RSG teammates go 1-2 in 110 hurdle final to earn all-American honors
EUGENE, ORE. - When it comes to consistency, everything has been going Andre Korbmacher's way in his junior season.
The Squalicum standout started 2022 off winning a national championship at The Armoy in New York at New Balance Indoor Nationals in the 60-meter hurdles, then a few months later won three state titles in the outdoor high school season in the 110 and 300 hurdles and the 4x100 relay. That winning trend continued once again in Eugene at Hayward Field on Saturday.
Behind another state record performance, Korbmacher clocked a new lifetime personal best time of 13.44 seconds in the boys 110 hurdles to win his second national title this year at the Nike Outdoor Nationals. His efforts move him up to No. 1 in the country in the wind legal category.
"Coming off of state, I had a 13.8, but it was into a negative 4.1 wind," Korbmacher said. "I knew I could go faster than my PR and I came out and did it...I just wanted to come out and be all-American and possibly national champion."
It's the third time Korbmacher lowered his state record time this season after running 13.68 back on May 13 when he first took down Steilacoom's Daniel Zmuda's previous record time of 13.84.
Korbmacher's club teammate and school rival Carter Birade of Sehome trailed right behind him in a personal best 13.57 to finish as the runner-up. Birade's time is No. 5 for the nation in the wind legal category.
"I know I wanted to come out here and be an all-American," Birade said, also a 2A state champion in the 100 and 4x400 relay. "Second place was just a bonus. I know Andre ran a good race and I ran mine, so things just turned out the way they were."
Korbmacher and Birade ran in the event at last year's meet for the first time but didn't see as much success like this year. Both didn't advance past the preliminary stages as Korbmacher finished 13th overall, while Birade finished in 37th.
At the time it was a solid effort for both hurdlers, but that was just beginning of what the next year had in store for training. The trajectory since then has been trending upward.
Both will be competing at the U-20 trials next week for a chance to compete at the world championships in Columbia this July. Korbmacher will race for a spot on the United States team, and Birade will head north of the border looking for a spot on the Canadian team. Birade's parents Laurent and Dena were former members of the Canadian national team.
The boys two-mile championship final saw five runners from Washington in the field, including three who placed in the top 20 led by Walla Walla's Brody Hartly in 11th, running a personal best 9:03.78. Stadium's Jacob Alfonso took 15th in a personal best effort of 9:04.30, and Newport's (Bellevue) Sam Jacobsen was 16th in a personal bet 9:04.56.
Rounding out the five were Lakes' Cruize Corvin coming in 32nd, running a personal best time of 9:15.16, and Shorecrest's Luke Schmidt in 35th, running a personal best 9:19.23.
Shelton's Alauna Carstens, two-time 2A state champion this spring, was the lone Washington girls in the two-mile championship, finishing 19th overall in a personal best time of 11:10.95.
Bothell's Ainsley Herron led a trio of runners in the girls 2,000 steeplechase championship, placing seventh overall in a personal best time of 7:24.96, just missing all-American honors.
Eisenhower's Hannah Hilton rounded out the top 10 finishers in a personal best 7:38.61. Eastlake's Fiona Wolf was there in 11th, running 7:38.86.
Nathan Hale's Ben Saelens earned all-American honors in the boys steeple race, climbing his way back up into the top six after trailing it for most of the race, running a personal best 6:03.48.
Jaylen McCabe of Silas, 3A state champion in the 110 hurdles, made finals in the 100 and placed eighth in a time of 10.82.
South Kitsap, winners of the girls 4A 4x400 and 4x200 state titles, represented well in the 800 sprint medley relay finishing with all-American honors. The team made up of Elise and Ella Hopper, Melissa Crane, and Savannah Kambich ran 1:50.32 to place fourth.
Tahoma's boys 4x800 team earned themselves all-American honors to in the relay championship, finishing in fifth place behind an effort of 7:48.31. Jack and Sam Clark, Ryan Lewis, and Ryan Perkins made up the Bears' team.
On the Emerging Elite side, Lincoln's (Tacoma) led the way for individuals in the boys 110 hurdles placing second in a time of 14.79. Enumclaw's Ellie DeGroot took ninth in the girls race, running 16.26.
Brooke Lyons of Tahoma, 4A champion in the 200, finished second in the girls 100 in a new lifetime best 11.90. Federal Way's Isaiah Davis, 4A champion in the 100, was third in the boys race, clocking 10.90.
A battle of 2A schools in the girls 4x400 relay race came down to the wire as Sequim pulled out the win in 4:03.22 over Tumwater placing third in 4:05.60.
The Wolves team of Hi'ilei Robinson, Kaitlyn Bloomenrader, Eve Mavy, and Riley Pyeatt also won the 2A title. 2A team champion Thunderbirds sent over Ava Jones, Mariah Jett, Reest Heryford, and Annabelle Clapp.