Multiple qualifiers for East Jefferson track and field

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There was a lot to like for the East Jefferson Rivals track and field teams in Renton last week as four high school athletes won district championships in several events with even more runners qualifying for State.

Overall, the Rivals girls team placed third at the meet in Renton and the EJ boys team finished in fourth on Friday, May 19.

The Rivals’ Ellise Gardner won her district championship in javelin with a 114-9; Addy Asbell became district champion in shot put with a distance of 33-11.5; and Reid Martin won his district championship in javelin with a 154-7.

But most impressive was Aliyah Yearian’s dominant display in distance running, taking three district championship wins in the 800-meter (2:17.88), 1600-meter (5:07.33), and 3200-meter(11:30.10).

Yearian was the clear choice for Athlete of the Meet in Renton, coaches said.

All three of Yearian’s event wins set meet record times, as well as recording the fastest split of the meet for the 4x400-meter, in which the EJ girls placed second.

Other Rivals athletes to qualify for State include Sebastian Manza (third, 1600-meter, 4:36.70; second, 3200-meter, 9:52.79); Camryn Hines (second, 800-meter, 2:26.48; third 1600-meter, 5:21.08); Fiona Fraser (third, 3200-meter, 11:52.87); the boys 4x100-meter relay team (Austen Hammer, Jasper Dances, Manaseh Lanphear Ramirez, Gary Zambor) taking third with a 46.11; the girls 4x100-meter relay squad (Sienna Emerson, Kaylen Pray, Audrey Matthes, Stephanie Sanchez) placing third with a time of 52.49; and the girls 4x400-meter relay team (Kaylen Pray, Hines, Fraser, Yearian) earning second with a 4:24.08.

The state championships for the 1A class are set from Thursday, May 25 to Saturday, May 27 at Yakima’s Zaepfel Stadium.