Despite a handful of injuries, the Auburn Mountainview boys track and field team managed a sixth-place finish at the West Central District III/Southwest District IV 3A meet last weekend at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma.
The Lions scored 41 points, advancing two relay teams and four individuals to this week’s state 3A championship meet at Tacoma.
The boys came into the meet a bit hobbled,” coach Joel MacDougall said. “Three of our four members of the boys’ (400-meter relay) had ankle injuries. We didn’t run as well as we have in the past, but we survived and made it through.
“(Junior) Chris Scharer has also been dealing with a foot injury, but he’s been gutting out some really good 800 times,” MacDougall added. “We are working on getting everyone healthy for the state meet.”
The Lions’ 400 relay – with senior Shaddye Melu and juniors Anatolly Staragerov, Elliott Pelfrey and Devin Bryant – qualified for state with a sixth-place time of 44.33 seconds.
In the 800, Scharer claimed a state berth with a third-place time of 1:58.90.
The Lions’ lone district title came courtesy of senior William Mack, who topped the discus field with a toss of 158 feet, 8 inches.
“He has just had a phenomenal postseason, winning a sub-district and district championship in the discus,” MacDougall said.
“He continues to improve with every meet.”
Mack will be joined at the state meet by junior teammate Nicholas Aumua, who was sixth in the discus with a throw of 144-3. Melu also finished fourth in the 400 with a 50.29, and second in the high jump with a mark of 6-4.
Melu also will run in the 1,600 relay with Pelfrey, Scharer and senior Dylan Summerlin.
“The pleasant surprise has been our boys’ (1,600 relay),” MacDougall said. “We really just put the team together before sub-district. They keep running better and better.”
The team finished fourth with a time of 3:29.49.
Elsewhere
In the 4A meet, the Auburn Riverside boys finished third with 43 points. The Ravens qualified its 1,600 relay team, as well as five individuals. …
Senior Korey Krotzer fueled the Ravens with a win in the 1,600 meters in 4:19.39. He also finished fifth in the 3,200 with a 9:29.55. …
Senior Andrey Zadneprovskiy qualified in three events, taking second in the high jump (6-6), fourth in the 300 hurdles (39.43) and seventh in the 110 hurdles (14.98). …
In the 800, junior Trevor Love (fifth with a 1:56.74) and senior Eduard Yakimchuk (seventh with a 2:00.51) qualified for state. … Junior Joe Miles was sixth in the shot put with a 48-01. … In the 1,600 relay, Love, Krotzer, Yakimchuk and senior Matt Carralez qualified with a 3:32.31, sixth-place finish. …
Auburn moved its 400 relay team on to state, with seniors Allen Malone, Lincoln Burt, Cameron Gardner and Kyle Morriss taking eighth with a 45.63. … Burt also qualified in the 400 with an eighth-place time of 52.41 in the 400. Malone was sixth in the 100 with an 11.15. …
The state 3A and 4A meet begins Thursday at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma and continues Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit www.wiaa.com.
