The first meets of high school track and field begin this week in Whatcom County. If you are in the area this week and would like to watch some good track and field, here are the meets to go watch this week.
Thursday, March 15th:
-Mount Baker, Meridian and Blaine @ Blaine High School
The Meridian boys and girls kick off their 2018 season up at the border against the Borderites and the Mountaineers. The Meridian boys feature state cross country participants Abbas Theophilus, Kenny Barnes, Nathan Schneider, and Jaskaran Dhatt. On the girls side, Ashlee Vandentop highlights the meet as she begins her journey to win the 1A 800 title.
The Meridian boys cross country team finished 3rd at the 1A State Cross meet last fall. Photo taken by the Lynden Tribune.
-Lynden, Nooksack Valley, and Lynden Christian @ Lynden Christian High School
This is the first of many meets where Lynden's Tate Hutchins and LC's Eric Stieger and Brooks DeWaard face off in the 1600 or the 3200. Nooksack's freshman standout Josh Steele (55 second 400 as an 8th grader) makes his high school debut in the 400 and the 200. Nooksack girls feature Alyce Harlan and Brooke DeBeeld in the 1600 and 3200.
LC's dynamic duo, Brooks DeWaard (216) and Eric Steiger (222), begin their final season on home turf this week. Photo taken by Lynden tribune.
Alyce Harlan, Brooke Debeeld, and the Nooksack girls take on the LC girls in a 1A battle. Photo taken the by the Lynden Tribune.
Friday, March 16th:
-Bellingham, Squalicum, and Sehome @ Civic Stadium
The annual city meet features many state cross country competitors on both sides from last fall. For the boys, 2A state champion Cade Brown from Bellingham and Sehome's Lucas Cunningham are the top competitors, while Squalicums Joe Broduer is the meets sleeper. For the girls, Bellingham's Annika Reiss, Squalicum's Grace Oswin, and Sehome's Rosie Kirker had great cross seasons and will carry their success over into the spring.
Annika Reiss and Cade Brown could become the first girl and boy duo to win the 3200 state championship in the same year in Bellingham High School history. Photo taken by the Bellingham Herald.