It’s all starting to come together for Kentwood High senior Steven Warner.
Warner, one of the key cogs in Kentwood’s high-powered track and field team, served notice last week during the South Puget Sound League meet at French Field, that he indeed has what it takes to challenge for a state crown. Warner, who took third at state last year in the 110-meter hurdles, delivered his finest time of the season at the SPSL meet, bringing home gold with a time of 14.61 seconds.
It was Warner’s best time of the season and just shy of the time he delivered during last year’s state meet (14.55).
”I am just hoping to finish the year strong and help put Kentwood back on the map a little bit,” said Warner, whose time was the third best in the state this year.
Kentwood’s Darrius Coleman was the only competitor close to Warner in the competition, taking second with a time of 14.77.
“He was right behind me,” noted Warner, who will run at either Eastern Washington University or the University of Washington next year. “Having that every day behind me, pushing me, helps.”
Warner was nearly as good in the 300 hurdles, taking third with a time of 39.59.
The two impressive times illustrate that Warner is nearly back to where he was last season, despite nursing tender hamstrings all spring, nagging injuries that kept him out of competition at both the Pasco Invitational and Shoreline Invitational.
“They’re healing up pretty well,” Warner said. “I am pretty much 100 percent.”
Kentwood’s Cody Fishel also proved strong at the SPSL meet, taking third in the high jump with a leap up 6-feet-6 inches.
The top 10 finishers at the league meet advance to the West Central District meet, which began yesterday at Mount Tahoma High. The top six competitors and relay teams in each event at district advance to state, which will be held next week at Mount Tahoma High.
The Conquerors also received some head-turning performances from their girls, particularly Holly DeHart and Dana Wareham. DeHart took second in the 100 meter (12.81) and third in the 200 (25.60). Meanwhile, Wareham delivered a first-place time of 59.41 in the 400 meter.
DeHart and Wareham — along with Aisha Goodlow and Quincie Proctor-Guyton — also provided key legs for Kentwood’s 4 x 200 relay team, which took home top honors with a time of 1:43.33. The mark currently stands as the fifth-best in the state this year.
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