Seton Catholic’s Lara Carrion is right on time at 1A district track and field meet

When Seton Catholic’s Lara Carrion toed the starting line for the 3,200 meters at the 1A district meet at Seton on Friday, she was the only competitor with a watch on her wrist.

“The last few meets, I haven’t been working the (3,200); I’ve been running it workout-style because we haven’t had time to cram all these workouts in,” said Carrion, hence the watch. “I’m used to wearing it. It’s just there in case I feel like I’m getting off pace. Mostly, I don’t even look at the watch. I’m just listening to my coaches. I take it off for the relays. It’s too heavy.”

It didn’t impede her any in the 3,200 as she nearly lapped the field in setting a school record of 11 minutes, 8.53 seconds.

She followed that up with a win in the 1,600 with another personal best of 5:13.97.

And now her junior track season is over, and the calendar had not even flipped to May.

“I definitely wish they had extended the track season,” Carrion said. “It felt rushed … And we didn’t get the full experience of running at state.”

It’s not all bad. The end of the track season will allow her to focus on academic pursuits.

“I’ve got the SAT and AP testing,” she said. “This month of May is just packed, it’s crazy.”

But she was glad to get in a track and field season, as condensed as it was, after last season was scrubbed by the pandemic.

“It felt good to finally get a 3,200 under my belt at district,” said Carrion, who ran just the 1,600 at district her freshman year.

La Center freshman Shaeela Bradley had an impressive district meet debut, winning three individuals events. She won the 100 meters (12.49 seconds), 200 (25.91) and long jump (16 feet, 5 inches).

Other local winners in the girls meet included Seton Catholic’s Avery Garrison (800, 2:24.59), Columbia-White Salmon’s Chanele Reyes (100 hurdles, 17.45; 300 hurdles, 50.06) and Castle Rock’s Brooke Wirkkala (triple jump, 32-4).

In the boys meet, Elijah Volk led a Seton Catholic 1-2-3 sweep in the pole vault, clearing 11-6. Other local winners included Seton’s Max Eline (400, 53.68) and Koen Ross (3,200, 10:33.85), La Center’s Spencer Holm (1,600, 4:41.85), King’s Way Christian’s Aiden Sweeney (110 hurdles, 17.06), Columbia-White Salmon’s Juan Acosta (shot put, 39-8.25) and Castle Rock’s Isaac Trigsted (high jump, 5-6).