Bellingham- The annual "City Meet" between all three Bellingham schools (Bellingham, Sehome, and Squalicum) showed everyone in attendance how strong these distance runners are.
The 1600 featured the 2A State cross country champion, Cade Brown from Bellingham, as he won the race in 4:34.32. The top 8 runners were all under 5 minutes which is incredible despite how early it is in the season. Bellingham had 2 other runners (Ty Veldhuisen and Timothy Crabtree) along with Brown going under 5, Squalicum had 2 runners (Jonah Saloman and Joe Brodeur), and Sehome had 3 runners (Jacob Alexander, Tadeusz Pforte, and Roman Schroyer).
Sehome sophomore Ryan Doran and Squalicum senior Cruz Meza were neck and neck with each other in the 800 for the entire race, but Doran eventually pulled away slight victory in 2:13.43, beating out Meza by .27 tenths of a second. Bellingham's top runner in this event was sophomore John Johnson running 2:21.66
In every distance runners favorite event, Sehome sophomore Jacob Alexander won the 3200 in solid fashion outrunning Squalicum's junior Griffin Rinauro with a time of 11:03.06. Bellingham's Veldhuisen and Crabtree led the way for the Red Raiders running 11:45.51 and 11:45.83.
The girls 1600 race showed that Sehome sophomore stud Cameron Hodges is more than a 800 runner. Hodges made her 1600 debut yesterday with a fantastic time of 5:35.94, beating Bellingham's Grace Much by 4 seconds. The top 5 girls were all under 6 minutes (3 from Sehome and 2 from Bellingham).
Sehome sophomore Josie Marriner won the 800 in 2:35.5, followed by Bellingham's Rosie Thompson and Piper Brown with times of 2:42.58 and 2:47.38. Sqaulicum's top girl was senior Maria Jorgenson (2:47.70).
The final distance event of the evening on the girls side was dominated by multiple Sehome runners as the Mariners took the top 4 spots in the 3200. Leading the way for Sehome was sophomore Jess Gill running a personal best time 12:36.98. Other Sehome top girls were Rosie Kirker (12:37.03), Emma Berreth (12:50.28), and Aspen Allsop (14:25.79). Bellingham's Much and Squalicum's Lily Wang were first on their teams.
All three schools will be back in action next week at various locations but you can catch all three of them again at the annual Bedlington Twilight Invite at Lynden High School, March 23 at 3:30 p.m.
Ferndale's Freshman Makes a Case For Himself
In his first ever high school track meet, Ferndale freshman Landon Sturdevant left nothing in the tank in his 1600 meter race as the young man won the race in a personal best time of 4:44.30. Sturdevant also followed up with a strong 800 later on finishing in 2:13.9. Ferndale also had another young man in Eric Maldonado run under 5 minutes in the 1600 running 4:56.70.
For the girls, Golden Eagle freshman Jaclyn Denham made her high school debut as well finishing 2nd in the 800 (2:29.5) and was on the 4x4 team that placed first.
Results from City Meet
Boys
800- 1st Ryan Doran (2:13.43, Sehome), 2nd Cruz Meza (2:13.7, Squalicum), 3rd John Johnson (2:21.66, Bellingham)
1600- 1st Cade Brown (4:34.32, Bellingham), 2nd Ty Veldhuisen (4:42.37, Bellingham), 3rd Jonah Saloman (4:47.8, Squalicum)
3200- 1st Jacob Alexander (11:03.06, Sehome), 2nd Griffin Rinuaro (11:17.65, Squalicum), 3rd Sam Clark (11:19.97, Squalicum)
Girls
800- 1st Josie Marriner (2:35.5, Sehome), 2nd Rosie Thompson (2:42.58, Bellingham), 3rd Piper Brown (2:47.38)
1600- 1st Cameron Hodges (5:35.94, Sehome), 2nd Grace Much (5:39.84, Bellingham), 3rd Aspen Allsop (5:43.81, Sehome)
3200- 1st Jess Gill (12:36.98, Sehome) 2nd Rosie Kirker (12;37.03, Sehome), 3rd Emma Berreth (12:50.28, Sehome)