TRACK: Kentwood’s DeHart, Kent-Meridian’s Bueno finish strong

Flu-like symptoms slowed down Holly DeHart last weekend at Mount Tahoma High in Tacoma.

But it hardly stopped the Kentwood sprinter from delivering another star-like performance.

DeHart, who has been at or near the top of state leaders in multiple events throughout the spring season, snagged a gold medal in the 200-meter dash (25.35), took third in the 100 (12.62) and helped the Conquerors place third in the 4 x 200 relay (1:42.91).

Yet, the strong finish to a strong junior season proved to be bittersweet for the Kentwood standout.

“I am happy, but I didn’t accomplish what I had hoped for,” she said. “I think there was a lot of stuff that played into (my performance). I am just taking it as a feel for next year so I can come back.”

Nerves got the best of DeHart the night before and the morning of the state finals.

“I threw up everything I ate that morning. I couldn’t keep anything down,” DeHart admitted. “When I went to run the 4 x 200, my legs were dead. I just figured I had to get over it because it was the last meet (of the season).

“The night before, there were a lot of nerves. I couldn’t sleep and I kept thinking about how I was going to run.”

Despite feeling ill, DeHart’s performance helped the Conquerors finish in sixth place with 35 points. It’s the best finish in program history. Kent-Meridian finished in 18th with 13.83 points, Kentridge took 31st with 8.33 points while Kentlake, behind three eighth-place finishes from Madelayne Varela (100, 200 and 400) took 42nd with three points.

After winning the South Puget Sound League North Division title, the Conquerors had dreams of finishing among the top four. Despite finishing just out of the trophy race (the top four teams bring home a trophy), the Conquerors had several other strong performances.

Alyx Toeaina took fourth in the discus (125-7) and fifth in the shot put (39-10). The 4 x 200 relay team of DeHart, Aiesha Goodlow, Quincie Proctor-Guyton and Dana Wareham brought home third (1:42.91). Meanwhile, Kentwood’s 4 x 400 relay team (Proctor-Guyton, Megan McNally, Alena Davis and Wareham) took fifth (3:59.62).

While DeHart was battling nerves, Kent-Meridian’s Kelsey Bueno, one of the state’s elite pole vaulters, continued to shine. Bueno, a senior who will compete for Washington State University next year, tied for first place after uncorking a 12-foot performance.

Bueno, however, did not snag the gold medal as she tied with Mead’s Tasha Clark, Auburn Riverside’s Rebecca Turnbow and Eva Perry of Issaquah.

Because Bueno had missed two attempts at previous heights and Clark just missed one, the Mead pole vaulter took home the gold.

“It was crazy that we were all jumping 12 feet,” said Bueno, who tied for the top mark last year, but also took home second place after the tie was broken.

All four pole vaulters nailed 12 feet on their first attempts.

“It is very much (bittersweet),” Bueno admitted. “I wanted (gold) really bad. I am happy that I am on the same level as Tasha (Clark). I am right up there with her, and either one of us could have taken it.

“Being able to hit 12 feet again shows that I am not just a one-hit wonder.”

Kent-Meridian’s Chelsea Muskelly was the only other local female participant to finish among the top five. Muskelly took fourth in the high jump with a leap of 5-feet-2 inches.

ALSO: Jaclyn Onosko was Kentridge’s highest placer, taking sixth in the 400-meter dash with a time of 58.60 seconds and sixth in the javelin at 120-feet-7 inches. Amelia Carpenter added a seventh-place finish in the pole vault (10-9), teammate Kim Concillado took eighth in the pole vault (10-feet even) while Katie Lake snagged ninth in the long jump (16-08.25). Kent-Meridian’s Jenna Crain also tied for eighth in the pole vault (10-feet even). Kent-Meridian’s 4 x 200 relay team (Stephanie O’Hara, Martesha Scott, Tapri Nelthrope and Zhitaya Garrett) took eighth with a time of 1:48.54. Kent-Meridian’s Alexia Martin took 13th in the 3,200 with a time of 11:17.24.