TRACK: K-M’s Vertrees delivers big at district meet

Melanie Vertrees is just scratching the surface.

That being the case, it’s hard to imagine what the Kent-Meridian senior might accomplish this weekend at the Class 4A state track and field meet at Mount Tahoma High in Tacoma.

Vertrees, who has verbally committed to Washington State University, earned state berths in four different events this past weekend and helped the Kent-Meridian girls take fifth with 48 points. Olympia won the team race with 99.5 points followed by Bellarmine Prep at 99.5. The Royals proved to be the top local female team, and few individuals proved to be as good as Vertrees. The K-M standout took first in the high jump (5-10), third in the 100 hurdles (15.05), third in the triple jump (37-04.5) and fourth in the shot put (38-10).

The top six individuals in each event earned state berths.

“There’s a lot more there, too,” Kent-Meridian coach Ernie Ammons said of Vertrees’ performance.

Vertrees’ performance in the high jump wasn’t only a personal best by three inches, but also the eighth-top mark in the nation this season.

“If she has the weekend she had at district (at state), she will medal in all four of events,” Ammons said.

Teammate Kelsey Bueno also enjoyed a banner district meet, bringing home gold in the pole vault with a mark of 11-feet.

Kent-Meridian’s Alexia Martin, who took sixth in the 1,600 (5:17.95) was the only other Royal female to earn a state berth.

And though Vertrees proved to be K-M’s top overall athlete, the boys team delivered a solid showing as well, taking third place with 51 points. Federal Way won the boys team race with 60 points followed by South Kitsap (51.5).

Derrick Daigre continued to burn up the oval for the Royals, bringing home first place in the 400 (49.16) and adding a fifth-place finish in the 800 (1:58.05). He also was part of K-M’s state qualifying 4 x 400 relay team. Also earning state trips for K-M were: B.J. Arceneaux (200, 4 x 100 relay, 4 x 400 relay); Marlowe Brim (shot put and discus); Brandon Harris (triple jump, 4 x 100 relay); Andrew Smith (4 x 100 relay, 4 x 400 relay) and David Jones (4 x 100 relay, 4 x 400 relay).

“We did great. It was a very fun weekend,” Ammons said.

KL’s SMITH DELIVERS

It’s no secret that Kentlake senior Zach Smith is one of the state’s premier track athletes.

Friday and Saturday during the Class 4A West Central District meet at Mount Tahoma High, Smith showed why. The University of New Mexico-bound senior won the long jump (23-07) and the triple jump (46-06.50) and took third in the 100 (11.03).

Smith will try and defend his state title in the long jump on Saturday (May 30) during the state meet, which also will be held at Mount Tahoma High in Tacoma. He was the lone Kentlake male to earn a state berth.

Kentlake’s Brianne Gould will be the only Falcon female to advance to the state meet as she took fourth in the pole vault with a mark of 10-feet even.