SNOHOMISH — Shrugging off the disappointment of an earlier race, Kamiak’s Nari Sternen withstood chilly conditions and a troublesome hamstring muscle to win the 300-meter intermediate hurdles on Saturday at the Larry Eason Invitational track and field meet at Snohomish High School.
Sternen w
as clocked in 40.07 to win by more than a half-second over runner-up Rashon Smith of Timberline (40.60), with Monroe’s Jacob Dowd (40.86) third.
It was a nice victory for Sternen, particularly since he felt a twinge in his hamstring as he came out of the corner for the final 100 meters. “It s
tarted to give out and I thought I was going to fall down,” he said.
He came to an abrupt stop after crossing the finish line and reached for his hamstring, but later said the injury was not too severe.
Earlier, Sternen had a chance to win the 110 high hurdles, but he clipped the final hurdle, stumbled slightly, and ended up placing third in 14.96. First place went to Mount Baker’s Logan Packard, who nipped Alec Fellows of Edmonds-Woodway by .001 in the day’s closest finish. Packard was timed in 14.77, Fellows in 14.78.
As for Sternen, “If I didn’t hit that last hurdle, it would’ve been different,” he said.
Still, the day was a nice stepping stone for the Kamiak senior, who is aiming to reach 38.5 in the intermediate hurdles and win a state title. Fellows, though, is a longtime nemesis, and one of the top track athletes in the state.
“He’s been my rival since, like, the fourth grade,” Sternen said.
Two years ago, Sternen qualified for the state meet, but fell during a workout a few days before and broke his wrist, leaving him unable to compete. Last year he qualified for state in both hurdles events, but fell during his qualifying race in the high hurdles and fell again during the intermediate hurdles final.
“This year is my year,” he said with a smile. “This year I’m not going to fall.”
Another area runner who came through in a big way Saturday was Lynnwood’s Nate Schmidt, who hung on down the stretch to win the 400 in 50.33.
Schmidt, a senior, is a surprising success story. He played soccer his first three years of high school, but opted for track as a senior. And already he’s emerged as one of the state’s best.
His goal over the season’s remaining weeks is to run under 49 seconds and beat Lakes’ Marquin Russell, who has run 49.59. “I’d like to beat him at state,” Schmidt said. “That’s my goal.”
Other area athletes who came away with victories on Saturday were Snohomish’s Travis Pickett in the hammer (163-07), Arlington’s Blake McPherson in the javelin (182-06), and the Shorecrest distance medley team of Carter Osbourne, Casey Sigelmann, Nathan Gniffke and Abiel Tekle (11:00.34).
Two athletes bound for the University of Washington football team had impressive afternoons. Kasen Williams of Issaquah’s Skyline won the long jump (23-0 1/2) and high jump (6-6), but suffered a mild leg injury while attempting 6-9 in the high jump and ended up withdrawing from the triple jump, where he was the favorite.
Also, Auburn’s Danny Shelton won the shot put (53-11) and placed second in the discus (159-04).
Skyline won the boys team title with 48 points, edging nearby Liberty of Issaquah, which had 451/2. Shorecrest was third with 37 and Arlington was sixth with 301/2.
Snohomish Veterans Memorial Stadium
Team scores–Skyline 48, Liberty 45.5, Shorecrest 37, Timberline 35.5, Renton 34, Arlington 30.5, Auburn 29, O’Dea 26, Snohomish 25, Everett 24, Port Angeles 22, Sehome 22, Kamiak 22, Monroe 21, Surrey Athletics Club 20, Mt. Baker 18, Mt. Si 16.5, Cascade 16.5, Edmonds-Woodway 16, Lindbergh 16, Glacier Peak 16, North Kitsap 15, Burlington-Edison 15, Bellingham 14.5, Garfield 14, Issaquah 13, Archbishop Murphy 12, Blaine 11, Lynnwood 10, Ballard 10, Juanita 10, Camas 9, River Ridge 9, White Rock Christian 8, Meadowdale 6, Hazen 6, Anacortes 5, Redmond 4, Enumclaw 4, Decatur 3.5, Kalama 3, Bothell 3, Capital 3, Cedarcrest 3, Squalicum 2, Sequim 2, Sedro-Woolley 1.5, Sammamish 1.
110 hurdles–Logan Packard (Mt. Baker) 14.77; 100–Damian Greene (Skyline) 11.19; 1,600–Keffri Neal (Surrey Athletic Club) 4:24.55; 400 relay–PJ Benedictus, Robert Reeves III, Immanuel Carter, Justin Bennett (Renton) 43.10; 400–Nate Schmidt (Lynnwood) 50.33; 300 hurdles–Nari Sternen (Kamiak) 40.07; 800–Keffri Neal (Surrey Athletic Club) 1:54.83; 200–Byron Howell (Garfield) 22.14; 3,200–Kyle Branch (Skyline) 9:36.79; 1,600 relay–Tyler Spear, Paolo De Guzman, Edward Capell, Conner McCorkle (North Kitsap) 3:34.67; High jump–Kasen Williams (Skyline) 6-6; Long jump–Kasen Williams (Skyline) 23-1.5; Triple jump–PJ Benedictus (Renton) 46-10; Shot put–Danny Shelton (Auburn) 53-11; Discus–Troy Martin (Port Angeles) 164-3; Javelin–Blake McPherson (Arlington) 182-06; Pole vault–Brett Mattson (Blaine) 13-6; Hammer–Travis Pickett (Snohomish) 163-7; Distance medley–Carter Osborne, Casey Sigelmann, Nathan Gniffke, Abiel Tekle, Steven Cleppe (Shorecrest) 11:00.34.
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