Distance field showcases one of the fastest groups since 2013 state field
The time has finally arrived.
The 2022 State Track and Field Championships makes it long awaited return after a three-year COVID hiatus. It'll be one of the most highly anticipated meets in quite some time featuring some of the best athletes not only in Washington, but across the nation.
Teams and individuals from around the state will travel near and far as the 4A, 3A, and 2A schools will make their way over to Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma, while the 1A, 2B, and 1B schools head to Eastern Washington University in Cheney.
With the state meet getting underway on Thursday, May 26, and running through Saturday, May 28, The Runner WA has your first look at all that is going down this coming week as teams and individuals set to chase after greatness and glory.
The preview continues on with the top distance runners to watch for at the 4A/3A/2A meet and favorite picks for the 1A/2B/1B meet.
Boys 1,600
4A
Who to watch for: Isaac Teeples, Kamiakin; Ethan Coleman, Olympia; Sam Jacobsen, Newport (Bellevue)
Dark Horses: Grayson Wilcott, Kamiakin; Evan Bruce, Lewis and Clark
Outlook: Nothing like a day one matchup featuring two of the best to ever lace them up in Kamiakin's Isaac Teeples and Olympia's Ethan Coleman. The last time these two raced each other was over a month and half a go down in Arcadia in the 3,200 where Coleman finished ahead of Teeples in one of the greatest high school races of all time. Both runners come into state with sub 4:10 performances in the 1,600/mile under their belts this season creating a highly anticipated race on Thursday. Even though they haven't race one another in this event this season, Teeples has the upper hand time wise with a 4:05.55 true mile, while Coleman ran a recent PR of 4:09.79 in the 1,600 at his district meet.
The Runner WA pick: Isaac Teeples
3A
Who to watch for: Aiden Emerson, Arlington; Will Schneider, Bishop Blanchet; Vince Recupero, Bishop Blanchet
Dark Horses: Blake Reynolds, Central Kitsap; Brody Hartley, Walla Walla
Outlook: Speed will be the name of the game if anyone's going to want to win both 3A middle-distance races. The 1,600 field kicks off with Arlington's Aiden Emerson as the favorite having already ran 4:06.55 in early April - a five second gap from the second fastest mark. Right behind him are the Bishop Blanchet duo of Will Schneider and Vince Recupero. The teammates each have run 4:11 this season within the last month but don't necessarily carry the same speed like Emerson does. Going to be pretty tough to compete with Emerson's lethal kick at the end.
The Runner WA pick: Aiden Emerson
2A
Who to watch for: Zack Munson, Sehome; Cooper Quigley, Selah; Will Giesen, Bellingham
Dark Horses: Julian Campos, Aberdeen; Daniel Barna, Columbia River
Outlook: This race could go one way or the other. Either it goes out fairly conservative with a fast kick on the last 200, or it's fast from the start and hang on for dear life. If it's the first option, you have to go with Selah's Cooper Quigley just because of his 800 turn over. If it's the second option, lean towards Sehome's Zack Munson because of his strength. Consistently, Munson has been under the 4:20 mark more this season, but a Selah runner always has something up their sleeve for this race. Remember Daniel Callahan's finish at the 2018 meet? Just something to think about. Regardless, it would have been a lot of fun to see these two duke it out on the cross-country course last fall in Pasco, but hopefully a great 1,600 race on Thursday makes up for it.
The Runner WA pick: Cooper Quigley
Small school meet picks:
1A: Kelton Gagnon, Klahowya
2B: Zeke Crockett, Chewelah
1B: Trevor Dugo, Pope John Paul II
Girls 1,600
4A
Who to watch for: Ella Borsheim, Bellarmine; Eliza White, Curtis; Rebecca O'Keefe, Skyline
Dark Horses: Sydney Collier, Skyline; Isabela Alvarado, Eisenhower
Outlook: I'm really looking forward to this race because of the stories behind it. For Bellarmine's Ella Borsheim, it's end of era for one of the best distance runners to come through our state. For Curtis' Eliza White and Skyline's Rebecca O'Keefe, it's the beginning of a new era for two runners who will be most likely be of the faces of this event in Washington for the next couple of years. Borsheim and White have had their fair share of races against each other this season with each coming away with two wins in the four 1,600 races they've been a part of. Borsheim has won the last two at their league and district championships. Part five will be a good one and a fast one for sure.
