State track: Pro decision awaits Efraimson after setting another meet record

TACOMA — Before she possibly leaves the state track championships in her dust, Alexa Efraimson took one more dash across the meet’s record book.

The Camas junior defended her state title in the Class 4A 800 meters Saturday. Her time of 2:04.10 lowered her own meet record by more than three seconds.

It’s the fastest 800 time nationally this season and the second fastest by a Washington high school girl, bested only by Becca Noble, who ran 2:03.73 at the 2005 USA Junior Nationals for Rogers-Spokane.

Efraimson has been the toast of this year’s state meet since she broke the national high school record in the 1600 meters on Thursday. On the award stand, she received loud and long ovations from fans at Mount Tahoma High School on Thursday and again on Saturday.

Saturday might have been the final chance to watch Efraimson in a high school track uniform. She is considering turning professional in the near future.

“Honestly, I don’t really know if I’m going to be here next year,” Efraimson said. “It’s sort of up in the air right now. But I think we’ll know relatively soon.”

Efraimson had the rare experience of being challenged for much of Saturday’s race. Central Kitsap’s Rose Christen, who had broken 2:09 this season, stayed on Efraimson’s shoulder.

Efraimson led by less than a second as she completed the first lap in 61 seconds. Christen stuck with her through the final lap, finishing in 2:05.64.

“Competition brings out the best in me,” Efraimson said.

Next up for Efraimson is the Adidas Dream Mile in two weeks in New York, where she’ll compete against other high school elites.

“This season has been a really great learning experience for me,” Efraimson said. “I’ve learned I have to train differently because my season now lasts so much longer. Last year, I felt like I was almost burned out by the time I was done. This year, my coach and I haven’t done a lot of speed work until recently.”

Pair of seconds for local hurdlers

It was a leap forward for one, a bounce back for another.

Camas junior Ryan Gunther and Prairie senior James Phillips both finished second in the 300 hurdles Saturday.

Gunther knocked nearly one second off his personal best in the 4A final, finishing in 38.68 seconds.

“Just being able to race with fast guys up here, I was able to push myself more,” Gunther said. “I came around the corner with 100 meters to go. I saw only one other guy on the outside and thought ‘I could win state!’ It was a pleasant surprise.”

Phillips’ state meet got off to a sour start Thursday, when he missed qualifying for the 110 hurdles finals by one-thousandth of a second. He had the fastest time in 3A statewide earlier this season.

Phillips rebounded by running his second-fastest 300 hurdles time of the season (38.98) to finish second on Saturday.

“The support from my coaches and teammates has been phenomenal,” Phillips said. “Sometimes you have a bad race. You have to put it behind you. … I just thank my Heavenly Father for giving me the strength.”

Other notable performances

Columbia River sprinters Marcus Gaylor and Emily Morgan combined for four top-three finishes Saturday. Morgan finished second in the 100 and third in the 200. She also ran blazing anchor legs for the 4×100 relay team, which placed second, and the 800 relay team, which finished third. Gaylor finished third in both the 100 and 200 meters.

Skyview senior Aubrey Ward-El placed second in the 4A javelin. One day after winning the shot put state title, Ward-El’s mark of 139-5 was 6 feet, 11 inches behind Arlington’s Lyndsay Leatherman.

Evergreen twins Dai’lyn and Jai’lyn Merriweather finished third and fourth, respectively, in the 4A 400 meters. The freshmen had the two fastest qualifying times in Friday’s preliminaries.

Clark County had a strong presence in the 3A shot put. Mountain View freshman Ethan Tonder placed third (51-2.75), Prairie senior Jason Bracken fourth (50-3.25) and Columbia River senior James Niemela sixth (49-10). Bracken also placed seventh in the high jump (6-0).

Camas placed second in the 4A girls team race. The Papermakers’ 48 points was behind only Federal Way’s 72. Columbia River girls placed fourth in the 3A team race. Prairie boys placed fifth.

1A state track meet

Several local athletes competed at the Class 1A state track and field championships at Eastern Washington University in Cheney.

La Center’s Kyle Degraaff won the 800 meters in 1:57.55 one day after placing second in the 1,600.

Woodland’s Eli Whitmire won the long jump in 22 feet, 4 inches. He also placed fifth in the 100 meters.

