Spring sports preview: Pyeatt, Wolves’ track team aims for return trip to state

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Still technically the defending champs from the last spring season officials held a state 2A track meet (2019), the Sequim High boys’ track team this spring features many more question marks.

Now in his 27th season leading the team, head coach Brad Moore merely shrugs when asked about the team’s prospects this spring campaign.

“Don’t know yet,” he said at a preseason practice, but noted the turnout is strong — somewhere in the mid-40s for the combined boys and girls teams.

“They look like they’re in pretty good shape,” he said.

Sequim’s girls look to have a solid point-scorer in Riley Pyeatt. The senior, who’s already signed to race middle distances at Abilene Christian College next fall and spring, ran to a trio of Olympic League meet titles (100, 400 and 800 meters) and another with the Wolves’ 4×400 relay last spring. Her 400-meter time of 57.35 seconds set a school record.

As a freshman, she earned fifth place in the 400 and 12th in the 200 in her lone chance at the state 2A meet in 2019.

Two of her teammates who earned top-five finishes with the Wolves at the league meet in 2021, however, aren’t on the roster: Jolene Vaara (first in 100 hurdles, fourth in high jump) and Taryn Johnson (second in 300 hurdles, fourth in 100 hurdles).

But sophomore Kaitlyn Bloomenrader, fresh off a 20th place finish at the state 2A cross country meet, as well as running veteran Anastasia Updike, a junior, look to help anchor Sequim’s distance running crew for a squad that went 4-1 and placed third in the expanded Olympic League meet behind Central Kitsap and North Kitsap last season.

Sequim’s boys struggled a bit with numbers last spring and were 0-8, placing eighth at the Olympic League meet.

While the team lost to graduation its lone league event champion — Logan Laxson in the long jump — they do see the return of sophomore Colby Ellefson, who battled a nagging injury in track last season but raced to a state 2A meet berth in cross country this past fall.

Also back is junior Mirek Skov, who was second in the pole vault at last year’s league meet.

“He started to pick it up (by the end of the season),” Moore said of Skov.

The Wolves also see the return of senior Adrian Brown, who was fourth in the 110 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles at last year’s league final.

Moore said he’s interested to see how senior Tyler Mooney helps out the squad.

“He looks quick,” Moore said.

Spring sports preview: Track & field

Head coach: Brad Moore (27th season)

2021 record: Boys — 0-8 in Olympic League, eighth place at league meet (of 11 teams). Girls — 4-1 in Olympic League; third place at league meet

Returners: Boys — Theo McMurray (sr.), Henry Hughes (sr.), Adrian Brown (sr.), Zach Gulfer (sr.), Colby Ellefson (so.), Hunter Halverson (so.), William Hughes (so.), Calem Klinger (jr.), Owen Randall (jr.), Mirek Skov (jr.), Talon Wilhelm (jr.). Girls — Riley Pyeatt (sr.), Rileigh Van Dyken (sr.), Hi’ilei Robinson (jr.), Anastasia Updike (jr.)

Newcomers: Boys — Brody Andersen (so.), Cayden Beauregard (so.), Andrew Brown (fr.), Brian Gallegos (so.), Ayden Humphries (jr.), Jackson Imholt (jr.), Jobe Kirner (jr.), Keith Lake (jr.), Finnon Marlow (jr.), Tyler Mooney (sr.), Max Ryan (fr.), Ari Skov (so.), Sean Southard (fr.), Kylle Tiaga (so.), Owen Tjemsland (so.), Aaron Tolberd (jr.), Seanchristopher Wilson (fr.), Kenneth Wolfley (sr.). Girls — Emma Bergmann (fr.),Kaitlyn Bloomenrader (so.), Melanie Byrne (sr.), Isabella Copeland (fr.), Lillian Despain (fr.), Aspen Goldner (fr.), Hermione Grafton (jr.), Carolyn Mary (sr.), Ty’Amorous Mixon (so.), Katherine Morris (fr.), Victoria Nava (fr.), Lilyan Nichol (jr.), Lyndsai Seaton (fr.), Nikoline Updike (fr.), Ava Welch (so.)

Sequim High School 2022 track and field schedule

Date Opponent(s) Time

March 12 Logan Relays, Bainbridge Island 11 a.m.

March 19 at Port Angeles Invitational 10 a.m.

March 24 at Bremerton, Port Angeles 3:15 p.m.

April 14 at Kingston, Bainbridge 3:15 p.m.

April 16 at Lil Norway Invitational, Poulsbo 12:30 p.m.

April 20 at Olympic 3:15 p.m.

April 23 Eason Invitational, Snohomish 10 a.m.

April 28 vs. North Kitsap, North Mason 3:30 p.m.

April 30 at Shelton Invitational 1 p.m.

May 5-7 at Olympic League meet, Belfair TBA

May 16 at Olympic League junior varsity meet, Belfair 3:15 p.m.

May 20-21 at West Central District meet, Renton TBA

May 26-28 at State 2A/3A/4A meet, Tacoma TBA