Full recap from the 2023 Don Holder Relays at Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima.
YAKIMA - In an event like discus, it really can be a hit or miss for some.
After throwing a personal best 132 feet, eight inches in her season opener at the Eisenhower Jamboree, Eisenhower's Mary Mickelson found herself in a bit of slump the following two meets.
The senior threw 125-01 the next weekend at the Papa Wells Invitational, followed by a 120-01 mark at the Ram Relays - both of course well below her best effort this spring.
But slumps are always meant to come to an end, and with the Don Holder Relays next up on her schedule, Mickelson knew she needed to deliver in another meet hosted by her school.
Rest assured, she did.
Mickelson launched the discus over the 130-foot mark for the second time this season at Zaepfel Stadium on Saturday, winning her second consecutive Holder Relays' girls discus title by over 19 feet in a mark of 131-10.
"I felt really good," Mickelson said. "Especially since my past two meets I was throwing 120s, which isn't bad, but I wanted to be in the 130s, so I got into that again."
Following her first throw over 120 feet, Mickelson made a few adjustments in the ring and then saw her second attempt cross the 130-foot line to put her well out in front of the competition.
Mickelson's final throw wasn't as far as her second attempt but said she wanted a solid effort and was willing to attack it.
"I really got my feet in place," Mickelson said. "That's been a problem for me lately. The beginning of my throws were good, it was just a matter of getting my feet in place in front, so I slowed it down a bit to get it."
Mickelson, who will travel to the Arcadia Invitational in Southern California next weekend, believes a better attempt is coming in the near future after a bounce back meet.
"I'm really aiming for 140," Mickelson said. "I've thrown 140 in practice, so it's just a matter of getting it in a meet."
Making his debut in the 100-meter this spring, Richland's Keenan Kuntz ran a blistering 10.56 second effort to win the boys race to set a new lifetime best. Kuntz's time was a couple of tenths off the meet record held by former Ellensburg great Ja'Warren Hooker, who ran 10.53.
"I planned on opening in 10.6 or lower," Kuntz said. "It wasn't that big of a surprise since I've been working on it."
Kuntz, who transferred from Mead during the offseason, dipped well below his previous personal best time of 10.79 from last season to move to No. 3 in the state for this year. He currently sits behind Sehome's Jake Andrews (10.55) and Seattle Prep's Will Floyd (10.56) for the top two spots.
Ellensburg's Colton Magruder also ran well below his own personal best time of 11.26 to run 10.81 to finish second behind Kuntz, moving him to a tie for sixth in the state with Kamiak's T'Andre Waverly. LaSalle's Gabe Craig took third, also running a personal best time of 11.06.
Richland freshman Naly Khamlue-Pratt won the girls 100 easily in a personal best time of 12.60, moving her into the top 10 in the state. Cedarcrest's Summer Soptich followed in second with a time of 12.91 and Ellensburg's Carsyn Arlt finished third in 13.10.
White River's Emma Tomlinson won the girls 3,200 race to begin the day, running a personal best time of 11:30.30. Naches Valley's Brooke Miles finished second in a season best time of 11:40.36, with La Grande OR's Cecilia Villagomez Edvalson trailing in third in a personal best 11:50.91.
Selah duo Eric Swedin and Nicolas Spencer ran a conservative 1,600 to finish first and second in the boys race, with Swedin coming out with the win in 4:31.80. Spencer followed with a personal best effort of 4:35.07. Jackson's Noah Friedrich also ran a personal best time of 4:36.59 to finish third.
Isabela Alvarado of Eisenhower outkicked Jackson's Selena Bangerter on the final 400 to win the girls 1,600 in a season best time of 5:19.77. South Whidbey's Naomi Atwood closed hard to finish second in 5:24.57, with Bangerter falling back to third in 5:24.96.
LaSalle's Natalie Overby launched the shot put to a mark of 37-08, besting her previous personal best by over three feet to win the girls competition. She ranks ninth in the state with her recent effort.
White Swan's Keegan Wolfsberger and Toppenish's Tatiana Camacho finish second and third, respectively, with Wolfsberger throwing 33-02.50 and Camacho throwing 33-08.
Everett Peterson and Lance Robertson completed a 1-2 sweep for the Richland boys in javelin, with Peterson placing first in a personal best throw of 156-02 and Robinson finishing second with a season best throw of 152-04. Selah's Evan Kinley also threw a personal best mark of 149-00.
Eisenhower's Aiden Waddle ran a strong 300 hurdle race to come away with a new personal best time of 41.70 to win the boys race. Goldendale's Raymond Holycross finished second in a personal best 42.71. Richland's Jaden Booker took third in 43.05.
Naches Valley's Allison Smith also ran a personal best 49.04 to win the girls 300 hurdles over fellow 1A competitor Ellie Levy of Deer Park, who finished in a time of 50.15 for second. Cedarcrest's Addy Jenkins placed third in a personal best time of 51.12.
For more results from the 2023 Don Holder Relays, click here.