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closeGig Harbor track and field team is taking nothing for granted
Talented Tides hope to be back on top with hard work
Marques Hunter
of the Gateway
Gig Harbor Tides track and field coach Kevin Eager was direct about last year’s sub-par performance.
Sub-par for one of the most talented programs of the past decade, at least.
“We just didn’t meet our expectations,” Eager said. “So we’re excited about getting back at it.”
For a stretch of time, the Tides were a force to be reckoned with. They were untouchable in 2007, when both the boys and girls teams won Class 4A state championships.
Last year, Gig Harbor finished 25th at state on the boys side, 42nd on the girls’.
Eager’s comments weren’t directed at state performances. Instead, they were about not winning the Narrows League meet.
Eager believes his team had more talent last year than their final standing at the bigger meets. What he expects this season is to have an increased focus and to not take things for granted.
“I feel like the leadership kids are stepping up and doing what it takes,” he said.
Because Gig Harbor’s cross country program has remained strong, the Tides’ distance squad will be the backbone for track and field. But others are on the rise.
Boys
When it comes to state performers, Tides senior distance runner Conner Peloquin is the most proven.
Coming off a second-place finish at the state cross country meet, Peloquin, who signed a National Letter of Intent last month to attend Brigham Young University, will look to make another serious run at an individual state championship.
But he’ll have his hands full with Central Kitsap senior Shane Moskowitz, who won both the 1,600 meters and the 3,200-meter run last spring, as well as the state cross country championship last fall.
Gig Harbor’s Spencer Payne could have a stronger performance this season. During the cross country season, he placed 36th in the 5,000-meter course in 16 minutes, 11 seconds.
Tides junior Hunter Trunk is poised for a state run, too. He advanced to the district meet last spring and placed eighth in the triple jump with a personal-best 42 feet, 3 3/4 inches, falling just short of the state competition.
“I’ve been working a lot on my form,” Trunk said. “I’m really optimistic about this year.”
Others, like Will Drinkwater and Casey Peloquin, have improved in the distance events. As a sophomore last fall, Drinkwater competed in the state cross country race.
In the javelin, Gig Harbor’s Nick Laketa advanced to state in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. He earned a personal best and finished third at the district championship last spring at 176-8. He placed 13th at state as a sophomore.
Eager said there are a number of other athletes who may not make a state appearance, but if they continue to work hard, they’ll get there.
Girls
The Tides girls are strong in the relay events. Gig Harbor lost just one member from the group, so an experienced group of seniors is excited to compete in 1,600 and 800 relays.
The team of Caitlyn Rowland, Brittany Werner, Josie Graybeal and Sofia Pasarow each qualified to the state prelims last year.
Rowland said a new warmup routine is helping them prepare for their daily workouts.
“I’m really excited,” Rowland said. “I’m hoping we do really well and make it really far.”
Gig Harbor senior Noelle Marchesini was a member of the 1,600 relay team that competed in the state prelims last season.
“I can’t wait,” Marchesini said about her final season. “I’m hoping I can do a lot better this year. I feel great.”
In the javelin, Gig Harbor senior Anna Guenther will look to advance to state for three consecutive years. She earned a lifetime best last year at the Lake Washington Invitational with a heave of 116-7.
Another standout is senior distance runner Erin Hull, who has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend Seattle Pacific University. Hull finished 12th in the state in the 3,200 last year (11:32.59).
Gig Harbor track and field
Coach: Kevin Eager, seventh year
2009 division champs: Boys finished second in Narrows League by less than three points; girls finished second.
Key returners — Boys: Senior Conner Peloquin, second in state in cross country and second in state in the 3,200 meters last year; Spencer Payne, 800 and 1,600 relay; senior Isaiah Bennett, hurdles and relays (state participant); senior Adam Riddle, shot put; junior Hunter Trunk, long jump and triple jump; junior Nick Laketa, javelin (state participant); junior Nick Lanier, sprints and relays; Girls: Senior Erin Hull, distances (state participant); senior Cara Saxon, distances; senior Anna Guenther, javelin (state participant); senior Caitlyn Rowland, hurdles (state participant); junior Noelle Marchesini, sprints (state participant); senior Sofia Pasarow, sprints and relays (state participant); senior Josie Graybeal, hurdles and relays (state participant); senior Kellie Lind, discus; Brittany Werner, jumps (state participant); junior Maureen Trembla, distances; junior Kelly Williams, distances; sophomore Avery Unterreiner, distances.
Athletes to watch — Boys:Peloquin will be one of the top 3,200 runners in the nation; it’s a tough year in the 800 with many high-quality returnees, but Eager believes Payne is talented enough that, if he maintains self-discipline and believes in himself, will threaten every hurdler in the state; Laketa is capable of being one of the better javelin throwers in the nation if he can translate his practice mechanics to big meets; Trunk will be a major state participant in both the long jump and the triple jump, if he can stay healthy; Girls: Hull is one of the top 3,200 runners returning in the state, and Eager said she’s trained very well recently; Guenther can be a high state-placing javelin thrower. Eager said she has done excellent prep work and is a team leader; Tremblay is talented but has had to overcome some nagging injuries; Rowland is capable of being a state finalist in the 100 hurdles, and so is Marchesini in the 400 meters; Williams is a state-class 800 runner who needs more experience; Saxon can be a scorer at state and is an outstanding leader.
Newcomers — Boys: Sophomore Justin Brown in the long and triple jumps; sophomore Chris Heron in the hurdles and relays; sophomore Sam Hacker in the shot put and discus; Casey Peloquin in the distances; sophomore Will Drinkwater in the distances; sophomore Jesse Cauble in the sprints; Girls: Freshman Courtney Jost in the jumps; freshman Sara Meisburger in the sprints; freshman Alexa DeYoung in the throws.
Biggest upside — Boys: Talented sophomore class, some of whom will begin to contribute at state this year; Girls: Great senior class in both size and leadership. Many have the ability to step up and score big points this year at the state meet.
Coach prediction — Boys: More team-oriented, and they’re not afraid to take risks. Eager said they believe in themselves and their teammates, and they’re generally coachable; Girls: No returners are proven state scorers, but many athletes are on the verge, Eager said. “The extent to which those kids step it up will determine everything,” he said.
Teams to watch — Boys: Wilson; Girls: Olympia, Bellarmine Prep.
Tides schedule
Date Opponent
March 18 South Kitsap jamboree 3 p.m.
March 20 Seattle Academy relays at W. Seattle Stadium 10:30 a.m.
March 25 Gig Harbor at Olympia 3:30 p.m.
April 8 South Kitsap, Stadium at Gig Harbor 3:30 p.m.
April 10 Eastlake Invite 9 a.m.
April 16 Bellarmine Prep at Gig Harbor 3:30 p.m.
April 21 S. Kitsap, Gig Harbor at Shelton 3:30 p.m.
April 24 Lake Stevens Viking Classic Invite Noon
April 29 Wilson, Mount Tahoma at Gig Harbor N/A
April 30 vs. Olympia 5 p.m.
May 1 Oregon Relays at Hayward Field 10 a.m.
May 7 Stadium, Gig Harbor at Bellarmine Prep 3:30 p.m.
May 12 Narrows League championships at S. Kitsap
May 14 Narrows League championships at S. Kitsap
May 21-22 District meet at Mount Tahoma N/A
May 27-29 State championships at Mount Tahoma N/A
May 5-12 Narrows League tournament TBA