It was hard to believe just 16 months ago, the Coronavirus pandemic canceled an entire track and field season in the state of Washington.
But in a year of uncertainty, this was truly a season to remember.
Not only did these athletes get their chances to compete this spring, but they also went above and beyond all our expectations in all aspects of the sport.
We look back at the top 10 boys sprinters from the 2021 year to conclude this track season.
1. Anthony Smith, Eastside Catholic
Anthony Smith was one of the best sprinters Washington has seen in a long time. With a racing range from the 100-meters to the 400, the Washington Husky commit and The Runner WA Sprinter and Male Athlete of the Year was the best all-around sprinter this season. Smith was first in the state in the 100 and 200 with times of 10.36 and 21.14 and third in the 400 running 49.20. He finished his Eastside Catholic career with an undefeated senior season, three Metro league titles, and a third-place finish at the Brooks PR meet in the 100.
2. Jake Andrews, Sehome
Sophomores like Jake Andrews don't come around very often, and he's got two more years to show what he has left. Andrews was the top 400 sprinter in Washington this season with a personal best time of 47.57 after a fifth-place finish at The Outdoor Nationals Meet in Eugene, Oregon. He was also top three in the state for the 100 and 200 running 10.61 and 21.72. Andrews finished the year undefeated in sprints and the long jump for Sehome.
3. Cameron Andrews, Hazen
Cameron Andrews goes down as the best sprinter to come out of Hazen in an improved senior season going undefeated for the Highlanders. The Lane Community college signee came away with personal best times of 10.56 in the 100, 21.30 in the 200, and 50.82 in the 400. Andrews also won two races at the USATF Pacific Northwest Youth Championships in the 100 running his personal best and the 200 running 21.62. Most recently ran at The Outdoor Nationals in the 100 (33rd) and the 200 (31st).
4. Lyricc Lopez, Foster
From sprints to hurdles, Lyricc Lopez proved his speed is worth watching at meets. This year's Most Improved Male Athlete for The Runner WA ranked top 10 in the state in the 200 and 400 this year posting times of 21.98 and 48.88, but what got everyone's attention was his state-leading and the nations 12th fastest time in the 300-meter hurdles running 36.98 against Lindbergh and Highland. Lopez also ran the 400 hurdles at the AAU Region 21 Qualifier in Boise winning in a time of 54.42, and than placed 29th at The Outdoor Nationals.
5. Tobias Merriweather, Union
Every race Tobias Merriweather was a part of this season for Union, he didn't suffer a defeat. The Union junior went undefeated in the 100, 200, 400, and 4x100 relay this season and won four GSHL District titles in these events. The younger brother of former twin sprint greats, Dai'Lyn and Jai'Lyn Merriweather, posted personal best times of 10.95, 22.01, and 49.78.
6. Isaiah Davis, Federal Way
Isaiah Davis received national attention when he placed third in the 100 and 200 at the Desert Dream Last Hurrah Invite last summer. Carrying over that momentum into his junior season, the Federal Way sprinter ran a personal best time of 10.75 in the 100 and a season best time of 21.88 in the 200, just two hundredths of a second off his lifetime best. Davis took home three 4A/3A NPSL titles sprinting for the Eagles this season and then placed third at the USATF Pacific Northwest Youth Championships in the 100 and 200.
7. Miguel Rosario III, Hazen
Behind Cameron Andrews is another talented sprinter from Hazen in Miguel Rosario III. The second Highlander to make the list recorded personal best times of 10.92 in the 100 and 21.86 in the 200 and competed down at The Outdoor National Meet in the same events placing 28th in the 100 and 37th in the 200.
8. Keenan Kuntz, West Valley (Spokane)
West Valley continues to get talented sprinters year-in and year-out with the addition of Keenan Kuntz this season. The sophomore completed his first year of high school track running personal best times of 10.74 in the 100 and 22.25 in the 200 and won three 2A GSL titles to lead the Eagles to a second-place team finish at the GSL Culminating Event. Kuntz also won two races at the Inland NW Association Meet in the 100 and 200 and then placed 30th at The Outdoor Nationals in the 100, both races representing Spokane Speed Academy.
9. Logan Allen, Lakeside (Nine Mile Falls)
Each race for Logan Allen was just another day of improvement. The two-time 1A state champion ran personal best times of 10.81 in the 100 and 22.18 in the 200 to go undefeated in the short season for Lakeside. He also threw down a 52.95 in his only 400 race of the season against Colville. Allen leaves Lakeside with the fastest 100 and 200 times recorded in school history, according to Athletic.net.
10. Ryan Riekmann, Cheney
First-year sprinter Ryan Riekmann showed us what pure athleticism looked like. Known for his ability in the javelin, the two-time 2A state qualifier ran personal best times of 10.94 in the 100 and 22.27 in the 200 in just one season of sprinting and took home two 4A/3A GSL titles in these events. Riekmann also won two more GSL titles in the Javelin throwing 172 feet, 1-inch, and led Cheney in the 4x100 relay.
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