Grizzlies bring home medals from state

YAKIMA – The Newport High School track and field team saw Lucas Croswhite bring home two silver medals from the WIAA State Championships May 28-30 in Yakima, with the boys’ team placing 11th overall. Numerous Grizzlies placed in the top eight of their events.

“Newport boys placed 11th which is the highest placing since I have coached here,” head coach Levi Litowitz said. “All events except distance races had prelims (preliminaries) and then the top nine advanced to finals, the top eight got points and medals.”

Croswhite ran in the 110-meter hurdle prelims, running 15.19. In the finals he ran a personal record (PR) of 14.38 and took second in state. He also pole vaulted and achieved 13 feet. His next attempt was 15’ 6”, winning him second place.

Jonathan Hill took 11th in the 400-meter prelims with a time of 53.02. Rayben Jurgens threw 138’ 2” in discus, placing ninth overall. Dax Hansen triple jumped 40’ 1” and took seventh. Nathan Donati threw 130’ in javelin and placed 14th. The boys’ 4x100 relay team of Hansen, Croswhite, Kale Markwardt and Aidan Kramer ran a 44.54 in prelims and was ranked eighth going into finals. In the finals they ran a PR of 43.95, placing seventh. The boys’ 4x400 relay team of Hansen, Jonathan Hill, Tanner Rheinford and Croswhite ran 3:35.33 in prelims and was ranked seventh going into finals, finishing in seventh place after they then ran a time of 3:35.97.

For the Grizzly girls’ team, Olivia Collins ran a 12:25.31 in the 3200-meter, placing ninth. Joelle Brandtner jumped 14’11.25”, placing 11th in long jump. She then jumped a 34’2” distance in triple jump, placing sixth.

The girls’ 4x100 relay team of Brandtner, Allysah Bays, Hailey Davison and Savannah Garris ran a time of 52.97 and placed 11th overall.

“I am very proud of this team, they battled to get to state and it’s great to see them compete on the big stage,” Litowitz said. “Our program is getting better and better and next year we will be making a huge splash. Thank you for everyone supporting this program and its athletes, we couldn’t do it without you.”

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.