TRACK: K-M contingent continues to burn up oval

They’re so young.

But their talent is unmistakable.

Kent-Meridian’s blazing 4 x 400 relay team put that talent — and, of course, that speed — on full display during last week’s South Puget Sound League meet at French Field.

The contingent of Andrew Smith, David Jones, B.J. Arceneaux and Derrick Daigre turned in another unforgettable performance, burning up the oval in 3:22.26 to not only bring home top honors in the event, but establishing a new Class 4A state best time as well.

And, as sophomores, they’re only getting better.

“Potentially, they have an opportunity to do some serious damage in these next couple of years,” said Kent-Meridian coach Ernie Ammons. “We’ve been hoping, anticipating of bringing the SPSL title home. They went out and got after it. They were in the lead from the start.”

The blazing time easily clinched a West Central District berth for Kent-Meridian’s sophomore sensations. The top 10 competitors and relay teams in each event punched tickets to yesterday and today’s district meet, which is being held at Mount Tahoma High. The top six in each event from the district meet advance to state, which will be held next weekend at Mount Tahoma High.

Daigre also delivered in the 400 meter, where he took first with a time of 49.96.

Thanks to an all-around strong performance, the Royals will be well represented at the district meet. Of Kent-Meridian’s 38 athletes who competed at the league meet, 35 advanced to district.

The lone surprise of the SPSL meet for the Royals came from sophomore Brandon Harris, who took third at state last year in the long jump. Harris, who scratched twice before delivering a leap of 20-feet-2 inches, finished in 11th place, just outside of qualifying for the district meet. Harris uncorked a leap of 22-5 at last year’s state meet and came in to the SPSL meet with the seventh-best jump of the year (21-6).

“Of course it did (surprise me),” Ammons said. “It wasn’t even a question of us wondering if he had a chance to qualify. But it was wet and there were some anxiety issues I think. He had a couple fraction-of-a hair scratches.”

Harris did, however, redeem himself in the triple jump, where he established a new personal best with a leap of 43-1.25, which was good enough for third.

Kent-Meridian also received another strong performance from thrower Marlowe Brim, who took second in the shot put (53-0.50) and fourth in the discus (136-08).

Meanwhile, K-M’s top females — Melanie Vertrees and Kelsey Bueno — continued with their success. Vertrees won the high jump with a leap of 5-6, just an inch of her personal best this year. Bueno was even better in the pole vault, uncorking an 11-03 performance, which now stands as the fourth-best mark in the state.