TACOMA — Trey Knight already is a national champion in track and field, and Friday became a state champion.
The Ridgefield High sophomore won the Class 2A boys shot put Friday morning at Mount Tahoma Stadium, uncorking a distance that hasn’t been at the 2A state track and field meet since Sehome’s Steven Ayers’ meet-record throw of 64 feet, 7 1/2 inches in 2007.
Knight’s winning throw of 61-11 ½, a mark achieved on his second attempt of the competition, was one of four throws 60 feet or better. His sixth and final throw of the competition was his second best on the day, 61-10 3/4.
“I’m happy; I got it done,” Knight said afterward. “That’s all I really wanted just to win.”
This is Knight’s first state title. In March, he won the weight-throw competition at the prestigious New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York, breaking the national class record in the event. As a freshman in 2017 for Ridgefield, he placed second at state in the shot and discus.
Knight also has the top seed mark entering Saturday’s 2A discus competition. Seeded second is defending state champion, Fife’s MJ Ale, who also placed second (54-11) to Knight Friday.
“He’s throwing farther,” Knight said of Ale, a University of Washington football commit. “It’s good to get the win and confidence and get some adrenaline to carry over to tomorrow.”
Knight’s first-place points accounted 10 of the 13 points for the Spudders in the event. Teammate Wyatt Layman threw a personal-best 49-4 1/2 to place seventh. Woodland’s Damon Holland was sixth (49-7 3/4).
