Mountain View senior Kate Kadrmas hopes to qualify for state in four events this season. Mountain View athletics/Courtesy Photo Gallery
Kate Kadrmas is accustomed to a busy-bee lifestyle.
She trains year-round in track and field as a heptathlete, and qualified for state in alto saxophone as part of Mountain View High’s band, another school activity she’s heavily invested in.
“That adds to my crazy schedule,” Kadrmas said.
And if all goes according to plan, she’ll make a repeat trip for May’s Class 3A state track and field meet to conclude her high-school career.
Not just in one event, such as placing seventh in the 100 hurdles (15.60 seconds) at last year’s state meet.
But rather, four events.
“That’s the goal,” she said.
Which four still will be determined. It’s the hurdles, though, that drew Kadrmas’ track and field interest early, followed by her first attempt at the heptathlon, a seven-event specialty for women.
She got hooked, and trains year-round with Marinella Jiganie, an ex-high school coach in Clark County now Clark College’s associate head coach.
The heptathlon is what Kadrmas will specialize in college, but she knows she also wouldn’t where she is without her coaches at Mountain view. Last month, she signed with Nebraska, a place she said she felt right at home because of the people, program, facilities and academics.
Luckily for her, the 100 hurdles is one of the seven events heptathletes do over a two-day multi-events competition. She placed seventh in that event at last year’s 3A state meet (15.60 seconds) a year after reaching state for the first time. In 2018, she placed ninth in the 100 hurdles and 16th in the 300 hurdles.
This year, she’s aiming for a sub-15-second time in her favorite of the two hurdle events — the 100 hurdles — coupled with a top-3 state placing.
And she could be well on her way. Last month marked her second indoor track and field season, competing in meets in Seattle and Boise, Idaho. Kadrmas views a shortened indoor season as a way to gauge where she is in training and a way to gear up for her high school season.
So far, so good for what’s ahead, she said.
“I’m pretty excited,” Kadrmas said. “I think this season is going to be good.”
ATHLETES TO WATCH
Lucy George, soph., Camas: Breakout freshman year included an eighth-place finish at state in 100 hurdles and a district title.
Erika Strait, jr., Mountain View: Junior has placed at state the past two years in 3A high jump.
MacKenzie Sparks, jr., Ridgefield: One of the top returning javelin throwers in 2A after placing sixth at state meet.
Lucia Ianello, jr., Columbia River: Set a school-record time in 1600 meters to place fourth at 2A state meet in her first year of track and field.
Emily Phelps, sr., Fort Vancouver: Gonzaga signee is the reigning 3A 1600 and 3200 bi-district champion.
Amelia Pullen, sr., Washougal: State cross country champion placed third in 3200 meters at state last spring.
Reymi Shelton, sr., Evergreen: Reigning district long jump and triple jump champion reached state in both events.
Logan Nelson, Union: 4A District 100 and 200 champion set personal-best times of 12.55 and 25.92 last spring.
KEY DATES
March 23: Annual Tiger Invitational at Battle Ground is the area’s first invitational of the season, drawing in teams from Washington and Oregon.
April 12: Columbia River hosts the John Ingram Twilight, with athletes competing from across Clark County.
May 3: The elite of the elite athletes head to Jesuit High School for the Nike/Jesuit Relays.
May 8-9: 4A and 3A district titles will be won at McKenzie Stadium.
May 17: Washougal’s Fishback Stadium is home to this year’s 2A district meet.
May 23-25: The top 4A, 3A and 2A athletes gather at Mount Tahoma Stadium. Small schools (1A, 2B, 1B) compete at Eastern Washington University.
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