Even the coaches can’t remember for sure the last time those words were spoken at a track meet at Oak Harbor High School.
“We were talking about that the other day,” coach Jay Turner said. “It’s been either seven, eight or nine years, we aren’t sure. One thing we do know, it’s been along time.”
The long absence of spiked shoes on an Oak Harbor track will end Thursday when the Wildcats host Everett and Mountlake Terrace in a 3:30 p.m. meet on the composition surface of the track at the new Wildcat Memorial Stadium.
Excitement is running high among team members who know they are the first track and field athletes in many years to compete in a home meet in front of their friends, parents and classmates.
Turner said they spent a lot of time during spring break setting up the timing equipment and getting all the “little things” taken care of.
“We’re looking for a good meet and hopefully the weather will cooperate,” he said. “Boy-wise, Everett was the Class 3A state champion last year and Mountlake Terrace also has a good team.”
Individuals, as well as relay teams, were in the process of making final preparations on a cloudy Monday afternoon, and the four-
some, known as “The Elements” who run the boys 4×100 relay said they are planning on winning the event.
The group is composed of DeVante Young, Stephen Lewis, Bryce Schulle and Donovan Hunt.
“We are Water, Spirit, Fire and Air,” said Young, who is spokesman for the group.
Schulle runs the leadoff leg, followed by Lewis, Young and Hunt, who runs the anchor leg.
“It’s going to be a big meet,” Schulle said.
“I’m really looking forward to
it, we are going to do good,” Hunt added.
In field events, senior Rodrick Rumble leads the Wildcats in his speciality, the high jump.
He is currently tied for third place among Class 4A high jumpers, with a leap of 6-4.
“I’m really excited and I want to jump high and go far, know what I mean?” Rumble said. “My goal this season is to jump 7 feet.”
Speedster Carson McKole leads the girls half of the team. The junior sprinter is tied for third place in the state in the 100-meter dash, with a time of 12.44.
“It’s going to be really fun to have a home meet on our own track,” she said.
Also running Thursday is one of the top 800- and 1,600-meter runners in the state, Meitra Smollack.
Smollack is sixth-ranked in the state in the 1,600-meter run, clocking a time of 5:19.5.
Senior hurdler Lauryn Wilson, in her fourth year on the team, said she is happy she has the opportunity to compete on the new track in her final year.
“We did a mini meet last Friday and that went pretty good,” she said. “This is my last year of competing but we have a lot of freshmen on the team and with the new track and everything, we should have a lot of interest and some good teams in the coming years.”
Erica Flores is one of those freshmen and competes in the discus.
“Hopefully I’ll do my best on Thursday and get a PR. That’s what everyone wants,” she said.
Junior Becky Freeman has competed in the discus and shot put events for three years on the Wildcats team.
“After going to other peoples’ tracks at other schools in past years to have meets, it’s nice to have a home meet for your friends to come to,” she said.
Senior Richard Chong, who runs the 110- and 300-meter hurdle events, said his parents will be at the meet and he is planning on showing them what he can do.
“This is the first home track meet they’ve ever been to and I’m excited to have them here to watch me run,” he said.
The field has been prepared, the timing system is in place and the Wildcats are set to go for their first home meet.
If you can’t attend the first home meet tomorrow, Oak Harbor will be hosting another event on Thursday, April 17, against WesCo North opponents Monroe and Cascade.
Even the coaches can’t remember for sure the last time those words were spoken at a track meet at Oak Harbor High School.
“We were talking about that the other day,” coach Jay Turner said. “It’s been either seven, eight or nine years, we aren’t sure. One thing we do know, it’s been along time.”
The long absence of spiked shoes on an Oak Harbor track will end Thursday when the Wildcats host Everett and Mountlake Terrace in a 3:30 p.m. meet on the composition surface at the new Wildcat Memorial Stadium facility.
Excitement is running high among team members who know they are the first track and field athletes in many years to compete in a home meet in front of their friends, parents and classmates.
Turner said they spent a lot of time during spring break setting up the timing equipment and getting all the little things taken care of.
“We’re looking for a good meet and hopefully the weather will cooperate,” he said. “Boy-wise, Everett was the Class 3A state champion last year and Mountlake Terrace also has a good team.”
Individuals, as well as relay teams were in the process of making final preparations Monday afternoon, and the foursome, known at “The Elements” who run the 4×100 relay, are planning on winning the event.
The group is composed of Devante Young, Stephen Lewis, Bryce Schulle and Donovan Hunt.
“We are Water, Spirit, Fire and Air,” said Young, who is spokesman for the group.
Schulle runs the leadoff leg, followed by Lewis, Young and Hunt, who runs the anchor leg.
“It’s going to be a big meet,” Schulle said.
“I’m really looking forward to it, we are going to do good,” Hunt added.
In field events, senior Rodrick Rumble leads the Wildcats in his speciality, the high jump.
He is currently tied for third place among Class 4A high jumpers, with a leap of 6-4.
“I really excited and I want to jump high and go far, know what I mean?” Rumble said. “My goal this season is to jump 7 feet.”
Speedster Carson McKole leads the girls half of the team. The junior sprinter is tied for third place in the state in the 100-meter dash, with a time of 12.44.
“It’s going to be really fun to have a home meet on our own track,” she said.
Also running Thursday afternoon is one of the top 800 and 1,600 runner in the state, Meitra Smollack.
Smollack is sixth-ranked in the state in the 1,600-meter run, clocking a time of 5:19.5.
Senior hurdler Lauryn Wilson, in her fourth year on the team, said she is happy she has the opportunity to compete on the new track in her final year.
“We did a mini meet last Friday and that went pretty good,” she said. “This is my last year of competing but we have a lot of freshmen on the team and with the new track and everything, we should have a lot of interest and some good teams in the coming years.”
Erica Flores is one of those freshman and competes in the discus.
“Hopefully I’ll do my best on Thursday and get a PR. That’s what everyone wants,” she said.
Junior Becky Freeman has competed in the discus and shot put events for three years on the Wildcats’team.
“After going to other peoples’ tracks at other schools in past years to have meets, it’s nice to have a home meet for your friends to come to,” she said.
Senior Richard Chong, who runs the 110 and 300 hurdle events, said his parents will be at the meet and he is planning on showing them what he can do.
“This is the first home track meet they’ve ever been to and I’m excited to have them here to watch me run,” he said.
The field has been prepared, the and timing system is in place and the Wildcats’ are set to go for their first home meet.
If you can’t attend the first home meet, the Wildcats will be hosting another event Thursday, April 17, against WesCo North opponents Monroe and Cascade.