The Runner WA pick: Eliza White
3A
Who to watch for: Lily LaPorte, Bishop Blanchet; Macy Marquardt, Kennewick; Anna Grabowski, Liberty (Issaquah)
Dark Horses: Leia Jones, Stanwood; Elektra Higgins, Peninsula
Outlook: This 3A girls 1,600 race is completely wide open for anyone to win. There are 14 girls with entry times of 5:10 or faster and are all within seven seconds of each other. Highlighting this bunch are Bishop Blanchet freshman star Lily LaPorte, who comes in with a 3A leading time of 5:00.54, and Kennewick's Macy Marquardt, second with a time of 5:00.54. Both girls didn't race very well at their district meets but expect a bounce back from both as they go for sub-5. Liberty's (Issaquah) Anna Grabowski, who beat LaPorte at districts, has been floating around 5:02-5:04 for the last month and is one race away from truly having a breakout. Led by these three, we could see a ton of sub-5 performances.
The Runner WA pick: Lily LaPorte
2A
Who to watch for: Logan Hofstee, East Valley (Spokane), Jessica Frydenlund, Anacortes; Elle Thomas, Washougal
Dark Horses: Kate Laurent, Ellensburg; Alauna Carstens, Shelton
Outlook: In their first race against each other since state cross-country, East Valley's (Spokane) Logan Hofstee and Anacortes' Jessica Frydenlund come into Thursday's 1,600 as two of the favorites. Hofstee ran a lifetime best 5:04.88 last week at her district meet to move her up to No. 2 in 2A this season, and Frydenlund remains in first for the last month at 5:04.10 but hasn't raced a competitive 1,600 in a while. Not too far behind is Washougal's Elle Thomas at 5:06.71, who's another young sophomore that has shown promise since last season in both track and cross-country. Between these three and possibly two others, it's another toss-up, but don't think Hofstee doesn't have last fall's state race on her mind.
The Runner WA pick: Logan Hofstee
Small school meet picks:
1A: Alexis Leone, Seton Catholic
2B: Chloe Overberg, Asotin
1B: Emmalyne Jimenez, DeSales
Boys 800
4A
Who to watch for: Isaac Teeples, Kamiakin; Isaac Briggs, Rogers (Puyallup); Sam Jacobsen, Newport (Bellevue)
Dark Horses: Matthew Hillyer, Bellarmine; Lakik Buggs, Curtis
Outlook: Three years ago, I wouldn't have counted on Kamiakin's Teeples to win a state 800 race. But this year, he's the one being hunted down by everyone else with a personal best time of 1:52.84. His improvement in speed was something he must have worked on a ton over the pandemic putting him in the position he is in now. As for his opponents, they too have made improvements to be in consideration for a state title. Rogers' (Puyallup) Isaac Briggs has been on fire in the 800 the last four times he's ran it with his most recent effort coming at his district meet, running a personal best 1:53.31. Same to be said for Newport's (Bellevue) Sam Jacobsen, who comes in with a personal best time of 1:54.77 from his district meet.
The Runner WA pick: Isaac Teeples
3A
Who to watch for: Aiden Emerson, Arlington; Hunter Hanks, Oak Harbor; Will Newberg, Gig Harbor
Dark Horses: Brody Hartley, Walla Walla; Blake Reynolds
Outlook: Arlington's Emerson is going to take this out and not lose sight of first. It's going to take a lot of effort for Oak Harbor's Hunter Hanks, Gig Harbor's Will Newberg, or anyone else in the field to really want to compete with Emerson. His personal best time of 1:52.33 is three seconds ahead of the next fastest personal best time from Hanks at 1:55.29. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it certainly won't be easy.
The Runner WA pick: Aiden Emerson
2A
Who to watch for: Cooper Quigley, Selah; Will Giesen, Bellingham; Chase Bartlett, Squalicum
Dark Horses: Cole Riley, White River; Wesley Sluys, Squalicum
Outlook: White River's Cole Riley and Selah's Cooper Quigley were early season favorites in this race back in late February and no one else was talked about. Now, Bellingham's Will Giesen and Squalicum's Chase Bartlett have put their names in the conversations with those two as they make the upward trend at the end of the season. All four are separated by one second when you look at their PRs, making this race a dangerous one to pick because it could go anyone's way. However, I think the defending 2A state cross-country champion will carry over plenty of energy to Saturday from either winning or losing the 1,600 final.
