SHAD HALL
Kentlake
Grade: Junior.
Sport: Track and Field.
More than 1,000 track-and-field athletes from 26 Kent elementary schools competed in the Junior Olympics May 8 at French Field next to Kent-Meridian High School.
The numbers are in.
And for the four Kent School District prep track and field programs, that proved to be a good thing in regards to the South Puget Sound League meet at French Field, which was held last Wednesday and Friday.
The top 10 individuals in each event — boys and girls — earned berths to the West Central District meet at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High, which is slated for Friday and Saturday (May 21-22).
Kentridge High junior Kevin Brown is a bit new to this track thing.
Last week during the league meet, however, Brown hardly looked like a relative newcomer to the sport. Brown, who throws the javelin, came into the meet ranked 16th in the event. With the top 10 individuals advancing, the Charger appeared to be on paper to be a long shot.
That long shot, however, uncorked one of the meet’s biggest gems.
For more than a year, Kentlake high jumper Shad Hall was stuck on a personal best of 5-feet-10 inches.
That all changed for Hall two weeks ago, when the Kentlake junior uncorked a mark of 6-feet even against Auburn in the final dual meet of the season.
Brandon Harris sat out Kent-Meridian’s final dual meet of the season to rest some aches and pains.
The rest apparently did Harris some good.
The Kent-Meridian junior uncorked the best mark in the long jump (22-08.25) and the second best mark in the triple jump (45-08.50) during last week’s meet.
The Kentwood High baseball team didn’t wait Saturday afternoon to clinch a state berth.
Behind home runs by Zach Corpuz and Avery Kain along with a steady performance on the mound by ace Austin Voth, Kentwood knocked off Olympia 7-3 at Heritage Park in Puyallup to claim its sixth Class 4A state berth in seven years.
KELLI SUGURO
Kentridge
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Fastpitch.
AUSTIN PERNELL
Kentlake
Grade: Sophomore.
Sport: Baseball.
Accomplishment: Xx.
Favorite class: Math.
If you could invite anyone in the world to dinner, whom would you invite, and what would you serve: I would invite Kobe (Bryant) and LeBron James and I would serve hot wings with a side of salad and Kool-Aid.
Favorite Movie: Remember the Titans.
Most recent book read/author: "Macbeth" by William Skakespeare.
What's on your iPod?: "Super Hyphy" by Keak Da Sneak.
BRITTANY STYGER
Kentlake
Grade: Junior.
Sport: Fastpitch.
DERRICK DAIGRE
Kent-Meridian
Grade: Junior.
Sport: Track & Field.
AIESHA GOODLOW
Kentwood
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Track & Field.
First came the jam, and then came the throw.
Behind a pitching gem by Nikole Weber and the defensive play of the year by center fielder Erin Crowley, Kentlake hung on to beat Puyallup 3-1 for the South Puget Sound League title on Friday evening at Service Club Ballfields in Kent.
A familiar face will be taking over the Kentwood High boys basketball program this fall.
Kent-Meridian product Brian Davis, 29, was announced on Thursday as the new Kentwood coach. Davis, who graduated from Kent-Meridian in 1998, also has ties to Kentridge, where he assisted under current Charger coach Dave Jamison (2000-2006).
Second best?
Not this year.
After consecutive second-place finishes in the South Puget Sound League North Division, the Kent-Meridian boys track & field team jumped another hurdle on Thursday afternoon at Kentwood High.
The pitching was there for the Kentlake High baseball team this past weekend.
A lack of timely hitting, however, bit the Falcons once again.
Right-handed ace Doug Christie served up a gem on Friday night, dominating Curtis 4-2 in the opening round of the South Puget Sound League tournament, but the Falcons weren't able to continue the momentum as they were eliminated by Jefferson on Saturday, 3-2.
It’s not yet panic time for the Kentwood High baseball team.
But after Saturday’s 10-6 loss to Puyallup in the South Puget Sound League championship game, there is some head scratching going around.
Despite home runs from Austin Voth, Taylor White and Bryant VanEngelenburg, the sixth-ranked Conquerors were unable to overcome a fast start by the No. 1 Vikings.
ZHITAYA GARRETT
Kent-Meridian
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Track.
Accomplishment: Garrett ran the lead-off leg of Kent-Meridian's sprint medley relay team and also anchored the Royals' 4 x 100 relay team at this past weekend's Oregon Relays in Eugene.
STEFAN BANGSUND
Kentwood
Grade: Sophomore.
Sport: Soccer.
Accomplishment: Bangsund, a midfielder, turned up the offense, netting a pair of goals in a 2-0 victory over Auburn last week.
Favorite class: Social Studies.
NIKKI SKINNER
Kentwood
Grade: Senior.
Sport: Tennis.
Accomplishment: Skinner, playing No. 2 singles, helped the Conquerors wrap up the SPSL North by knocking off Kentridge's Vicky Tran 6-1, 6-1 en route to a 3-2 team victory. The win helped Kentwood improve to 8-0 in league competition.
