Wolf track coaches Bob Martin and Elizabeth Bitting, and their athletes, are bringing home some serious hardware. (Photo courtesy CHS track)
Jam-packed and never-ending.
The final day of the 2B state track and field championships went long Saturday, with unpredictable Yakima weather adding a two-hour delay to things.
Welcome to Eastern Washington in May. (Bob Martin photo)
But, before and after the thunderstorm-related shenanigans, action was hot and heavy, with Coupeville High School athletes making their presence felt.
Earning medals in all 11 events they competed in Saturday, the Wolves claimed four 2nd place performances, tied a school record which has been in place since before Y2K, and captured the biggest team trophy in program history.
This quartet combined to earn nine state meet medals this weekend. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
Blasting to a 2nd place finish in the 4 x 400 relay — the final race of the three-day meet, the CHS girls held off several rivals chomping at their heels, finishing 3rd in the team standings.
That’s the best finish for any Wolf team, girls or boys, since they’ve been keeping records.
The previous best for a Coupeville girls team was 5th in 1984, when Natasha Bamberger won state titles in the 1600 and 3200.
The CHS boys finished 4th in 2006 and 2008 and slipped into 5th place at the very last second this time around.
With the weather break having pushed things back, sophomore pole vaulter Cael Wilson was still hard at work in the late going, and he came through huge at crunch time.
Competing in the event for only the fourth time in his career, he shattered his PR by two feet, claiming 8th place and Coupeville’s final point of the meet.
The Wolf boys finished with 33 points, with St. George’s (52), Chewelah (48), Goldendale (44), and Raymond (43.5) taking the top four slots.
On the girls side, it was a brutal battle at the top, with St. George’s edging Okanogan 118-111.33.
Coupeville (38), Davenport (33.33), and Brewster (29) rounded out the top five.
While the girls relay team and Cael Wilson had huge impacts at the end, there were highlights for the Wolves all day long.
Ryanne Knoblich soars into the history books. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Senior Ryanne Knoblich finished second in the high jump in back-to-back seasons, and this time, she touched the skies with a jump of five feet, two inches.
That ties a school record set in 1999 by Yashmeen Knox, whose husband, Rich Wilson, also still holds the CHS boys mark of 6-4 from 2000.
It also set off a lovefest on Facebook, with Knox congratulating her modern-day counterpart.
“Bravo Ryanne!” she wrote. “It took 24 years for my record to be reached!!! Let’s hold onto it for a little bit longer.
“Great finish to a strong career!”
To which Knoblich replied “Thank you so much! It is such an honor to share it with you!”
The Wolves also got 2nd place performances Saturday from Aidan Wilson (800) and the boys 4 x 100 relay unit.
The elder Wilson claimed three medals this spring and finishes with five for his prep career.
He’s one of only 12 Wolves to have reached that number and did so even with the pandemic erasing the state meet when he was a freshman and sophomore.
They’re fast, and they know it. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
Sophomores Monroe Myles and Lyla Stuurmans, making their first appearance at state, also earned three medals apiece, with 13 Wolves medaling this spring.
Topping that list is senior Alex Murdy, who won a title in the long jump Friday to become the 10th state champion in school history.
Whether they return to Whidbey with an individual prize, or were part of a vibrant support team, Coupeville coaches praised all 22 athletes who made the trip to Yakima, and the many more who were part of the team this season.
“They did phenomenal! We couldn’t be any prouder of them!” Elizabeth Bitting said.
“They have received so many accolades this season and to top it off with a 3rd place state finish for the girls, first time in school history, and a boys 5th place finish, truly shows the dedication, work and belief they put into us.
“What an amazing season it has been!!!”
Athletes kill time in a nearby gym during the weather-related shutdown. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
Saturday’s results:
GIRLS:
100 — Monroe Myles (5th) 13.27
200 — Myles (5th) 26.99
400 — Lyla Stuurmans (8th) 1:04.38
800 — Stuurmans (7th) 2:31.88 *PR*
100 Hurdles — Claire Mayne (3rd) 17.25 *PR*
4 x 400 Relay — Mayne, Carly Burt, Myles, Stuurmans (2nd) 4:16.09
High Jump — Ryanne Knoblich (2nd) 5-02 *PR* *SCHOOL RECORD*
BOYS:
800 — Aidan Wilson (2nd) 2:00.33 *PR*
4 x 100 Relay — Tim Ursu, Tate Wyman, A. Wilson, Dominic Coffman (2nd) 44.36
Discus — Zac Tackett (7th) 133-05 *PR*
Pole Vault — Cael Wilson (8th) 10-06 *PR*
“We are Wolves, hear us roar!” (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
2023 state meet medalists:
Carly Burt — 4 x 400 (2nd)
Dominic Coffman — 4 x 100 (2nd)
Ryanne Knoblich — High Jump (2nd)
Carolyn Lhamon — Shot Put (4th)
Claire Mayne — 100 Hurdles (3rd), 4 x 400 (2nd)
Alex Murdy — Long jump (1st)
Monroe Myles — 100 (5th) 200 (5th), 4 x 400 (2nd)
Lyla Stuurmans — 400 (8th), 800 (7th), 4 x 400 (2nd)
Zac Tackett — Discus (7th)
Tim Ursu — 4 x 100 (2nd)
Aidan Wilson — Triple Jump (5th), 800 (2nd), 4 x 100 (2nd)
Cael Wilson — Pole Vault (8th)
Tate Wyman — 4 x 100 (2nd)
Of that group, Burt, Myles, Stuurmans, Tackett, and Cael Wilson are underclassmen and can return next spring.
Keep the party going. (Elizabeth Bitting photo)
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