We have reached our sixth edition of who to watch for this 2019 track season. This group of girls are a very competitive bunch and can compete with one another in any race. Time to meet the 2A girls running this track season.
Annika Reiss - Bellingham
1,600, 3,200
Will this be the year Annika Reiss has the perfect track season? The Bellingham senior has gone through many injuries in her high school career that have kept her from running at her best. This past fall, Reiss was the No. 1 runner for the 2A level but failed to win the 2A state cross title. Last spring, Reiss finished fifth in the 1,600 and 3,200 at the 2A state track meet. The Northern Arizona University bound runner has a total of nine state medals between cross and track. Her personal best times are 4:57.11 and 10:50.59. Reiss has the best chance to take the 1,600 and 3,200 state titles.
Amelia Pullen - Washougal
1,600, 3,200
Amelia Pullen was the second ranked 2A cross country runner this entire past fall, until the state cross meet. Pullen won her first cross country state title in a shocking upset over Bellingham's Reiss. With a win like that, the Washougal senior puts herself in contention to win the 3,200 state title this track season. As a junior, Pullen placed 14th in the 1,600 and third in the 3,200 at the 2A state track meet. Her personal best times are 5:17.87 and 11:01.16. Pullen proved to be a better long distance runner the last two years.
Lucia Ianello - Columbia River
800, 1,600
The top returning 1,600 runner for the 2A schools happens to be the youngest of them all in this feature. Lucia Ianello enters her sophomore track season as a potential favorite to win the 1,600 2A state championship. Last spring, Ianello finished ninth in the 800 and fourth in the 1,600 at the 2A state track meet. She also ran her personal best marks at state in 2:21.92 and 5:02.47. Ianello ran cross country for the first time last fall after a year of playing soccer. She was 16th at the 2A state cross meet. The fact she ran cross country this year could be a big help to her success in the spring.
Cameron Hodges - Sehome
800, 1,600
Volleyball player by fall, track athlete by spring, Sehome's Cameron Hodges is a special talent the Mariners have. The junior placed fourth in the 800 at the 2A state track meet last spring. She also qualified for the 1,600 and finished 11th overall. Hodges personal best times are 2:16.08 and 5:07.9. Oddly enough, the successful runners Sehome have developed in past all ran cross country at one point in their time. Hodges is the one exception who has proven that it doesn't take another season of running to accomplish what she done so far, it's just pure athleticism.
Saville Feist - Anacortes
1,600, 3,200
Had there been a comeback runner of the year award, hands down it would go to Anacortes senior, Saville Feist. Feist missed her entire junior year of cross country after she was in a bike accident, which nearly took her life away. The following spring, Feist managed to return to running and proved the impossible by qualifying for the 2A state track meet in the 1,600 and 3,200. She placed ninth in both races. Last fall, she qualified for her second state cross meet where she placed 81st. Feist is someone who can truly defy the odds when tragedy strikes and is willing to get back to her running self.
Others to Watch for:
Leah Holmgren - Ellensburg: Placed third at the 2A state cross meet this past fall. Qualified for the 1,600 state race her sophomore year where she placed 13th.
Makenna Cowan - Highline: Placed sixth in the 1,600 and seventh in the 3,200 at the 2A state track meet her junior year.
Madeline Drennen - Orting: Placed eighth in the 1,600 and 3,200 at the 2A state track meet. Also placed ninth at the 2A state cross meet this past fall.
Madison Zosa - North Kitsap: Qualified for the 3,200 at the 2A state track meet as a freshman. Finished in sixth at the 2A state cross meet this past fall.
Lauren Larson - Port Angeles: Finished fourth at the 2A state cross meet this past fall.
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