Withstanding wind, rain and speedy competition, the Kentwood High girls shone bright at the 4A state track and field championships in soggy Tacoma last Saturday.
The Conquerors began the day with a smooth trip for the 800-meter team, which pulled away from the field to cover the Mount Tahoma High School oval in a winning time of 1 minute, 42.5 seconds.
“It feels really good,” said junior Makayla Williams, who ran the third 200-meter leg. “The exchanges were good all around. … It’s great to be running with my team.”
The foursome included the leadoff, Jessica Robinson, and continued with Faith Marshall, Williams and Emma Pollak, the sophomore anchor who brought home the win.
“It felt great,” Pollak said. “We worked so hard this whole season.”
Kentwood’s girls enjoyed a productive day to finish third in the team race.
Pollak ended the day with a second-place finish in the 400, a race played out in heavy rain and wind. She held the lead briefly heading into the final turn before Hazen’s Taylor Marks pulled ahead to win in 56.71. Pollak, the West Central District champion, came in at 57.19.
“It felt pretty good. I felt I gave it my all,” Pollak said. “I was just glad I was able to run the way that I did with the weather. It was really hard to see and really cold … but I know I put it all out on the track. That’s all that matters.”
Pollak earlier finished second in the 300 hurdles (44.45) and joined Robinson, Marshall and Williams, the anchor, for a second in the 400 relay (48.79).
Other highlights
Kent-Meridian’s sprinters had a good showing as well.
Ja’Vaughn Hylton, Ronald Wilson, Jordan Wigfall and K.D. Dhillon darted to second in the 400 relay in 42.62 seconds.
Dhillon, a sophomore, also was sixth in the 100 (11.39).
“I could have done better, but I feel amazing,” Dhillon said. “It’s great be here. … I will be back next year.”
So too will be Kentwood’s Daniel Gaik, a junior, who was second in the 400 (personal-best 49.03) and fourth in the 200 (22.57).
“I was able to run the first 100 pretty well, but coming into the last 300 it felt pretty stiff,” Gaik said of his trip in the 400. “I didn’t feel relaxed at all, but it was a good race, good competition. I’m excited for next year.”
Elsewhere
Wigfall, the district high jump champion, matched his personal best of 6 feet, 4 inches to finish fifth. … Kentlake’s Justice Etafo captured the long jump (23-3). …
For the girls, Kentridge’s BYU-bound Lauryn Ford capped her career with silver in the 200 (25.31) and long jump (19-0). … Kentridge’s Bonet Henderson was fifth in the 200 (25.57), Williams took eighth in 100 (13.12) and Marshall was second in the 100 hurdles (14.62, PR).
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Kentwood’s Emma Pollak brings home the victory in the girls 800-meter relay at the 4A finals last Saturday. RACHEL CIAMPI, Kent Reporter
Kentlake’s Justice Etafo claims the 4A long jump title with a leap of 23 feet, 3 inches. RACHEL CIAMPI, Kent Reporter
K.D. Dhillon, far left, anchors Kent-Meridian to a second-place finish in the 400-meter relay. RACHEL CIAMPI, Kent Reporter
Kentwood’s Daniel Gaik begins his 400-meter dash. He finished second with a personal-best 49.03 seconds. RACHEL CIAMPI, Kent Reporter
