REDMOND HIGH BOYS
• Head coach: David Peabody, third season
• Last year: 7-2 in 4A Kingco; fourth at league meet; eighth at district meet; tied for 27th at state.
• 2010 turnout: 45
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Cole Hardwick: Placed seventh in 200 at Star Track last spring; hard worker is “running well this year,” Peabody said; ran a 23.34 in the 200 against Liberty last week.
• Jr. Miles Hille: A quiet but fierce competitor has state meet goals this spring; placed sixth in the 800 meters and eighth in the 1,600 at the district meet last season.
• Sr. Mack Young: Washington State-bound runner is the defending district champion in the 1,600; last season’s team MVP looks to cap high school career with medal-performances in the 1,600 and 3,200 at Star Track; ran a 4:18.40 in the 1,600 already this season.
• Sr. Tyler Coffman: Qualified for the 110 hurdles and triple jump at the 4A Kingco meet last year.
• Jr. Kevin Creekmore: Returning Kingco qualifier in the pole vault looks to soar to new heights this season.
• Jr. Scott Daley: Strong, versatile runner does sprints, relays and hurdles. “He will be really good this year,” according to teammate Cole Hardwick.
• Sr. Will Young: Solid distance runner qualified for the 1,600 and 3,200 at the Kingco meet last season.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• Jr. Ian Averman: Rising star does a rare combination of sprinting and throwing events.
• Soph. Henry Brown: Team’s utility athlete will be valuable in regular-season meets.
• Soph. Max Dunn: Distance runner is a three-sport star: cross country, basketball and track.
• Soph. Sam Fayerweather: Hard worker, solid sprinter has already earned a spot on the 400 relay team.
BIG MEET
• Thursday, May 6, 4 p.m. vs. Lake Washington, Eastlake and Juanita at Juanita High School Stadium: Final regular-season meet will be a good tuneup for the postseason. The Mustangs have some added incentive against rival Eastlake, who beat Redmond by one point at last season’s 4A Kingco meet.
DID YOU KNOW?
Former Redmond High distance runner Aiden Irish is running track at the University of Portland.
REDMOND HIGH GIRLS
• Head coach: Denis Villeneuve, 17th season
• Last year: 7-2 in 4A Kingco; fifth at league meet; sixth at district meet; eighth at Star Track.
• 2010 turnout: 40
KEY RETURNERS
• Sr. Devin McMahon: Struggled with low-body weight last season, but is one of the best distance runners in the league and has Star Track medal potential; she finished fourth in the 3,200 and 12th in the 1,600 in state as a sophomore.
• Jr. Amy Pumputis: Versatile sprinter/jumper/relay runner is the team’s swiss army knife: she can do it all; cross country runner can also run long distance.
• Sr. Morgan Burke: Pole vaulter could be a force in the league if she can overcome nagging knee issues.
• Jr. Darcy Hardwick: Like Pumputis, a versatile athlete who does the long and triple jumps. She is also a member of the 400 relay team and she’s even practicing the pole vault, Villeneuve said.
• Jr. Rachael Axelrod: Team’s best thrower keeps improving every practice.
• Srs. Haley Jorgensen and Melissa Villeneuve: Veteran distance runners provide great leadership and experience.
TOP NEWCOMERS
• Soph. Katie Lord: Talented high jumper has a personal-best of 5-foot-2-inches, which currently leads 4A Kingco.
• Soph. Holly Young: Rising star placed 36th at the state cross country meet last fall.
BIG MEET
• Thursday, May 6, 4 p.m. vs. Lake Washington, Eastlake and Juanita at Juanita High School Stadium: Redmond should be able to beat Juanita and Lake Washington, but Eastlake is always loaded with depth and talent. This matchup will be a good measuring stick heading into the postseason.
DID YOU KNOW?
Coach Villeneuve had surgery last week to insert a titanium plate in his collarbone after taking a nasty fall on his bicycle. He said he has to wear a shoulder brace for the next few weeks and then will begin physical therapy. “I’m ready for the challenge,” Villeneuve said.
THE BEAR CREEK SCHOOL BOYS AND GIRLS
• Head coach: Scott Wright, 4th season
• Last year: Boys 22nd in state 2B; Girls 13th
• 2010 turnout: 38
KEY RETURNERS
• Jr. Josh Firminger: Sprinter went to state in the 100 and 200 meters last year and looks to better his eighth place finish in both.
• Sr. Megan Cheever: Extremely strong upper body, made state in shot put and discus last season.
• Sophs. Elizabeth Fernandez, Danielle Isbell, Morgan Rial: Trio of sophomore sprinter returners make up a solid relay team that placed third at state last year.
• Jr. Kira Geiger: Talented pole vaulter placed fourth at state last year as a sophomore, clearing 8 feet, 6 inches.
• So. Maddie Magee: One inch away from state gold in the high jump as a freshman, she is one of the favorites this season.
BIG MEET
• SeaTac 2B League Championships, Thursday, May 13 at West Seattle Stadium: This meet kicks off the postseason for athletes with Tri-District and state hopes. All of the Grizzlies’ league meets are at West Seattle Stadium so the athletes should be comfortable at the venue.
DID YOU KNOW?
Maddie Magee’s high jump of 5 feet, 4 inches at the Tri-District meet last May is a Bear Creek School record, a mark that Magee hopes to break this season.
