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Two Eastern Washington teams are seeking repeats and another area team is the early pacesetter as the State 2A, 1A and B track and field meets withstood all Mother Nature could throw at them Friday at Eastern Washington University’s Woodward Stadium.

Defending 1A champ Freeman will hope a 41-point lead built largely on its strength in the field events will hold up today as the small-school meets end.

Behind two firsts and a second by junior Kevin Hatch, the Scotties posted 57 points, well ahead of runner-up Charles Wright (16).

Hatch, who defended a state title in the pole vault Thursday, followed with a gold medal in the high jump and second in the triple jump. He will go for a fourth medal in the long jump today.

The state champ in the triple jump a year ago, Hatch matched his season best with a leap of 44 feet, 9½ inches. Sean Rice of Life Christian captured gold with a jump of 45-5.

“Second’s always as good as first,” said Hatch, who increased his season best in the pole vault (14-9) by 5¾ inches the night before. “I was jumping my best. I tied my season best so I’m pleased with it.”

Hatch finished the triple jump well before the worst of the weather arrived. Officials had to sweep the approach area before the high jump finals. Hatch won with a jump of 6-2, 5 inches short of his season best. He didn’t clear 6-2 until his final attempt.

“I don’t really think it was the weather,” Hatch said, stopping short of offering an excuse. “I think I should have done better. I was hoping for at least 6-4, even with the weather.”

Hatch is aiming for a third state title in the long jump.

“I’m hoping to break 23 feet,” he said. “I’ve been at 22-7 for a while.”

Hatch wasn’t the lone Scottie state champ Friday. Sophomore Andrew Wilkerson captured first in the discus with a school-record 153 feet, 10 inches to edge Brewster basketball standout and Gonzaga University-bound David Pendergraft (152-3).

Wilkerson kept the discus title in the family, too. Nick Jordan of Freeman won last year as a senior.

“I knew if I hit 150 I’d have a good shot at winning,” said Wilkerson, who qualified for state with a modest throw of 123-1 on a rainy day last week.

“The sector was wet and I didn’t want to fall,” Wilkerson said of his state-qualifying throw. “I just wanted to make sure I got here (state).”

Wilkerson, whose state-winning throw broke his previous school mark of 151-2, placed seventh at state last year as a freshman.

“I told my coach last year I’d win state this year,” Wilkerson said. “But I don’t think it’s hit me yet that I won.”

2A

Defending champ Pullman, behind a win by Brendan Cassleman in the 400 meters Friday and victory by Phil Hinrichs in the 1,600 Thursday, has 26 points, five behind leader South Whidbey.

Cassleman, a junior, cruised to gold in a time of 50.94 seconds, well ahead of runner-up Brandon Propeck of Medical Lake (51.55).

“I was hoping to go under 50 seconds, but I’m not disappointed though,” Cassleman said. “I was kind of afraid some of the other guys might bust out a good time and I might run a mediocre time.”

Cassleman kept with a tradition started by his graduated brother, John, a year ago. He donned a blue bathrobe after winning his race. John Cassleman captured gold in the 300 hurdles and was runner-up in the 110 hurdles last year.

“He was trying to be crazy and different,” Brendan said of his brother. “It keeps you warm and makes you look like a boxer, I guess.”

B

Behind a pair of individual wins, Wilber-Creston takes a slim lead into today.

Wilbur-Creston has 24 points, four ahead of South Bend. Defending champ Pomeroy is fourth with 12.

Justin Powell and Braidy Haden accounted for 20 of the points. Powell took first in the high jump (6-6) by winning a jump off and Haden held off Chad Butorac of Northport in the 400.

Powell and runner-up Josh Lorton of South Bend each missed in jump-offs at 6-7 and 6-6 before Powell ended it at 6-5.

“I should have made 6-8,” said Powell, who took third last year. “I wish I would have jumped better, but it was still fun.”

Haden finished in 50.18, edging Butorac by .23 of a second.

Just one state-meet record was broken in the three boys meets Friday. Senior Phillip MacArthur of Selkirk captured the shot put at 54-7¼, topping the previous state record of 53-4½ set by Doug Wellsandt of Ritzville in 1985.

“I knew I could go that far,” said MacArthur, whose previous best was 52-5.

MacArthur will be out to defend his state title in the discus today.

“The discus comes a little more natural for me,” MacArthur said. “I don’t know why, it just does.”