Twelve WIRC members qualify for regional

By placing in the top eight at the Junior Olympic Association Championship Meet June 26 and 27 in Seattle, 11 Whidbey Island Running Club members and a relay team qualified for the regional meet July 10 and 11 in Seattle.

The top three finishers at the regional meet, which will include athletes from Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Idaho and Alaska, will earn a trip to the national championships in Sacramento July 27 through Aug. 1.

The top effort by the WIRC came in the midget girls 4x800 relay team which placed first in a new team record of 11:45.01. Carolynn Wicker (2:49), Kaitlyn Chelberg (2:47), Carly Crowther (3:19) and Laura Rodeheffer (2:49) picked up the blue ribbon.

The quartet also placed in individual events.

Rodeheffer was second in the 3,000 (11:49); Chelberg fifth in the 800 (2:43.52); Wicker sixth in the 800 (2:46.78); and Crowther sixth in the turbo javelin (41-01).

Christina Wicker, in intermediate girls, placed in three events: second, 1,500 (5:08.88); fourth, 800 (2:25.25); and eighth, 400 (1:02.89).

In the same division, Olivia Meyer was second in the 3,000 (11:50.58) and third in the 1,500 (5:38).

In sub-bantam girls, Catherine Wicker was third in the 1,500 (7:18.9) and fifth in the long jump (7-07).

In bantam boys, Michael Fisken was second in the shot put (20-.15) and third in the turbo javelin (68-09).

In midget boys, Miguel Guzman placed seventh in the shot (21-04).

In youth boys, John Rodeheffer was second in the 3,000 (10:05.62), and Dakota Powers grabbed fourth in the 3,000 (10:19.46) and sixth in the 1,500 (5:11.76).

Caley Powers moved up to the intermediate boys division and ran the 2,000 steeplechase for the first time, finishing second in 7:25.

Other efforts by the WIRC are as follows:

Midget boys: Guzman, 800 (2:45.23), 400 (1:11.08); Logan Clark, 3,000 (12:05.56), 800 (2:46.76); Mackenzie Jones, 800 (3:05.69).

Youth girls: Jonalynn Horn, 800 (2:46.95), 400 (1:14.69).

Youth boys: Dakota Powers, long jump (11-02.75).

Intermediate girls: Nikki Blanchard, 100 (15.72), 200 (32.17), 400 (1:14.6).

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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