Auburn Riverside sophomore Brandi Williams and junior Ali Rodseth should be fierce rivals.

The Ravens’ talented girls are pushing each other to achieve greater distances and faster times in the long jump and sprints this spring.

Instead of letting the competition dictate their relationship, however, Rodseth and Williams have fostered a close friendship.

It all began during last year’s track and field season.

“We’ve been close since,” said Rodseth, a junior. “We were just always together in our events, and they put us together in relays. Relays are really good for bonding because you have to know the person and how they run.”

“Every meet we would warm up together,” replied Williams, a sophomore. “We were just always together.”

At last year’s state 4A meet, that bond was cemented when the girls found themselves on the podium in the long jump, with Rodseth grabbing fourth place with a leap of 17 feet, one-quarter inch, and Williams finishing sixth with a 16-11 effort.

“We’re always right next to each other on the podium,” Rodseth added.

So far this season, Williams has the edge in the long jump, with a state-best 4A mark of 18-1½ posted on April 20 at Todd Beamer High School.

Although the mark was a personal best for Williams, she believes she can do better.

“I’ve been having trouble this year being on the board,” she said. “It was my very last jump in the finals, and I (had) just a toe on the board when I jumped.

“My goal is to jump about 18-5 at state.”

Ravens girls coach Christie Rogers said Williams definitely has the potential to reach her goal.

“I knew she’d do well this year, but I didn’t expect her to take off as soon as she did,” Rogers said. “I expected her to be over 18 (feet), but to get there this early is exciting because she should be able to push it farther each meet.”

In addition to her long jump skills, Williams also has the potential to qualify for state at 200 meters.

On April 30, she stopped the clock at 25.95 seconds in the event at the Lake Washington Invitational, the 10th best time in the 4A ranks this season.

For Rodseth – who came into the spring nursing a foot injury sustained at club gymnastics – there is a little ground to be made up.

Rodseth’s best jump this season went 16-11 3/4 on April 30 at the Lake Washington Invite.

“I had a bit of a late start, but now I’m doing well,” Rodseth said. “I’m pretty intent on catching her (Williams). I’ll try my best. You just have to have your day. Sometimes you don’t have your best day because you’re tired or (it’s) the conditions. But you just have to have your day on a good day.”

According to Rogers, it’s just a matter of time before Rodseth finds her groove in the long jump.

“With Ali, there is one piece waiting to click,” Rogers said. “When it does, she should soar. I expect her to be over 18 as well. It should be an even more powerful showing for both of them at state.”

The key, Rogers said, is the duo’s ability to push each other competitively while still maintaining their friendship.

“They bring a really good chemistry and upbeat personality to practice,” Rogers said. “They have a good time, but at the same time, they’re out there working hard. They push each other hard and when they get done, they’re congratulating each other. It’s a good positive rivalry.”

Raven notes

Korey Krotzer is primed for the postseason, looking to pour it on in his pursuit of state titles at 3,200 and 1,600 meters. Krotzer finished 13th in the 3,200 at last year’s state meet, with a time of 9:33.85. He posted a personal-best 9:31.26 in the event at the Arcadia Invitational on April 9. In the 1,600, Krotzer also delivered a personal record this season, notching a 4:17.32 at the Shoreline Invite last weekend.

“I feel a lot better than I did a few weeks ago,” Krotzer said. “Now it kind of feels like the season is just starting, and I’m ready to get some faster times.”

Teammate and senior Jeff Miles also is having a career year, according to Raven boys coach Bill Sumner. After a promising start as a freshman, Miles said he fell off a bit. But this spring, he’s roaring back, setting personal bests in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200, with times of 2:08.44, 4:26.92 and 9:28.06, respectively.

His improvement in the 1,600 is more than 10 seconds better than his previous best from last season, and he’s cut nearly 20 seconds from his 3,200 time.

“I’ve struggled in the past years, but this year has been a lot better,” Miles said.

Meanwhile, junior Andrey Zadneprovskiy is sixth in the state 4A 110 hurdle rankings with a personal-best 14.92. He qualified for state last year in the 300 intermediate hurdles but did not place, running a 39.49. Zadneprovskiy’s best 300 time this season is a 40.58.

On the girls distance team, junior Rachel Atwood has the state’s third-best 3,200 time of 10:56.49.

At last year’s 4A meet, Atwood took home fifth in the 3,200 with an 11:02.81.

Although this season’s time is a personal record, Atwood expects bigger and better things in May.

“It’s taken a long time to get going and get into the fast races,” Atwood said, adding that the spring’s inclement weather hasn’t helped. “We haven’t been able to do our fast intervals like we did last year, so it’s been harder to train for the mile.”