Other Falcon runners advance to regionals
Falcon Lauren Sandri burned up the track at Cedarcrest Friday, winning the 100-meter dash in 12.60 seconds and demolishing the old Cascade Conference record of 12.64 set by Michelle Burk of Kings in 1997.
“It was a good run and really helps me prepare for state in Tacoma,” Sandri said. “The truth is, the coaches think I’d be better concentrating on the 200.”
Other league champions included Emma Ruggiero in the discus, the Falcons girls 100- and 200-meter relays (Hope Richards, McKenzie Walker, Gwen Bakke and Sandri) and the boys 100-meter relay team (Marco Plastino, Jon Poolman, Eric Stallman and Jason Fitz).
Sandri said
Kings had passed them in the 200-meter relay.
“It was an intense experience to beat them right at the finish,” she said.
Of her three sports — soccer, basketball and track — Sandri favors soccer because of the interaction between teammates. “And that’s why
I enjoy the relays so much; the chance to challenge myself with other girls who are working just as hard.”
Sandri beat the field in the 200 with 26.64, while Walker was hot on her heels and placed second at 27.05.
Overall, the girls team placed second behind Kings and the boys were third after Kings and Lakewood.
“It’s significant to note that Sandri won four championships and rallied the 200 relay team from second to first on the final leg,” Falcon coach Doug Fulton said.
Fitz managed personal records in both hurdles, finishing second to state 2A leader Nick Synder in the 110-meter.
“Jason took the baton for the last leg in the 4×100 and edged King’s runner by 0.05 seconds at the tape for victory,” Fulton said. “We haven’t run a boys 100 relay at league in the last two years due to a shortage of sprinters.”
Fitz also anchored the boys to a third-place finish in the 400 relay.
Katy Gordon had a career PR in the distance 1600-meter run while Cayla Calderwood had a career PR in the triple jump with 33-09. Julie Antetomaso high jumped 4-10 for third.
Gordon was pleased with the results.
“I was ranked seventh so to come in second in a really competitive field was important,” she said. “Right now, all of us are concentrating hard on state, which is where I want to be.”
In the girls 800 run, Erica Johnson posted third with 2:23.94 and Gordon took third in the 3200 with 11:40.83.
The top eight 2A finishers qualified for the district meet in Bellingham on May 16-18 at Civic Stadium; from there the top four qualify for state in Tacoma.
Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.
