Auburn’s best ready to take on the rest of the state

After pushing each other to the limit, Kent-Meridian’s Jordan Wigfall discovered what Auburn’s D’Angelo Washington had found two months earlier.

Greater heights.

The Royals senior cleared a personal-best 6 feet, 4 inches – just as Washington did at a dual meet in March – to capture the high jump event during the 4A West Central/Southwest District track and field finals at Sumner’s Sunset Chev Stadium last Saturday.

“Perfect conditions, really. … Just friendly competition,” Wigfall said of his duel with Washington, who settled for second with a leap of 6-2. “No buildups, just did my little routine the coach gave to me and I went from there.

“I’m happy,” he said, appearing surprised. “I was going to go kill 6 feet and just go to state. I didn’t think I would go 6-4.”

Washington, Auburn’s jump specialist, did his thing by qualifying for this week’s state meet, not only in the high jump, where the senior won league and district titles, but in the triple jump, where he matched his personal record (PR) of 44-11¾ to finish third.

The top seven finishers in each event advanced to the state championships, which open Thursday, continue Friday and conclude Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

Washington is ready to stretch farther in hopes of making the podium at the state meet.

“Realistically, I’m looking at a PR of two inches and hopefully to get into the top three (for the high jump),” said Washington, who plans to compete for Green River College next season. “And in the triple (jump), I just want do my best and see what happens.”

Other district highlights:

Exclusively, from the vault

Nine pole vaulters from the bi-district meet cleared at least 14 feet, the automatic qualifying standard for the state meet. The event was washed out Wednesday, but the talent-deep field returned for the finals under the sun last Saturday.

Auburn Mountainview’s one-two senior punch of Kacey Provo and Brennen Hanson was part of the state-bound group of nine. Provo, last year’s state runner-up, climbed 14-6, coming up short at 15, to finish third behind the Tahoma tandem of Zachary Klobutcher, the defending 4A champion, who cleared 16-3, and Colter Papritz (14-6).

Provo has the school record, 15 feet, which he set earlier this season. Hanson, a state-class wrestler, cleared a season-best 14 feet at Sumner to finish ninth.

Lions in fast company

Auburn Mountainview’s Chris Penn captured the 100 meters in 10.91 seconds, set a PR at 21.93 in finishing second in the 200 and anchored the 400 relay to third in 43.36. Landen Bowser, Bill Benjamin and Jeremiah Penn were in the group.

“I was a bit nervous because I’m a little bit hurt,” said Penn, rubbing a bothersome, sore knee after his qualifying heat in the 200. “But I followed my strategy and it got me the win.”

Penn, who owns the 4A’s second-fastest 200 time, and his teammates say they’ll be ready for the state test. The Lions’ sprint relay has the second-best time in the 4A rankings.

“It’s going to be close,” he said.

Other state-bound Lions who finished on the district podium were Jaron Marks in the shot put (third, 49-7½) and Anthony Gonzales in the javelin (172-8).

Boys highlights

Auburn’s Omar Young qualified in the shot put (second, 49-10½) and discus (third, 152-5). Young finished third in the state discus final a year ago. … The Trojans’ Bakari Bakari moved on to state in the 400 (sixth, 50.85). … Auburn sophomore Charlie Lockington was seventh in the discus (139-0). … AuburnAuburn Riverside’s Noah Elwell set a person-best 1:56.79 to finish fourth in the 800. Teammate Marcus Sutrick qualified for state in the 1,600 (seventh, 4:21.62).

Girls highlights

Auburn Riverside’s Alaya Hill, a league champion, returned to state in the high jump by taking the district crown with a leap of 5-2. … The Ravens’ Stephanie Igwala qualified in the triple jump (sixth, 35-5¼). … The Lions’ Rufina Everett moved on in the shot put (sixth, 36-8¾).

Notes

Camas won the boys team title. Auburn Mountainview was sixth and Auburn followed in 10th. … Tahoma’s girls ran away with the team win. … The state meet begins at 3 p.m. Thursday, 11 a.m. Friday and 10:30 a.m. Saturday. See wiaa.com for more details.

Auburn Mountainview’s Kacey Provo clears an early height during a Day 1 washout in the district meet at Sumner. Provo returned last Saturday to clear 14 feet, 6 inches to finish third and earn a state berth. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Chris Penn anchors Auburn Mountainview’s 400 relay in the district meet. The Lions had the third-best time of the meet in 43.36. Penn also won the 100 district meet in 10.91. RACHEL CIAMPI, Auburn Reporter