Julia Stepper of Woodland placed second in the 200 meters.

BOYS TRACK

Class 4A State Championships

At Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Team scores (top four) – FEDERAL WAY 73, EASTMONT 45, WENATCHEE 40, EASTLAKE 38.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 -1, Isaiah Brandt-Sims (Wenatchee) 10.76.

200 – 1, Isaiah Brandt-Sims (Wenatchee) 21.38.

400 – 1, Ryan Croson (Bothell) 48.61.

800 – 1, Drew Schreiber (Eisenhower) 1:51.75; 8, Keaton Spiller (Heritage) 1:55.82.

3,200 – 1, Cameron Stanish (Garfield) 9:00.10; 11, Riley Hein (Camas) 9:33.74.

300 hurdles – 1, Eric Simpson (Rogers-Puyallup) 37.78; 2, Ryan Gunther (Camas) 38.68.

400 relay – 1, Eastmont 42.13; 5, Camas (Ryan Gunther, Josh Ryan, Hunter Brittain, Cole Zarcone) 43.06.

1600 relay – 1, Eastlake 3:18.68.

Long jump – 1, Brian Burt (Eastmont) 23-6; 6, Devin Murphy (Heritage) 22-6.5.

Javelin – 1, Denham Patricelli (Tahoma) 204-6; 7, Alex Berfanger (Union) 174-0; 9, Costal David (Evergreen) 170-7.

Class 3A State Championships

At Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Team scores (top four) – BELLVUE 73, NATHAN HALE 59, LINCOLN 52.5, HANFORD 44.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 – 1, Budda Baker (Bellevue) 10.77; 3, Marcus Gaylor (Columbia River) 10.96.

200 – 1, Budda Baker (Bellevue) 21.87; 3, Marcus Gaylor (Columbia River) 22.05.

400 – 1, Jacob Hostetler (Ingraham) 48.91.

800 – 1, Max Leach (Nathan Hale) 1:54.44.

3,200 – 1, Joe Hardy (Seattle Prep) 8:55.11; 12, Austin Blankenship (Columbia River) 9:39.45.

300 hurdles – 1, Therron Randle (Lincoln) 38.15; 2, James Phillips (Prairie) 38.98.

400 relay – 1, Bellevue 41.79; 6, Prairie (Peter Zalk, Reuvim Ponomarenko, David Tran, James Phillips) 43.54.

1600 relay – 1, Bellevue 3:23.04.

High jump – 1, Amari Hill (Franklin) 6-6; 7, Jason Bracken (Prairie) 6-0.

Triple jump – 1, Ahmaad Rorie (Lincoln) 47-2.75; 15 Jacob Ringold (Columbia River).

Shot put – 1, Dallon Grinder (Hanford) 53-10.5; 3, Ethan Tonder (Mountain View) 51.2.75; 4, Jason Bracken (Prairie) 50-3.25; 6, James Niemela (Columbia River) 49-10.

Class 2A State Championships

At Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Team scores (top four) – OLYMPIC 52, EAST VALLEY-SPOKANE 44, RIVER RIDGE 38, SEHOME 36.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 – 1, Jonathan Green (Ephrata) 10.61.

200 – 1, Zachary Smith (Olympic) 21.59.

400 – 1, Dejuan Frye (River Ridge) 47.72; 7, Nick Barclay (Hockinson) 51.21.

800 – 1, Chais Sugden (Squalicum) 1:54.53; 3, Thomas Normandeau (Washougal) 1:55.74.

3,200 – 1, Scott Kopczynski (East Valley-Spokane) 9:14.67.

400 relay – 1, River Ridge 41.49.

1600 relay – 1, Steilacoom 3:24.52.

300 hurdles – 1, Garrett Rouser (Kingston) 37.97.

Discus – 1, Jacob Laird (Ephrata) 176-11.

Class 1A State Championships

At Eastern Washington Univeristy, Cheney

Team scores (top four) – MEDICAL LAKE 50, ZILLAH 48, KING’S 37, MERIDIAN 37.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 – 1, Ray Sark (Elma) 10.86; 5, Eli Whitmire (Woodland) 11.24.

200 – 1, Devin Kelly (Hoquiam) 22.12; 7, Philipp Tistov (La Center) 23.32.

