SNOHOMISH — Even before Kylene Swegle crossed the finish line, she had a smile on her face.
“I didn’t see anybody around me or in front of me,” she said.
That tends to happen when coming in first place, as Swegle did in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.67 and earning both a District 1 title and a state berth May 21.
“It’s exciting,” she said about the chance to compete at state. “It’s my first time.”
But Swegle isn’t the only Arlington girl heading to Mount Tahoma May 28 and 29, as fellow junior Stephanie Van Slageren also earned a district title, crushing the competition in the javelin with a 123-11 — more than nine feet ahead of the next best thrower.
Also earning state slots for the Lady Eagles, who finished in second place with 108 team points, are Jasmine Redix in both the 100 (12.58) and 200 (26.45), finishing third in both races.
Sophomore Teresa Wadey was third in the 800 with a time of 2:17.35 and Katie Anderson was third place in the 300 hurdles with a time of 46.86. Anderson was also a member of the 4×200 relay team that finishing in third place with a time of 1:46.76, along with Virginia Wilson, Melissa Webb and McKenzie Corpron.
The boys were led by district champion javelin thrower Blake McPherson, a sophomore, who won the event with a distance of 199.05 — more than five feet ahead of the competition. Teammate Maxim Bryson finished third in the javelin with a throw of 170-02. Bryson, a sophomore, also finished third in the high jump, reaching 6-00.
The final Eagle to advance to state was Devante Gaillard, who ran the 100 in 11.34 to earn third place.
The boys finished in seventh place as a team with 60 points.
COUGARS’ SCOTT EARNS A PAIR OF STATE BERTHS
Lakewood junior Andre Scott led the way for the Cougars, earning state slots in both the long jump (20-11) and the high jump (42-10.75) after finishing runner-up in both events.
The top four individuals and relay teams earned spots at the 2A state meet. Other boys traveling to Mount Tahoma are freshman Justin Peterson in the high jump (6-0) , senior Blair Diamond in the 110-meter hurdles (15.69), senior Taylor Guske in the1,600 (4:25.84) and the 3,200 (9:34.46), and senior Hick Howe in the 800 (1:59.06).
Kelsey Anderson finished fourth in the 800 for the girls with a time of 2:27.14 to earn a state spot, along with senior Chrystle Clark in the 100-meter hurdles (16.31) and junior Samantha Adams in the javelin (104-02).