The Wenatchee High School boys and girls track and field team kicked off their season with the Ray Cockrum Relays on March 22 at the WHS track, with the boys team finishing third out of eight teams. The girls team placed fifth.

The meet included teams from East Wenatchee, Cashmere, Kentridge, Kentwood, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, and Woodinville.

Junior Alissa Sealby placed second in triple jump and long jump. Sophomore T.J. Harris placed third in long jump and high jump. Sophomore Makenna Faulkner placed third in high jump. In javelin, sophomore Dalton Sugg placed first and senior Dillon Sugg placed second. Senior Samuel Barnwell placed third in discus and shot put. In the 1600-meter junior Cole Christman placed second and senior Sam Martin place third.

Both the girl’s and boy’s sprint medley relay 100-100-200-400m placed first. The girl’s SMR consisted of senior Alexis Heuchert, sophomore Mallory Miller, senior Taylor Rathbun, and junior Lindsey Wapato. The boy’s SMR included sophomore Tanner Mooney, senior Ryan Wheeler, sophomore Joseph Sells, and junior Reid Lovercamp.

The other boys relay teams also did well. The 4×100, Mooney, Wheeler, Sells, and Lovercamp, placed third. Martin, Lovercamp, Christman, and sophomore Jordan Hunsacker placed second in the 4×400 relay. In the  4×800 relay, junior Justin Pringle, Christman, Martin, and senior Tristan Cunderla placed first.

There were many athletes who were out of action this meet due to injuries. “It costs us, but the kids that were left picked up a whole lot of the slack,” Head Coach Bob Bullis said.

“I’m pretty optimistic about [this season],” sprints and hurdles Coach Carl Haberberger said. “There is a lot of young talent. It’s a young team so we will see a lot of growth.”

The team has been working on uniting as a team to prepare for the rest of the season. “We just had a team retreat to help with team bonding,” senior pole vaulter Brittany McCrum said. “I think this year is going to be the kickoff to having a really good team together.”

According to sophomore Mallory Miller, the team doesn’t have any problems with bonding. When asked if the team was working well together, she simply smiled and said, “Always.”