State 1A, 2B, 1B girls track and field: Valley Christian’s Julia Hayes earns pair of second-place finishes

Seconds never tasted any better for Julia Hayes.

The Valley Christian junior finished according to seed Friday at the State 1A, 2B, 1B track and field championships at Eastern Washington University.

Hayes matched her outdoor personal best in the high jump, vaulting 5 feet, 6 inches to take second.

Earlier in the day, Hayes leaped 16-7 1/4 to finish second in the long jump.

Hayes finishes with the triple jump on Saturday.

She finished runner-up in the high jump to heavily favored standout Kaylee Sowle of Mary M. Knight.

Hayes had a four-inch improvement over her runner-up finish in the high jump last year.

She didn’t miss until her first attempt at 5-8. She just barely clicked the bar on her second jump.

Hayes plans to concentrate solely on the high jump in Junior Olympic meets this summer.

“I was really happy with my consistency,” Hayes said.

Hayes made some strides in the long jump.

“I was consistent. I just improved a lot at my last meet,” she said.

She’s looking forward to the triple jump. Again, she is seeded second behind Sowle.

Sowle won the high jump with a leap of 5-8 and the long jump with a distance of 17-8 1/4.

Jadyn Corder of St. John-Endicott/Lacrosse had a one-foot improvement in the shot put, throwing 35-5 to take second.

1A

Avery Ackerman had to overcome a bad case of nerves.

But the Deer Park thrower found a way, pushing the shot put 38-1½ to take second. It was a personal best by a half inch.

“I was really, really nervous,” the transfer from Mt. Spokane said. “This was my first year at state. I didn’t know what to expect. I’m happy with second.”

Olivia Mikkelsen of Freeman took third with a throw of 38-¼.

Jaxyn Farmen of Medical Lake took second in the long jump. She leaped 17-6 1/2, a personal best by five inches.

Farmen came into state seeded sixth.

Tawni Blankenship of North Beach won the pole vault (11-0). Piper Cai of Colfax took third (9-9).

Lakeside’s Allie Cherrington took third in the high jump with a leap of 5-2.

Going into the final day, Lakeside sits in first with 30 points.

Prelims and qualifying for all the races were held Friday.

The balance of the field events will take place Saturday along with all the racing finals.