They weren’t considered favorites for the South Puget Sound League North Division girls track and field title at the beginning of the season.
Or even contenders.
But things have come together in fine fashion for Kent-Meridian this spring.
So much, in fact, that the Royals find themselves smack dab in the middle of a title chase with Tahoma.
Kent-Meridian delivered its finest performance of the season last week, knocking off rival Kentwood 76-65 in an SPSL North dual that helped the Royals (6-0) remain perfect for the season.
“(The win) was so big,” said Kent-Meridian’s Melanie Vertrees, who proved to be the day’s biggest winner, snagging titles in the 100 hurdles, high jump, long jump and triple jump. “It was probably the most exciting dual meet of my high school career. Everybody stepped up where they needed to.”
Though Vertrees, as has been customary the last several years at the East Hill school, stood head and shoulders above the field as K-M’s lone multiple winner. The Washington State University-bound senior delivered another gem in the high jump, going 5-feet-7 inches to match a personal best, which also is currently the top mark in the state. It also was 11 inches further than her nearest competitor.
Kentwood coach Steve Roche was impressed.
“She is just an incredible athlete,” he said. “Stick her in something and she can do it all. You can tell track is her passion. She’s really putting up some great marks.”
K-M coach Ernie Ammons agreed.
“She’s just one of those kids, you wish you could clone her,” Kent-Meridian coach Ernie Ammons said of Vertrees, who has earned 12 varsity letters in her time at the school. “She just really came through.”
Indeed. Because with the win, the Royals were able to keep pace with perennial league power Tahoma (6-0) with just one regular-season meet remaining on the schedule. K-M will get its chance to knock off the Bears at 3 p.m. on Thursday afternoon at French Field in a double dual that also includes Thomas Jefferson.
Tahoma has won three North Division crowns in a row, all of which came wrapped in perfect records. The Bears will be in search of their fourth on Thursday.
Having the opportunity to win the title is huge, Vertrees said.
“We knew coming into the season that Tahoma would be our biggest competitor,” said Vertrees, who also participated in volleyball, cross country, basketball and swimming at K-M. “Tahoma has been a good team forever. But we thought we had a chance (to win a title).”
It took last week’s showing, however, to put the Royals in the position they are today.
But Vertrees wasn’t alone among K-M standouts.
A big key to nipping Kentwood was the performance of K-M’s 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relay teams of Briana Shannon, Zhitaya Garrett, Mallaree Bradford and Martisha Scott. Both came away with wins — the 4 x 100 with a time of 50.53 and the 4 x 200 in a time of 1:47.96 — though it was the five-second drop in time from the 4 x 200 relay team that proved most impressive.
“The relay teams is really where the wins came from,” Ammons said.
Kelsey Bueno in the pole vault also delivered a special performance. Bueno and Kentwood’s Jamie Larsen are the two top pole vaulters in the SPSL North and among the state’s elite.
Last week, however, Larsen couldn’t contend with Bueno, who uncorked a 10-6 performance. The mark is the seventh best in the state.
Larsen has eclipsed 10 feet on several occasions this season, even going as high as 10-3.
“Kelsey was anxious to have somebody push her,” Ammons said.
Talk to us
Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.
To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.
