Girls track team young but talented

Published 9:50 pm Thursday, October 2, 2008

Mount Si head coach Dave Clifford has coached many

athletes over the years, many of which were state champs or state placers. With

that experience comes a true reflection of each team’s chances of placing in

the league, districts or even state.

“We are really young this year and it’s a tough league,” said

Clifford. “Last year Bellevue was third in

the state, Newport was fourth in the state, Interlake and Issaquah are going to

be on top, and Skyline is loaded with talent,” he added

Despite the lack of high school experience for a lot of the team,

there are still a few veterans who have done well in the past. Leading the list

is Joanna Pleasants who is returning in the javelin and discus, went to

state last year for the javelin placing ninth, and is the only Wildcat state

participant on the team this year.

There are 10 letter winners from last year’s team though, and all

have the drive to make a go at district or state. They are Maggie Faig,

Ashley Van Aeveren, Nikki Belt, Crystal Henry, Sheena Kern, Cari

Smith, Ashley Wiegardt, Heather Breitenbach, Katie Childs,

Joanna Pleasants, Emily Verbon and Christian Lambrecht

A total of 33 girls turned out including 16 freshman. Other

standouts for Mount Si include Sheena Kern, a distance runner who is still

recovering from a stress fracture suffered during the cross-country season.

Teammate Breitenbach should also do well in the high jump and as a sprinter.

Last year she missed the league and district meets due to a soccer injury

that occurred the day before the league meet.

Verbon will also prove to be a valuable part of the team this season,

having competed at the district level in the hurdles.

In addition to the veteran talent on the team, there are several

newcomers that will compete. Freshman Callen Gaston, a high jumper,

cleared 5 feet as an eighth-grader last year and should improve on that this year.

A young thrower, Tonya Smart, threw 104 feet in the discus as an

eighth- grader at Chief Kanim last year.

Also new this year is the pole vault as an official event for the girls.

Mount Si will send Smith into competition holding the school record at 8 feet,

six inches.

Last year the team had five wins and three losses in dual-meet

action, placing sixth in the league. The season has two meets scheduled at

home, but Clifford is concerned about the condition of the track. “Look at

that track, it’s a crime, an injury waiting to happen for our kids,” added

Clifford. “Schools don’t want to come out

here. For example, we were supposed to host Bellevue here next

Thursday. They called up and said come on

in,” he added.

Despite the poor track conditions, veteran Pleasants is looking

forward to the season. “My first throw is already a personal record at 107 feet

in the discus,” said Pleasants.

Mount Si will travel to Bellevue on March 23 for their first meet of

the season.