The numbers are in.
And for the four Kent School District prep track and field programs, that proved to be a good thing in regards to the South Puget Sound League meet at French Field, which was held last Wednesday and Friday.
The top 10 individuals in each event — boys and girls — earned berths to the West Central District meet at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High, which is slated for Friday and Saturday (May 21-22). Kent-Meridian led the way among qualifiers, advancing 27 individuals — 14 boys, 13 girls — on to the district meet. Kent-Meridian was followed by Kentwood (14 girls, 8 boys), Kentridge (8 girls, 10 boys) and Kentlake (3 girls, 3 boys).
The top six individuals in each event at the district meet advance to state, which is set for May 28-29 at Mount Tahoma High.
Without an overall team champion, the overriding theme of the meet was pretty simple, Kentwood coach Steve Roche said.
“Obviously you just want to get as many as you can through,” he said. “The number-one goal was just to move on, that’s the objective.”
SCHOOL HISTORY AT KW
Sure, the league meet is all about advancing.
Kentwood’s Megan McNally, however, advanced in record-setting style. The Kentwood sophomore, who came into the season primarily as a 400-meter specialist, broke a 21-year-old school record in the 800, breaking the tape in 2:20.03. The mark is just a shade faster than what Kay Luo established in 1989, when she ran a 2:20.80.
“One of the hardest things for a 400 runner to do is run the 800 and really understand how hard you have to go,” Roche said. “That second lap is a killer.”
All record holders at Kentwood receive a T-shirt honoring the feat.
“It’s really exciting,” McNally said. “Getting the T-shirt that says ‘school record’ on the back is cool.”
McNally began running the 800 at the start of April. She posted the fourth-fastest time in the event last week.
“She has been nibbling at (the record) the last few weeks,” Roche said. “She had never thought of herself as an 800 runner. Then we threw her in there as a conditioning race and she beat our best girl. We were like, ‘Hey, we’re on to something.’”
While McNally was the highlight of the meet for the Conquerors, Jordan Jainga also added a personal best, establishing a new mark in the boys 110-hurdles, breaking the tape in 14.80 seconds. Teammate Jacob Wilcher wasn’t far behind at 15.19.
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