All Region Girls Track and Field: Erykah Weems, Hudson’s Bay

Until she cleared that one final hurdle, Erykah Weems wasn’t going to celebrate.

Just a year removed from a freak injury that derailed her junior track season, Weems knew how quickly fortunes can change.

But when the Hudson’s Bay senior cleared that final obstacle at the state track and field championships in Tacoma, she had reached her goal of winning two state titles in the hurdles.

It just wasn’t in the order she thought. Weems had hoped to be a two-time champion in the 300 hurdles, her best event.

Instead, she added a surprise victory in the 100 hurdles to her triumph in the 300 hurdles, which she won by nearly a full second.

“It’s sort of sinking in, but I’m just very humbled to have the opportunity,” Weems said. “I know I want more.”

For her accomplishments, Weems is The Columbian’s All-Region girls track and field athlete of the year.

Weems will attend Central Washington University in the fall. She hopes to one day be fast enough to reach The Olympics.

Lofty goals aren’t new to Weems. She balances sports and her education with an evening job at a local department store.

“I pretty much wake up, go to school, go to practice, go to work,” she said.

Weems was humbled early in her junior season. During a routine hurdle drill, she landed awkwardly and broke the fifth metatarsal bone in her left foot.

Despite racing in just the final four meets of her junior season, Weems placed fifth in the 300 hurdles at the state meet.

Weems immediately started looking ahead to her senior season.

“I wanted to go out with a bang,” she said. “That’s what my main goal was, and I’m pretty sure I executed that pretty well.”

Weems won all nine times she raced the 300 hurdles this season. Her season best of 43.63 seconds was the fastest among 2A athletes by 0.98 of a second.

So it wasn’t a shock when she won that state title by a large margin.

The surprise came the previous day, when she won the 100 hurdles by 0.12 of a second over two girls who had clocked faster times.

“I was pretty shocked about the 100, but then again I’m very blessed,” she said.

In rebounding from injury to win two state titles, Weems knows she can get over whatever hurdles life throws her way.

It just takes a lot of persistence and the right perspective.

“Faith is the main thing, just making sure that everything I receive is a blessing,” she said. “Making sure I was staying humble and not too greedy because being greedy can get you nowhere in life.”

The rest of the All-Region team

Grayson Burke, Sr., Columbia River

Reached 3A state in three events, placing sixth in 100 meters, fifth in 200 and 11th in 400. District champion in 200 and 400.

Alyssa Chapin, So., Hockinson

Placed fourth in 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at 2A state meet. Set school records in both hurdles events and 200 meters this season.

Madison Lord, Sr., Skyview

Fourth place at 4A state meet in high jump, adding to her second-place last year. Also won district titles in 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles.

Dai’lyn Merriweather, Jr., Union

Repeated as 4A state champion in the 200 meters. Fourth in state in 100 meters. On 1600 relay team that placed third in state.

Jai’lyn Merriweather, Jr., Union

Repeated as 4A state champ in 400 meters in 55.01 seconds, the fastest time all year statewide. On 1,600 relay that was third in state.

Kaylin Sperley, So., Prairie

Placed third at 3A state meet in 100 meters. District and bi-district champ in that event. Set school records in both 100 and 200 this year.

Julia Stepper, Jr. Woodland

Placed second at 2A state meet in 200 meters and long jump. Also fourth in state in 100. Became three-time district champ in 100 and 200.