Three from GNL are state track and field champions

TACOMA – Three Great Northern League athletes fell short of season bests Friday at Star Track XXXIII.

They weren’t about to give back their gold medals, though, after the second day of State 2A action at Mt. Tahoma High School.

Senior Mack Baxter of West Valley, junior Angel Nkwonta of Pullman and sophomore KD Skillingstad of Cheney each captured state championships.

And the trio may not be done. They’ll be seeking more gold today.

Baxter fought off a stiff challenge to win the title in the 110-meter high hurdles by two-hundredths of a second (14.73).

“I wanted the school record (14.3),” Baxter said. “My prelims (Thursday) felt great. Maybe I should have gone after it then. But I’m so happy that I won.”

Nkwonta, a heptathlete in training, captured the shot put with a toss of 43 feet, 9 inches. She’ll run finals in the 100, 200 and 400 relay today.

While she didn’t extend her personal best (44-10¼), Nkwonta was nonetheless elated. She was runner-up as a freshman and third last year. All of her throws exceeded 40 feet, with two beyond 42.

“It’s awesome, beyond words,” Nkwonta said of the title. “I’ve been waiting for this.”

Skillingstad won the 100 hurdles in 15.02. She also took fourth in the triple jump (36-0).

“It started out a little bit rocky because I hit the first hurdle,” Skillingstad said. “Then I thought ‘Oh, shoot, I might not be able to do this.’ But then in the middle of the race I had the drive to win. I just kept pushing and it worked out. It’s a great feeling.”

For a moment, though, Skillingstad had to fight butterflies.

“In the blocks I kind of felt pressure but then I started racing and it went away,” she said.

Rylie Pease of Cheney accepted her fate with a firm grasp of perspective.

The sophomore has two more years to make it to state and win a championship. She took second in the javelin (124-10), 10 feet short of her season best.

“My thing is I have two more years, so my goal next year is to win and win the year after, too,” Pease said. “So second place is a good stepping stone for where I want to be in future years.”

It wasn’t as good a day for West Valley senior pole vaulter Josh Miller.

Miller, ranked second heading into the final, almost didn’t make his opening height. He came in at 14 feet, and he made it on his final attempt.

He missed on his three attempts at 14-6. The state champion set a meet record, vaulting 15-9.

“I felt I should have won,” said Miller, who plans to vault at Washington State University. “On Tuesday, I was over 16 in practice. It’s very disappointing. I think it was adrenaline, the atmosphere. That’s how it goes sometimes, unfortunately. At least I have college.”

The Pullman girls are in second with 22 points, two behind leader Shorecrest. Cheney (21) is third.

Others earning medals: Lauren McCluskey of Pullman was runner-up in the 100 hurdles (15.27) and was fifth in the high jump (5-2); Jake Dwyer of Clarkston took third in the triple jump (46-7¾) and teammate Bradley Larson was fourth (44-7); John Landers of Pullman took fourth in the shot (42-5¾); Jamie Bradley of Cheney was sixth in the girls pole vault (10-6).