Training for excellence

Gig Harbor girls, boys both defending state championships

Marques Hunter

of the Gateway

The Gig Harbor boys and girls track and field teams were both Class 4A state champions last year. And while outstanding athletes, like jumper Tony Henderson and long-distance Kesslee Payne, have graduated, Gig Harbor coach Kevin Eager said one of the main differences this year is they are a lot younger. Younger, but possibly just as good. “The strengths of the team are the distances on both sides,” Eager said. About 160 athletes came to the opening practice — 40 more than last year — and Eager said the coaching staff has been scrambling to coach them. “For us, it’s about excellence,” Eager said. “You have to be the best you can be. We’ve all heard that before — and I know it sounds corny — but that’s what we’re actually trying to do.” Stanford-bound senior Miles Unterreiner is one of those athletes who demonstrates greatness. As a junior last year, he placed third in the 3,200 meters and fifth in the 1,600. Just last fall, he won the 4A state cross country championship and competed at the national level. “This season, I’ve trained through the winter, and I think I’ve gotten a better start,” he said. Unterreiner was injured leading up to his junior season, hampering his ability to be fully prepared. However, he said he bumped his distance running training up to two hours instead of 90 minutes. With key athletes lost to graduation, Unterreiner said it’s hard to tell if this team can repeat a state championship. “We have a lot of guys who can make it to state,” he said. “We have a lot of people who are dedicated and trained through the winter.” Last year’s boys team sent just five boys to state. The girls sent 13, Eager said. While the Bellarmine boys were projected to take last year’s state crown, Gig Harbor’s boys joined its highly touted girls team for a dual state championship. This year, it could be much tougher for Tides boys, though. The Lions, who also compete in the Narrows League Bridge Division, are returning a team of underclassmen who finished third at state. Leading the pack of a deep and diversified girls squad team is Tides senior Bree LeRoy, who had a phenomenal state meet last year. After winning a state title in the long jump, LeRoy finished second in the high jump and 100 hurdles. She said she’s looking to make another strong impact this spring before graduating. “I just really want to improve my times this year,” she said. “It’s all about times for me. I don’t really care about winning.” LeRoy said she took her first couple years of high school for granted and didn’t train as hard as she could have. “But I can’t change that now,” she said. “I’m really excited, because I’m giving this year everything I have to work out and get better — it’ll pay off.” Over the winter season, LeRoy has been coming in after school to work out. Eager said outside of the long-distance runners for both teams, he’s unsure about are the young jumpers. And above all, he’s always got the future on his mind. “If we develop them correctly, our athletes will have such good fundamentals when they are juniors and seniors,” Eager said. “That’s how we perpetuate success.”

Gig Harbor Tides track

Coach: Kevin Eager (fifth year) 2007 Division champions: Girls: Gig Harbor won Narrows League, West Central 4A District and 4A state championships. Boys: Gig Harbor won the 4A state championship after finishing second behind Kentwood at the district meet and second behind Wilson at the league meet. Key losses: Boys: Tony Henderson (now at Western Washington University) in the long jump and the triple jump (state champion in both, holds school records in both); Charlie Williams (now at the University of Washington) in the 800 and 1,600 meters. He placed second at state in both last year and holds the school record in the 1,600. Girls: Kesslee Payne (now at the University of Montana) in the 1,600 (placed third in state) and 3,200 (placed second in state), with school records in both; Melissa Peaslee (now at Seattle Pacific University) in the pole vault (state champion and holds school record) and 400 relay (school record); Amanda Andrews (now at Washington State University), took fourth in state in the 3,200); Toni Thompson (now at UW) in the 400 (seventh in state) 400 relay (school record, third in state); Hanna Marsh in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 1,600 relay (third in state). Key returners: Boys: Miles Unterreiner, senior, 1,600 (fifth in state) and 3,200 (third in state), as well as individual champion last fall in Class 4A cross country meet. Headed to Stanford University on scholarship. Girls: Bree LeRoy, senior, long jump (state champion and school record), high jump (second at state and school record), 100 hurdles (second in state and school record). Also ran on school-record 400 relay. Headed to the University of Utah on scholarship; Anna Kalbrener, senior, 1,600 (seventh in state), headed to the University of Idaho on a full-ride scholarship; Brittany Schroeder, junior, 400 (fifth in state); Alyssa Andrews, 1,600, (15th in state); Kate Stuart, who is returning following back surgery; Laura Jones, senior who was a state pole vault participant. Newcomers: Boys: Eric Murrell, junior, discus and shot put; Austin Hershman, junior, discus; Drew Burghardt, junior, 100 and 200 meters; Kamil Ahmed, senior transfer from Ballard High, 100, 200, long jump, triple jump; Nick Johnson, senior, shot put; Conner Peloquin, sophomore, 1,600, 3,200; Chris Adgar-Beal, junior, 1,600, 3,200; Jeff Osborn, junior, 800, 1,600. Girls: Brittany Werner, sophomore, long jump, triple jump; Anna Guenther, sophomore, javelin; Stephanie Schildt, freshman, 100 hurdles, shot put and high jump; Erin Hull, sophomore, 3,200; Josie Graybeal, sophomore, 100 hurdles; Amber Williams, senior, pole vault state participant for Peninsula High School last season. Biggest upside: Eager said the challenge with 160 team members is to make sure everyone is reaching for excellence, rather than a select few. Coach prediction: “We have enough talent to make a run at defending both our state titles,” Eager said. “Whether that happens or not depends on a lot of factors.” Teams to watch: For boys at state: Garfield, Lake Stevens and Kentwood. For girls, Bellarmine is the overwhelming favorite, followed closely by Shadle Park and Meadowdale. Olympia can always bounce back from an off year. Newcomers: Sophomores Aubris Williams, Kelly Spinn and Alex Sole. Freshmen Courtney Goetz and Tiffany Blanchard. Biggest meets: Eager said the Tides’ focus is league, district and state meets. The team will have some occasional meets leading up to that, but it’s all a series of dress rehearsals for the championship performances they’re looking for at the end of the season, he said.