The Runner WA pick: Cooper Quigley
Small school meet picks:
1A: Andrew Luce, Lynden Christian
2B: Alden Williams, Goldendale
1B: Rennie Pelkie, Selkirk (Ione)
Girls 800
4A
Who to watch for: Katelyn Rigg, Olympia; Kara Mickelson, Eisenhower, Adisen Stratton, Glacier Peak
Dark Horses: Julia Stuard, Tahoma; Emme Bates, Emerald Ridge
Outlook: The two best 800 runners in the state will finally, well more likely, face each other for the first time this for an instant classic. Olympia's Katelyn Rigg moved up to No. 1 this week after running away with a district title in a personal best effort of 2:13.16 - a mark she has hit for the second time this season but the first in almost a month. Eisenhower's Kara Mickelson had it a bit easier at her district meet qualifying, but in big meets has a range from 2:13-2:14. Neither will be super fresh come finals on Saturday since they each have two races beforehand, but the adrenaline of competition should pull them through two fast laps.
The Runner WA pick: Katelyn Rigg
3A
Who to watch for: Alexa Matora, Lake Washington; Julia Couch, Auburn Riverside; Alyvia Brown, Hazen
Dark Horses: Teryn Gardner, Mead; Hannah Lee, Peninsula
Outlook: When you first glance at this field, the amount of fast freshman who are in is mind-blowing. Some of them, Lake Washington's Alexa Matora and Auburn Riverside's Julia Couch, make a real case to win the whole thing too. You know who the last freshman was to win the 3A title? Eastside Catholic's Kate Jendrezak back in 2017. She also went onto win two more after that season. Regardless the outcome, knowing we get to see Matora and Couch race for the next three years will be really exciting, and hopefully Saturday's final is just the first chapter of what's to come.
The Runner WA pick: Alexa Matora
2A
Who to watch for: Riley Pyeatt, Sequim; Jamie Maas, Washougal; Salix Wartes-Kahl, North Kitsap
Dark Horses: Sonja Blycker, Cedarcrest; Emmanulle Kroontji, Lynden
Outlook: Might not be the fastest field out there but could be competitive to say the least. Sequim’s Pyeatt, Washougal’s Jamie Maas, and North Kitsap’s Salix Wartes-Kahl are the only 2A girls under 2:20 this season in the 800, putting them in position as the clear top three favorites. There could be some tired legs out there though based on how many events each individual is doing in the span of three days. This race will be purely won by guts, and when you talk about a runner with that characteristic, first person that comes to mind is Sequim’s Pyeatt. I don’t know very many athletes who can sprint, run distance events, and have as much success between the two as she does.
The Runner WA pick: Riley Pyeatt
Small school meet picks:
1A: Lauren Muscutt, Cascade (Leavenworth)
2B: Josie McLaughlin, St. George's
1B: Emmalyne Jimenez, DeSales
Boys 3,200
4A
Who to watch for: Ethan Coleman, Olympia; Isaac Teeples, Kamiakin; Grayson Wilcott, Kamiakin
Dark Horses: Maxim Serafimovici, Curtis; Evan Bruce Lewis and Clark
Outlook: While Kamiakin's Teeples takes care of the 800 and 1,600, the 3,200 opens up the opportunity for Olympia's Coleman to get the job done and get his first state title. Still hard to believe the state's top 3,200 runner has won a national title before even claiming a state title, but that run could come to end this Saturday when he puts together a fast race. I expect Teeples and Wilcott to put up a good fight for 2,400 to 2,800 meters, but it'll be Coleman who stands atop the podium in the end.
