opportunities to see them all showcased at the same time and place locally.

State Meet, May 26-27, Mount Tahoma High: This late May capper to the prep year is worth the price of admission, especially on a sunsplashed day at a fantastic venue for a state meet.

ON THE WEB

There isn’t a better track & field Web site around than www.athletic.net, which doesn’t only follow the preps from the Northwest, but the entire country. The site includes breakdowns of indoor track as well as cross country. In addition, it includes state leaders, league leaders and virtually everything in between.