400 – 1, Max Axtell (Freeman) 49.74; 8, Philipp Tistov (La Center) 52.05.

800 – 1, Kyle Degraaff (La Center) 1:57.55; 5, Matthew Young (Woodland) 2:01.08; 7, Nathan Patterson (Woodland) 2:02.98.

3,200 – 1, Ryan Coffman (Lakeside) 9:32.68; 15, Travis Dennis (La Center) 10:54.81.

110 hurdles – 1, Cody Triana (Rochester) 14.94.

300 hurdles – 1, Ray Stark (Elma) 37.90.

400 relay – 1, Medical Lake 43.44; 4, Woodland (Vince Negro, Eli Whitmire, Kolten Snyder, Brian Preston) 43.85.

1600 relay – 1, Zillah 3:23.21; 7, Woodland (Vince Negro, Dillan Bonamigo-Wear, Nathan Patterson, Matthew Young) 3:30.13.

High jump – 1, Jack Buckner (Northwest) 6-2; 3, Matthew Sheldon (La Center) 6-2.

Long jump – 1, Eli Whitmire (Woodland) 22-4.

Shot put – 1, Justin Kaelin (Eatonville) 56-6.5.

GIRLS TRACK

Class 4A State Championships

At Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Team scores (top four) – FEDERAL WAY 72, CAMAS 48, RICHLAND 37, SKYLINE 35.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 – 1, Hannah Cunliffe (Federal Way) 11.96.

200 – 1, Hannah Cunliffe (Federal Way) 24.66, 6, Dai’Lyn Merriweather 25.33.

400 – 1, Hannah Derby (Bellarmine Prep) 55.69; 3, Dai’lyn Merriweather (Evergreen) 55.86; 4, Jai’lyn Merriweather 56.24.

800 – 1, Alexa Efraimson (Camas) 2:04.10; 8, Alexis Fuller (Union) 2:15.77.

3,200 – 1, Brenna Peloquin (Gig Harbor) 10:43.12; 6, Alissa Pudlitzke (Camas) 10:57.69.

300 hurdles – 1, Darhian Mills (Inglemoor) 42.45; 4, Jordan Davis (Camas) 43.89.

400 relay – 1, Federal Way 46.90; 2, Evergreen (Jamilah Harper, Saydi Dozark, Dai’lyn Merriweather, Jai’lyn Merriweather) 48.77.

800 relay – 1, Federal Way 1:40.75; Evergreen (Jamilah Harper, Saydi Dozark, Jai’lyn Merriweather, Dai’lyn Merriweather) DQ.

1600 relay – 1, Skyline 3:53.24; 2, Skyview (Madison Lanford, Molly Beaman, Rachel Shirley, Chisom Eke); 4, Camas (Savanna Joyce, Jordan Davis, Meghan Finley, Alexa Efraimson).

High jump – 1, Mariah Cunningham (Central Valley) 5-4.

Javelin – 1, Lyndsay Leatherman (Arlington) 146-4; 2, Aubrey Ward-El (Skyview) 139-5; 5, Jossilyn Blackman (Battle Ground) 136-9.

Pole vault – 1, Carrie Jacka (Mead) 12-0; 3, Caleigh Lofstead (Camas) 11-9; 12, Laura Shannon (Battle Ground) 10-6.

100 wheelchair – 2, Yen Hoang (Evergreen) 20.30.

200 wheelchair – 2, Yen Hoang (Evergreen) 39.23.

400 wheelchair – 1, Yen Hoang (Evergreen) 1:18.77.

Class 3A State Championships

At Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Team scores (top four) – KAMIAKIN 123, HOLY NAMES 102, MOUNTLAKE TERRACE 51, COLUMBIA RIVER 36.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 – 1, Ngozi Musa (Holy Names) 12.14; 2, Emily Morgan (Columbia River) 12.26.

200 -1, Ellie Heiden (Kamiakin) 24.66; 3, Emily Morgan (Columbia River) 25.25.

400 – 1, Ellie Heiden (Kamiakin) 54.93.

800 – 1, Erin Ripple (Holy Names) 2:10.27; 8, Lindsay Asplund (Prairie) 2:21.86.