The Runner WA pick: Ethan Coleman
3A
Who to watch for: Will Schneider, Bishop Blanchet, Vince Recupero, Bishop Blanchet; Brandon Moore, Arlington
Dark Horses: Jacob Alfonso, Stadium; Cruize Corvin, Lakes
Outlook: The majority of this 3,200 field will have already had a day of rest after a fast 1,600 on Thursday, so the makings of a fast Saturday race is on the table. Between Blanchet's Schneider and Recupero and Arlington's Brandon Moore, three seconds separate themselves from each other based on personal best efforts. Moore has the best time this season at 8:58.17 from a race down in Portland that really gave him the confidence to be a favorite for this year's state race. These three ought to make Saturday a fast afternoon, and while it's safe to pick the top time in the state to win, I'm not counting out the defending 3A state cross-country champion to take this one.
The Runner WA pick: Will Schneider
2A
Who to watch for: Zack Munson, Sehome; Julian Campos, Aberdeen; John Hoffer, Tumwater
Dark Horses: Parker Mong, Anacortes; Tyler Neilsen, Squalicum
Outlook: You know that one race where you're really confident in who's going to win and it really shouldn't be even close? Well, it's the 2A boys 3,200. Based on how he's ran this race all season long, this is Sehome's Munson's race to lose. It's hands down his best event across the board as he has a personal best time of 8:53.12 and he should go sub-9 again this Saturday if everything goes to plan. He'll definitely be going after the 2A state meet record set by a former Sehome star in Conner Johnson (8:59.76) from 2013.
The Runner WA pick: Zack Munson, Sehome
Small school meet picks:
1A: Kelton Gagnon, Klahowya
2B: Dexter Delaney, Liberty Bell
1B: Alexander Hoksbergen, Mt. Vernon Christian
Girls 3,200
4A
Who to watch for: Ella Borsheim, Bellarmine; Sydney Collier, Skyline; Emily Van Valkenburg, Eastlake
Dark Horses: Eliza White, Curtis; Jane Roos, Eastlake
Outlook: After a fast 1,600 on Thursday, Saturday's 3,200 is going to come down to veteran experience to get the job done. If there's one runner who could really have the race of her life, it's Bellarmine's Borsheim. The two-time 4A state cross-country champion has been at her best when racing the 3,200 this season, and her best race by far was a 10:12.84 effort down at Arcadia. No other time has come to close to reaching that mark in 4A as Skyline's Collier is second at 10:28.03 and Eastlake's Emily Van Valkenburg is third at 10:32.52.
The Runner WA pick: Ella Borsheim
3A
Who to watch for: Lily LaPorte, Bishop Blanchet; Macy Marquardt, Kennewick; Anna Grabowski, Liberty (Issaquah)
Dark Horses: Katelyn Galloway, Stadium; Elektra Higgins, Peninsula
Outlook: There are two types of races we could see in this one. Either Blanchet's LaPorte and Kennewick's Marquardt go back and forth with each other, or, similar to the fall, Marquardt takes the race out hard, and no one comes close to competing with her. Picking LaPorte to win the 1,600 on Thursday makes me want to lean toward picking Marquardt for Saturday's race because I know there will be an extra spark of energy. If I remember correctly from the fall, it seemed like Marquardt got faster and faster the longer the race was which is why she was so far ahead of everyone else. This isn't a 5k, but it's also not a 1,600.
The Runner WA pick: Macy Marquardt
2A
Who to watch for: Jessica Frydenlund, Anacortes; Alauna Carstens, Shelton; Kate Laurent, Ellensburg
Dark Horses: Logan Hofstee, East Valley (Spokane); Elle Thomas, Washougal
Outlook: Like the 3A race, the 2A 3,200 will likely be dictated by what happens on Thursday in the 1,600. If EV's Hofstee exerts all her energy into the 1,600, there's the possibility she struggles on Saturday. She's also pretty tough too so she's got that going for her. Then there's the true longer distance runners in Anacortes' Frydenlund, Ellensburg's Laurent, and Shelton's Alauna Carstens. It's been a while since all three broke 11 minutes, but that could be in the making along with some even faster times. It's safe to pick Carstens with the top time of 10:47.76, but Frydenlund has proven what she's made of on the biggest of stages and has taken full advantage of those opportunities.
The Runner WA pick: Jessica Frydenlund
Small school meet picks:
1A: Alexis Leone, Seton Catholic
2B: Chloe Overberg, Asotin
1B: Catelin King, Pope John Paul II
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