Spring sports preview: Big turnout bolsters deep SHS track teams

By Michael Dashiell • March 15, 2023 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim High junior Hi’ilei Robinson opens the Wolves’ 4x400 relay at the class 2A state meet in 2022. Robinson and teammates Kaitlyn Bloomenrader, Eve Mavy and Riley Pyeatt went on to win the event and win a national title a few weeks later.
Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim High junior Hi’ilei Robinson opens the Wolves’ 4x400 relay at the class 2A state meet in 2022. Robinson and teammates Kaitlyn Bloomenrader, Eve Mavy and Riley Pyeatt went on to win the event and win a national title a few weeks later.

Each spring it’s a bit of a guessing game how things will shake out, Sequim coach Brad Moore notes, as he surveys a field of mostly inexperienced javelin throwers at a preseason practice.

Fortunately for the Wolves, who’ve put up some big numbers in the past several seasons (and some hefty trophies along the way), they have some good numbers to start with in 2023.

Turnout for this year’s Sequim High track and field squad has 59 on the roster, with 30 boys and 29 girls.

And while both squads lost some key pieces to graduation, the Wolves get an influx of 30 newcomers, 19 of them ninth-graders of whom Moore sees plenty of potential.

On the girls’side, the Wolves lost state middle distance champ Riley Pyeatt as well as Eve Mavy, two pieces of the state 2A and national champion 4×400 relay team.

But returning are the other half of that team in veteran runners Hi’ilei Robinson, a senior who qualified for state in the 100 meters, and junior Kaitlyn Bloomenrader, a state 2A meet qualifier in the 800.

Cross country veterans Anastasia and Nikoline Updike and relay standout Katy Morris give SHS plenty of depth on the track.

“The middle distances on the girls [team] will be strong,” Moore said.

Sequim also lost state 2A placer Rileigh VanDyken (pole vault) but sees the return of Jolene Vaara, who leapt to a third place finish in the high jump as a sophomore in 2022 and if not for a clipped hurdle at districts would have qualified for state in the 100 hurdles as well.

On the boys’ side, along with sprinter Tyler Mooney, the Wolves lost two-time state medalist Adrian Brown (110, 300 hurdles) but see the return of his younger brother Andrew, who as a freshman in 2022 placed 11th in the high jump and 14th in the 110 hurdles at the state finals.

Sequim also sees the return of senior pole vaulter Mirek Skov, who topped 13 feet at state last year to place third.

Moore said Skov could vault 14 feet or higher this season.

“He looks great; a big piece of his puzzle is matching poles [for his ability],” Moore said of Skov.

Skov’s brother Ari, along with returners Cayden Beauregard, William Hughes and Hunter Halverson — each of whom topped 7-6 or better at last year’s league meet — are back, giving the Wolves significant depth in the event.

Also returning is sophomore Sean Southard, who posted wins in local 5ks and looks to give the Wolves depth in the relays as well as the javelin.

“He’s a lot stronger this year,” Moore said of Southard. “I think he’s going to have a big year.”

Moore said Sequim should get a boost as well from returnees Colby Ellefson (distance), Ayden Humphries (hurdles) and Finn Marlow (throws), as well as freshmen Caleb Crooks and Abraham Herrera.

Sequim opened the season at the Logan Relays on March 11.

The Wolves, who won’t host a league meet this year because of an unsafe/damaged track are at Olympic on March 21 and at Bainbridge on March 30.

Spring sports preview: Track & field

Head coach: Brad Moore (28th season)

2022 record: Boys — 4-3 in Olympic League, fourth place at Olympic League meet, sixth at West Central District meet, tied for 20th at state 2a meet. Girls — 5-2-1 in Olympic League, fifth place at league meet; second at districts; fifth at state

Returners: Boys — Andrew Brown (so.), Colby Ellefson (jr.), Sean Southard (so.), Hunter Halverson (jr.), William Hughes (jr.), Calem Klinger (sr.), Mirek Skov (sr.), Brody Andersen (jr.), Cayden Beauregard (jr.), Ayden Humphries (sr.), Jackson Imholt (sr.), Keith Lake (sr.), Finn Marlow (sr.), Ari Skov (jr.), Owen Tjemsland (jr.), Aaron Tolberd (sr.), Seanchristopher Wilson (so.). Girls — Jolene Vaara (jr.), Hi’ilei Robinson (sr.), Kaitlyn Bloomenrader (jr.), Anastasia Updike (sr.), Nikoline Updike (so.), Emma Bergmann (so.), Lilly Despain (so.), Aspen Goldner (so.), Katy Morris (so.), Victoria Nava (so.), Lyndsai Seaton (so.)

Newcomers: Boys — Roger Burwash (jr.), Malachi Byrne (fr.), Caleb Crooks (fr.), Braeden Davis (fr.), Cooper Farley (fr.), Lincoln Forest (fr.), Abraham Herrera (fr.), Andrew Keeler (fr.), Dean Rynearson (sr.), Jack Schiefen (so.), Dean Spaulding (fr.), Isaiah Tuller-Chavez (so.), Kris Young (fr.). Girls — Amara Brown (jr.), Krista Charters (jr.), Anabel Ellefson (fr.), Dawn Hulstedt (so.), Ahrya Klinger (fr.), Azalea Loveday (fr.), Alivia Marple (jr.), Liberty Mavy (jr.), Sadie Mavy (jr.), Selina Meyer (fr.), Gracy Minty (fr.), Bobbi Mixon (so.), Ashton Reichner (fr.), Cadence Rogers (jr.), Grace Rogers (fr.), Laila Sundin (fr.), Lillian Sutherland (fr.), Lessie Wilke (fr.)

Sequim High School 2023 track and field schedule

Date Opponent(s) Time

March 11 Logan Relays, Bainbridge Island Noon

March 21 at Olympic, North Kitsap TBA

March 30 at Bainbridge, North Mason TBA

April 13 at Kingston, Port Angeles 3:15 p.m.

April 15 at South Sound Classic, Puyallup 10 a.m.

April 20 at North Kitsap, North Mason, Port Angeles, Bremerton 3 p.m.

April 22 at Lil’ Norway Invitational, Poulsbo Noon

April 27 Olympic League JV meet, Bainbridge 3:15 p.m.

April 29 at Shelton Invitational Noon

May 4, 6 at Olympic League meet, Poulsbo 3:15 p.m.

May 19-20 at West Central District meet, Renton 3:20 p.m.

May 25-27 at State 2A/3A/4A meet, Tacoma 3:30 p.m.