SPORTS: Crescent boys track team finishes strong second to state defending champion Mount Rainier Lutheran; other prep reports

PORT ANGELES — The top two Class 1B boys track and field teams in the state went head-to-head to produce fireworks at the bi-district championships at Port Angeles High School on Tuesday.

When the smoke had cleared, Mount Rainier Lutheran — the defending state champion and No. 1-ranked team — had beaten powerhouse Crescent, No. 2 in state, by the score of 142-128.

“I have never been in a meet where that many points were scored by two teams,” longtime Crescent coach Darrell Yount said. “It was awesome.

“A great matchup between the two best teams.”

The two squads domianted the meet as Neah Bay took third with 50 and Clallam Bay was ninth with 9.

Mount Rainier also won the girls meet with 159 while Crescent was runner-up with 82, Clallam Bay third with 43 and Neah Bay fourth with 41.

The top four performers in each event advanced to the tri-district championships and a shot at a state berth Saturday at King’s High School in Shoreline.

Despite the boys fireworks, Crescent’s Kylie Mitts was the top area participant with three wins.

She took the javelin (118-7), the discus (97-10) and shot put (30-6.5).

There were two area double winners in Neah Bay’s Titus Pascua and Crescent’s Dylan Christie.

Pascua won the 200 meters (24.72) and the long jump (18-4) while Christie claimed first in the triple jump (40-6) and the 400 (54.41).

Other Crescent winners were Jonathon Waldrip in pole vault, Josh Anderson in javelin, Denis Claes in 110 hurdles, Kellie Belford in girls 300 hurdles and Andrew Trerise in high jump.

Also winning titles were the Crescent girls 4×400 relay team and the Crescent boys 4×100 relay squad.

Neah Bay’s Courtney Winck won the girls long jump.

District Tennis PA boys and girls

TACOMA — The Roughriders had some tough draws and took three losses in the first round of the West Central District Class 3A tournament at Sprinker Center on Tuesday.

Only the first round was completed because of the rainy weather.

The Riders’ singles player Alexis Corn lost 6-0, 6-2 to No. 1 seed Victoria Tam from Union High School in Vancouver.

“It took Alexis a little while to get used to the pace but she played much better in the second set,” Port Angeles coach Brian Gundersen said.

Boys doubles players AJ Konopaski and Connor Reid lost 6-0, 6-0 to the No. 1 seed from Union, Mark Bright and Tommy Foster.

“AJ and Connor qualified for districts back in October, so there was a little bit of rust,” Gundersen said.

Also losing for Port Angeles was the girls doubles team of Sam Manwell and Grace Van Rossen.

The duo took an early lead but ended up losing 6-3, 6-4 to Alexis Gregerson and Dorothy Franks of Mount Rainier.

District Golf Sequim boys and girls teams

TACOMA — Steve Loerlein earned a ticket to state when he captured fifth place and the final state berth at the Class 2A bi-league tournament at Eagle Pride Golf Course on Tuesday in the pouring rain.

Loerlein took fifth out of 24 players with an 82.

“Steve, he’s one of my good attitude kids, played well,” Sequim boys golf coach Vic Quinet said.

Loerlein now will join teammates Ryan O’Mera and Mallory Maloney at the 2A state tournament next week.

Casey Torres missed the cut for state along with Sequim girls Lisa Doan and Ashley Morton.

Doan and Morton, who didn’t play in the same foursome, ended up with identical scores of 127 each.

It was an awful day for golf, girls coach Garrett Smithson said.

It was raining hard at times.

“At one point, I actually wanted to get a boat out and sail down the fairway,” he said.

District Golf PA girls

TACOMA — Analis Pena just missed the state cut by two strokes Monday at Eagle Pride Golf Course.

Pena shot 107 at the Class 3A tri-district tournament.

“Analis Pena has really come on strong the last few weeks,” coach Mike DuPuis said.

“She was disappointed she missed the state cut but we are proud of her.”

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