
Alex Merino-Martinez and his teammates competed at a 22-team meet Saturday in Lakewood. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Adapt, adapt, adapt.
The plucky Coupeville High School track squad did just that Saturday at the Lakewood Sunny and 70s! Invitational.
Adjusting to ever-changing weather, not worrying about being the smallest of 22 schools in attendance, and boldly trying new events, the Wolves made a positive impression.
“What a fun invite it was!” said CHS girls coach Elizabeth Bitting. “All in all a good time was had!”
The day began cloudy and rainy but ended in sunshine, with Coupeville athletes getting their first try at events like the steeplechase and the 4 x 800 relay.
Wolves Reiley Araceley and Cameron Epp took a crack at the steeplechase — which involves navigating obstacles and frequently landing in water after jumping — though their times remain a mystery.
But they’re not the only ones, as the timing system was set up wrong for the event.
Because of the mistake, race officials also found themselves with no video of the event, preventing anyone from going back and creating times by hand.
So, we’ll say Araceley and Epp covered the 2K course in like 45 seconds.
Speedy, yes I know, but you can’t prove me wrong, so…
Meanwhile, back in reality land, Wolf junior Ryanne Knoblich landed on the award stand, taking top honors in the high jump.
She cleared the bar at four feet, 10 inches, tying her PR and leaving her four inches shy of the CHS girls all-time record of 5-02, set by Yashmeen Knox in 1999.
Knoblich and Co. have four more chances to chase school records, with the postseason schedule sliding into place.
First up is the Northwest 2B/1B League Championships, set for next Wednesday, May 4 in La Conner.
After that, districts go down May 14 in Coupeville, bi-districts May 20 in Centralia, and the state meet May 26-28 in Cheney.

The 4 x 100 relay team of (l to r) Claire Mayne, Ava Mitten, Carolyn Lhamon, and Ja’Kenya Hoskins are ready to rumble. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
Complete Saturday results:
GIRLS:
200 — Ja’Kenya Hoskins (14th) 29.44
100 Hurdles — Claire Mayne (20th) 20.75
300 Hurdles — Mayne (13th) 59.91 *PR*
4 x 100 Relay — Mayne, Carolyn Lhamon, Ava Mitten, Hoskins (8th) 55.67
4 x 200 Relay — Ayden Wyman, Ryanne Knoblich, Hoskins, Mitten (9th) 2:02.25
Shot Put — Lhamon (12th) 27-08
Discus — Lhamon (8th) 95-05 *PR*
Javelin — Taygin Jump (15th) 82-00
High Jump — Knoblich (1st) 4-10
Long Jump — Hoskins (14th) 13-05.25; Knoblich (15th) 13-04.50
Triple Jump — Cristina McGrath (20th) 26-06
BOYS:
1600 — Mitchell Hall (19th) 5:04.65 *PR*; Carson Field (24th) 5:18.66
110 Hurdles — Reiley Araceley (24th) 20.79
4 x 100 Relay — Araceley, Tim Ursu, Dominic Coffman, Nick Guay (5th) 46.28
4 x 400 Relay — Field, Cameron Epp, Hall, Hank Milnes (14th) 4:17.16
4 x 800 Relay — Milnes, Thomas Strelow, Alex Merino-Martinez, Field (10th) 10:12.56
Shot Put — Logan Martin (6th) 44-09.25
Discus — Martin (2nd) 143-03
High Jump — Coffman (4th) 5-10 *PR*; Guay (10th) 5-04
Triple Jump — Milnes (25th) 28-10.50
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