Kent’s best ready to take on rest of the state

After pushing each other to the limit, Kent-Meridian’s Jordan Wigfall discovered what Auburn’s D’Angelo Washington had found two months earlier.

Greater heights.

The Royals senior cleared a personal-best 6 feet, 4 inches – just as Washington did at a dual meet in March – to capture the high jump event during the 4A West Central/Southwest District track and field finals at Sumner’s Sunset Chev Stadium last Saturday.

“Perfect conditions, really. … Just friendly competition,” Wigfall said of his duel with Washington, who settled for second with a leap of 6-2. “No buildups, just did my little routine the coach gave to me and I went from there.

“I’m happy,” he said, appearing surprised. “I was going to go kill 6 feet and just go to state. I didn’t think I would go 6-4.”

Washington, Auburn’s jump specialist, did his thing by qualifying for this week’s state meet, not only in the high jump, where the senior won league and district titles, but in the triple jump, where he matched his personal record (PR) of 44-11¾ to finish third.

The top seven finishers in each event advanced to the state championships, which open Thursday, continue Friday and conclude Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

Washington is ready to stretch farther in hopes of making the podium at the state meet.

“Realistically, I’m looking at a PR of two inches and hopefully to get into the top three (for the high jump),” said Washington, who plans to compete for Green River College next season. “And in the triple (jump), I just want do my best and see what happens.”

Other district highlights:

Royal rush

Kent-Meridian’s state-bound speedsters delivered at district.

Ronald Wilson, a junior, and KD Dhillon, a sophomore, finished second and fifth, respectively, in the 100 meters. Wilson went 11.02, Dhillon stopped the watches at 11.08.

Dhillon also qualified in the 200 (seventh, 22.40, PR).

Both sprinters joined Wigfall and Ja’Vaughn Hylton to finish second in the 400 relay in 43.30. That group has the 4A’s third-swiftest time this season at 42.75.

Chasing the best

Kentridge’s Bonet Henderson finished third (24.79) behind Tahoma’s Adaji Osaro-Igwe (24.35) and Aliya “Nami” Wilson (24.58) in the 200 and fourth (12.34) behind Wilson (12.09), Osaro-Igwe (12.14) and Alisha “Miya” Wilson (12.30) in the 100.

The Wilson twins and Osaro-Igwe, a sophomore, are among the nation’s best sprinters. Aliya Wilson, defending 100 and 200 state champion, has signed with Kentucky, while her sister is headed to Oregon.

Kentwood junior Makayla Williams will join the swift group at state in the 100 (sixth, 12.46) and 200 (fourth, 24.88, PR).

Williams will join Jessica Robinson, Alyssa Gonzalez and anchor Emma Pollak in the 800 relay, which topped the district field in 1:41.50. Robinson, Pollak, Williams and Faith Marshall advanced in the 400 relay with a third-place time of 48.82.

Kentridge’s BYU-bound Lauryn Ford is going to state in at least three events. She advanced in the 200 (fifth, 25.17) and posted a season-best 17-9¾ to finish third in the long jump. She also anchored the Chargers’ state-bound 400 relay team that included Henderson, Sydnee Johnson and Jayma Erker. The foursome finished second at Sumner in 48.54.

Fast crowd

Pollak, a sophomore, set the pace in the 400, winning the district race in 57.46. She has the 4A’s top time of 57.04, second only to Eastside Catholic’s Kate Jendrezak’s state-leading 55.74.

In the hurdles, Pollak found fast company in the 300 intermediates. Tahoma’s Alaina Brady (4A-leading 42.99) and Lindsey Dial (44.93) finished one-two at district. Pollak, who has the 4A’s second-best time of 44.11 this season, finished third (44.96).

“I was more under control, alternating legs (to hurdle) this time than the race before,” said Pollak, comparing her district final to her league-winning heat the week before. “I just want to do my best (at state) and know that I did all that I could.”

Girls highlights

Marshall earned state spots in the 100 hurdles (third, 14.89) and 300 hurdles (fifth, 46.22, PR). … K-M’s Qwaniah Levy qualified in the 400 with a third-place time of 58.59. …Kentridge’s Alexis Mallory returns to state in the pole vault (third, 10-0). … Kentwood’s Claire Ellis advanced in the pole vault (fifth, 9-6, PR). … KR sophomore Karley Ramos tossed the javelin 112 feet to finish fifth and earn a state berth.

Boys highlights

Kentwood’s Daniel Gaik was solid in the 200, finishing third with a personal-best 22.10. “I got out (to a good start) today and was able to compete with them. It was a fun race,” said Gaik, who added a second in the 400 in 49.62. … K-M’s Aaron Tulloch captured the discus title with a throw of 162-3. He also returns to the state circle in the shot put (fourth, 49-4¾). … Kentlake’s Justice Etafo qualified in the long jump (second 22-0½) and the javelin (seventh, 168-10) and the Falcons’ Eric Johnson wound up seventh in the high jump (6-0). Kentlake’s Jordan Taylor took sixth in the shot put (47-3¼).

Notes

Camas won the boys team title. K-M was fourth. … Tahoma’s girls ran away with the team win. Kentwood was second and Kentridge took fourth. … The state meet begins at 3 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday. See wiaa.com for more details.