3,200 – 1, Megan Beauchene (Kamiakin) 10:34.52; 10, Michaela Bruns (Prairie) 11:32.93; 14, Jamie Ferris (Prairie) 11:52.67.

300 hurdles – 1, Deja Svastisalee (North Central) 44.79; 4, Erykah Weems (Hudson’s Bay).

400 relay – 1, Holy Names 48.19; 2, Columbia River (Sarah Landers, Tiarra Ringold, Taylor Hallquist, Emily Morgan) 48.68.

800 relay – 1, Mount Spokane 1:42.25; 3, Columbia River (Grayson Burke, Sarah Landers, Taylor Hallquist, Emily Morgan) 1:42.85.

1600 relay – 1, Holy Names 3:56.58.

Triple jump – 1, Chinne Okoronkwo (Mountlake Terrace) 40-11.25; 9, Brooke Williams (Columbia River) 35-4.25; 12, Katherine Schaefer (Prairie) 33-9; 13, Marion Lilly (Columbia River) 33-8; 16, Kimberly Schaefer (Prairie) 32-11.

Shot put – 1, KC Moulden (Enumclaw) 44-0.25; 15, Jordan Hunter (Hudson’s Bay) 32-1.75.

Pole vault – 1, Marissa Berry (Southridge) 12-3.

Class 2A State Championships

At Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Team scores (top four) – SEHOME 70.5, TUMWATER 62, BELLINGHAM 45, EAST VALLEY-SPOKANE 39.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 – 1, Alyssa Porter (Bellingham) 12.28.

200 – 1, Brooke Feldmeier (Tumwater) 24.96.

400 – 1, Brooke Feldmeier (Tumwater) 55.83; 6, Raigan Page (Ridgefield) 58.93.

800 – 1, Katia Matora (Lake Washington) 2:17.00.

3,200 -1, Emily Pittis (Sehome) 10:59.81.

300 hurdles – 1, Amanda Jaynes (Steilacoom) 44.51.

400 relay – 1, Bellingham 48.59.

800 relay – 1, Sehome 1:42.15.

1600 relay – 1, W.F. West 3:58.57.

Long jump – 1, Peyton Russell (Tumwater) 18-3.75.

Discus – 1, Elisha Allred (East Valley-Spokane) 127-7; 5, Michelle Greear (Washougal) 112-9.

Class 1A State Championships

At Eastern Washington University, Cheney

Team scores (top 4) – KINGS 86, LAKESIDE 52, LYNDEN CHRISTIAN 51, SEATTLE CHRISTIAN 34.

Saturday’s finals (winner and local athletes)

100 – 1, Abi Kim (Seattle Christian) 12.40.

200 – 1, Abi Kim (Seattle Christian) 25.09; 2, Julia Stepper (Woodland) 25.54.

400 – 1, Maya Jackson (Northwest) 58.23; 6, Amber Malik (Woodland) 1:01.34.

800 – 1, Chynna Phan (Mount Baker) 2:14.15.

1,600 – 1, Kacey Kemper (King’s) 5:03.39; 13, Emily Dick (King’s Way Chrisitan) 5:45.34; 14, Katie Whitten (La Center) 5:51.15.

100 hurdles – 1, Hannah Rusnak (Lynden Christian) 15.28.

300 hurdles – 1, Katie Collins (Lakeside) 45.81.

400 relay – 1, Hoquiam 49.72; 8, Woodland (Kayla Fredricks, Julia Stepper, Cierra Massey, Amber Malik) 51.05.

800 relay – 1, Hoquiam 1:44.10.

1600 relay – 1, Meridian 3:59.83; 7, Woodland (Kenya Byrnes, Kelsey Newburn, Katie Kern, Amber Malik) 4:17.88.

Triple jump – 1, Jackie Mahowald (Lakeside) 38-8.5; 13, Madison McCrum (Stevenson) 34-4.75.

Discus – 1, Kaitlin Krouse (Chwelah) 135-2; 4, Shleby Vermeulen (La Center) 111-06.

Javelin – 1, Deanna Avalos (La Salle) 138-9.

Pole vault – 1, Olivia Adams (Blaine) 11-6; 13, Madison Hollingshead (La Center) 7-6; 14, Madison McCrum (Stevenson) 7-6.