Last Wednesday the Vashon track and field team outworked and outperformed several Nisqually League opponents as both the boys and girls teams took third out of five schools at a league meet in Kirkland.

At the meet, hosted by Bellevue Christian at Juanita High School, senior Landon Summers took victories in both the 110-meter high hurdles and the 100 meter run. He set a personal best in the first of the back-to-back events, clearing the hurdles in 16.29.

Freshman Annika Hille took first place in the 200 meters with a time of 26.77. She also won the long jump with a leap of 14 feet, 3 inches. Right behind her, tying for second place, was Samantha Clements with a jump of 14 feet, 2 inches.

In the throwing events, sophomore Henry Clark set a personal best in the javelin, throwing it 101 feet and 1 inch.

On Saturday the Pirates took part in a relay-style invitational at Orting High School featuring 10 teams from 1A to 4A schools.

At this unique meet, every event was run as a relay. Even throwing and jumping scores were added together to give a school an overall achievement.

Vashon’s strongest showing was a sixth-place finish in the girls’ sprint medley relay. Sammy Clements and Giorgia Leonardi, an exchange student from Italy, each sprinted a leg of 100 meters; then Annika Hille sprinted 200 meters; then Maddi Groen finished off by anchoring a 400-meter sprint for a combined time of 2:13.8.

In the coed middle distance relay, featuring Olin Nespor for 800 meters, Rian Elzey-Cruzen for 400 meters, Elan Peterson for 400 meters and Groen for 800 meters, Vashon also finished sixth.

Other highlights of the day included Mason Carter’s personal records in both the javelin and discuss. Peterson also improved by six inches in the triple jump.

Vashon’s next meet is Thursday, March 28, when they will take their turn to host at Charles Wright Academy.

— Kevin Ross is a track and field coach at VHS.