TACOMA – The Gig Harbor boys team – similar to the girls team – advanced two athletes to the finals events at the 2009 state track and field competition at Mount Tahoma Stadium.
Gig Harbor junior Conner Peloquin finished second in the 3,200-meter event and ran his best race of his high school career. Tides senior Eric Murrell finished with the sixth best toss in the discus event with a heave of 151 feet, 3 inches.
“I was extremely excited because it was my first time at state,” Murrell said. “It took me four years to get here and I’m just happy I got sixth.”
After a lifetime best toss of 153-5 at the West Central District championships the week before, he maintained a consistent toss in the 150s.
Murrell said that in the past, he’s had mental lapses and has over-analyzed his performance.
“I knew there were a ton of people watching, the most I’ve ever noticed,” Murrell said. “I just tried to block it out.”
The Gig Harbor boys team tied with Inglemoor for 25th with 11 points. Mead High School took home the state title with 49 points. Kent Meridian and Central Kitsap tied for second at a distant 34 points.
Tides track and field Head coach Kevin Eager said this year, the team was pretty far down the list.
“When it rains it pours, and we had a tough, tough year,” Eager said. (There are) lots of bright spots when it comes to young kids, specifically on the boys’ side, and our girls were actually a team that was mostly juniors.”
Gig Harbor senior sprinter Brittany Schroeder is used to having a squadron of Tides athletes surrounding her during the state track and field meet.
After all, they placed second last year and won a state championship in 2007.
But at this year’s state meet – with considerably fewer athletes – the Gig Harbor girls team took 42nd place with four points, resulting from Schroeder’s fifth-place finish in the 400-meters with a time of 58.60 seconds.
“We’ve always had so many more girls (at state),” Schroeder said. “We’ve always had a chance to win a team title.”
In the Class 4A competition, Bellarmine Prep took home its second consecutive state championship with 56 points. The Curtis Vikings weren’t far behind with 48 points and a second-place finish.
Gig Harbor junior distance runner Erin Hull was the only other Gig Harbor girl who qualified to the finals.
In the 3,200 race, Hull placed 12th in 11:32.59. Her season best came at the Narrows League meet where she placed second (11:22.30).
“It was intense,” Hull said about competing at the state meet for the first time. “It would’ve been more fun if I did better but I feel like I tried pretty hard. It was a good learning experience.”
Tides senior javelin thrower Anna Guenther threw a 104-10. It was about 14 feet short of her personal best (118-4) set at the Lake Washington Invitational on May 2.
Brooke Randall of Eastmont won the competition with a throw of 141-04.
Gig Harbor distance coach Patty Ley said this year was obviously different because the team didn’t have the numbers in the past four or five years.
“You go through cycles when you get a few bodies in and out,” Ley said. “It’s part of the sport.”
Gig Harbor girls
Senior Brittany Schroeder — 400 (fifth, 58.60)
Junior Erin Hull — 3,200 (12th, 11:32.59)
800 relay — Juniors Caitlyn Rowland, Brittany Werner, Josie Graybeal and Sofia Pasarow (13th, 1:45.76)
1,600 relay — Junior Maureen Tremblay, Schroeder, junior Noelle Marchesini and Pasarow (13th 4:01.91)
Junior Anna Guenther — Javelin (15th, 104-10)
Gig Harbor boys
Junior Conner Peloquin — 3,200 (second 9:05.37); 1,600 (11th 4:21.62)
Senior Eric Murrell — Discus (sixth, 151-3)
Sophomore Nick Laketa — Javelin (13th, 164-
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