AT A GLANCE: Redmond prep track and field

Previews for Redmond's three track and field teams: The Redmond High boys and girls' squads and The Bear Creek School.

By Tim Watanabe • March 23, 2012 1:59 pm
Redmond High senior Katie Lord has her sights set on gold this spring after finishing second last year in the 4A state high jump competition.
Redmond High senior Katie Lord has her sights set on gold this spring after finishing second last year in the 4A state high jump competition.

REDMOND HIGH – GIRLS

• Head coach: Denis Villeneuve, 18th season

• Last year: 11-0 in 4A Kingco; 6th at district meet, 15th at 4A state meet

• 2012 turnout: 50

 

KEY RETURNERS

• Sr. Katie Lord: After finishing runner-up in the high jump last spring, the defending league and district champ has her sights set on gold this year.

• Sr. Kate Smiley: Key member of the state relays last year is the team’s best sprinter.

• Sr. Jessica Kinssies: Kingco champion in the shot put and discus will look to make Star Track for the first time.

• Sr. Allie Nichols, Jr. Lila Rice: Pair of cross country runners will represent the Mustangs well in the distance (1,600, 3,200 meter) races.

• Sr. Bailey Whitaker, Jr. Mandy Rusch: Both are sprinters that will contribute on the track.

 

TOP NEWCOMER

• Soph. Kelsey Dunn: Will complement Nichols and Rice in the distance running department after finishing ninth at the state cross country meet last fall.

 

BIG MEET

• Redmond at Skyline, Thursday, April 19, 4 p.m.: The always-deep Spartans will be the Mustangs’ toughest opponent this season. Will be a good test to see how close the squads are as the postseason nears.

 

AT THE NEXT LEVEL

Sarah Lord – Boston College

Jenny Light – Santa Clara University

Devin McMahon – Cornell University

 

REDMOND HIGH – BOYS

• Head coach: David Peabody, 5th year

• Last year: 2-9 in 4A Kingco; 11th in league, 4-9 overall

• 2012 turnout: 80

 

KEY RETURNERS

• Sr. Max Dunn: Team captain and Kingco placer last year in the high jump and 800 meters has a good shot to make the state meet.

• Soph. Alex Binkerd: Rookie of the year in 2011, a sprint specialist that placed at Kingco as a freshman.

• Sr. Nikolaj LaCour: Mustang football wide receiver is one of the team’s fastest sprinters.

• Jr. Jonathan Stevens, Sr. Milo Wilkes: Pair of cross country runners will represent the Mustangs well in the distance (1,600, 3,200 meter) races.

• Srs. Tim Landowski, Paul DeWater: Mustang field captains will lead by example. Landowski placed 10th in the discus last year at Kingco.

 

TOP NEWCOMERS

• Srs. Gabe Williams, Keegan Farley: Pair of first-year senior throwers will be a threat in the postseason. Farley also will be running the 400.

 

BIG MEET

• Redmond vs. Eastlake, LW, Juanita, Thursday, May 3, 4 p.m. at Lake Washington: Besides the traditional Mustangs-Wolves rivalry, Juanita also has a very strong program at the 3A level – a good matchup in the final meet before the Kingco Championships.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

While other teams struggled with turnout this spring, Peabody’s boys team didn’t have that problem – their turnout of 80 is one of the biggest ever, and double what it was last year.

 

AT THE NEXT LEVEL

Dan Sanders – University of Washington

Aiden Irish – University of Portland

Cole Hardwick- Northern Arizona

Mack Young – Washington State Univ.

 

BEAR CREEK SCHOOL

• Head coach: Scott Wright, 6th season

• 2012 turnout: 38

 

KEY RETURNERS – BOYS

• Sr. Lucas Fernandez: All-state basketball player finished 14th in the 100 meters at state last year, and also bolstered the team’s 400 relay.

• Sr. Mark Phillips: One of the state’s best soccer players, he was also a key member of the Grizzlies’ 400 relay squad.

• Soph. Stan Leszynski: Great young pole vaulter cleared 10 feet at state last year as a freshman, to place 11th.

• Sr. Steven Sacia, OF: Versatile player and speedy top-of-the-lineup threat will be team’s utility man.

 

KEY RETURNERS – GIRLS

• Sr. Madelyn Magee: Two-time defending state high jump champion looks for the trifecta in her senior year.

• Sr. Morgan Rial: Three-sport athlete placed third at state in the 400 meters and was a key member of the Grizzly relays.

• Sr. Elizabeth Fernandez: Another big part of the sprint relays that made the finals in 2011.

• Sr. Joy Twentyman: State finalist in the 3,200 meters hopes to better her 16th-place finish from last year.

 

BIG MEET

• King’s Invitational, Saturday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. at King’s School: Mid-season event always showcases the league’s top talent.

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Madelyn Magee’s best high jump of 5 feet, 8 inches – a mark she has reached five times at official meets, shattered her own Bear Creek School record and was the second-highest jump in the state in any high school division.

 

COACH’S CORNER

“We’re loaded with lots of returning talent lead by a strong senior class, with a young group of talented freshman and sophomores. Looking to once again be well-represented at the league, district, and state meet.” — Grizzlies’ coach Scott Wright