We’re already over a third into the season and our team is firing on all cylinders! With no regular meet last week, many of our athletes had the chance to focus on a full week of training. Friday Fun Day was a blast, featuring sunny weather and competitive field games like Sharks and Minnows and Red-Light, Green-Light.
This past weekend, 26 of our athletes boarded the Amtrak to Eugene, marking our third consecutive year competing in the Oregon Relays. Hayward Field is an incredible venue, and both athletes and spectators alike are always in awe of the experience. While Eugene brought the sunshine, Mercer Island brought the heat! Our athletes delivered impressive performances, setting personal records and season bests in hurdles, throws, high jump, pole vault, sprints, and distance events.
Special shoutout to Sophia and Victoria Rodriguez, who both claimed gold in their events—the 2 Mile and the Steeplechase. The girls’ Distance Medley Relay (1200, 400, 800, 1600) ran an electrifying race, finishing in second place and breaking the Washington State record by 15 seconds! Amazing job, Victoria R, Lauren Balousek, Katie Kolpa, and Sophia R!
The boys followed suit with a thrilling win in the DMR. Matthew Lawrence, Alexander Dusseau, and Matthew Greer passed the baton to Owen Powell for the final 1600m, and Owen’s strong finish, picking off seven runners one by one, brought the team across the finish line with grace and determination. Every single one of our eight runners left it all on the track, and it was exhilarating to watch.
Huge thanks to the parents who came to the stadium to cheer us and an amazing Saturday night dinner. Your support means the world! Cheers of gratitude to Scott Knoblich for trekking down to Eugene with his fancy camera to take this amazing shots on Day One and Day Two and a special montage of both boys and girls DMR!
A special shoutout to Coach Stacy, who began working tirelessly on the logistics of this event all the way back in November. Without his dedication and hard work, this trip wouldn’t have been possible.
This week’s tri-meet is away against Lake Washington at Juanita High School. Be prepared for all kinds of weather as the stadium is uncovered, and expect a lot of heats in the 100m and 200m sprints.
Looking ahead, spring break is coming up next week. Nine days without training can take a toll on an athlete’s fitness, so it’s important to stay active. Make sure your athlete checks in with their event coach about workouts, whether they’re on Mercer Island or vacation. And for those near the coast—running on the beach is excellent training!
Let’s keep the momentum going!