Continuing what has been a very good year in terms of setting all time marks — and in running away from the competition — the Falcon boys and girls put on a speed and distance show Thursday at Waterman Field.
The competition wasn’t even close. The Falcon girls outpointed Blaine, Lakewood and Granite Falls by a score of 120.5 to 74.5, 59 and 7, respectively. The boys put similar distance between themselves and Blaine and Lakewood, winning the meet with 99 points to stay undefeated in North Cascades Conference competition this season.
Just over a week after her twin brother took ownership of the last of three school jumping records, senior Katy McGillen provided a highlight for her team by beating her own record in the javelin. Her mark of 126 feet, 4 inches was almost 3 feet farther than her best throw last year.
The Falcon girls won the meet with some solid, mid-season efforts, including a come-from-behind running up placing by freshman Kelsey Kimmel in the 1,600, a 120-10 winning throw in the discus by junior Kimery Hern, and a total of nine event victories on the day.
For the boys, Kyle McGillen was the top point earner, winning the 100-meter dash — an event that is largely new to him this season — the high jump and the Long jump. He was also the lead runner in the Falcons’ winning 4×100 relay.
In the distance events, South Whidbey took two of three as senior James Sundquist took both the 800 and 1,600. He was followed closely by sophomore JD Peters in both events. Peters was second in the 1,600 and third in the 800.
The boys also made progress in the throws. Senior Travis Tornga did not surprise in the javelin, winning the event that he took ownership of last year. His mark of 167-10 was about eight feet shy of of his best this season. But, in the shot put, sophomore Todd Berry and senior Tanner McInerney were in the hunt for top placings as both threw over 40 feet in an event that has not been a strong suit for South Whidbey in a decade. Berry was a runner up in the event, while McInerney placed third.
In the discus, Matt Hicks was the top Falcon, with a second-place toss of 113-0.
A number of performances Thursday set up possible record breakers later. Kyle McGillen and teammate Evan Johnson both ran within a half second of Andy Willl’s school record in the 100 meters, while senior Nick Plastino closed within two seconds of the record in the 200. Kimery Hern threw less than three feet short of her own record in the discus and took her first victory in the shot put this season with a toss of 32-11.5