The Langley Middle School track and field team had a sterling afternoon against Lakewood and La Connor on Wednesday.

The LMS eighth-grade boys tied track powerhouse Lakewood 63-63 for first place, while La Conner placed third with 20 points. The Langley girls won handily over both schools 78-39-33.

Since these students will be entering South Whidbey High School in the fall, it bodes well for the future of the Falcon track team.

“They all worked very hard this season, and I’m sure Falcon coach Doug Fulton will be glad to welcome them in September,” said middle school athletic director Jack Terhar.

The younger kids have some work to do, however. The seventh-grade boys were third with 35, behind Lakewood’s 85 and the Braves at 38, and the girls placed second with 58 to Lakewood’s 76.

Individual action sparked the field. Cougar eighth-grader Sarah Young was first in the 100-meter dash at 13.7 seconds and the 200-meter in 28.3. In the distance runs, Lilianna Stelling placed first in the 1,600-meter with 6:02 (a personal best for her) and the 800-meter at 2:47. Ellie Greene was first in the high jump with 4 feet, 10 inches and Angelina Berger threw her discus 69.3.

Connor McCauley was the man to beat for the boys, winning the 1,600-meter in 5:15 (a PR for him) and the 800-meter in 2:29.

McCauley has developed a habit of taking an early lead.

“Connor just runs from the front, that’s all he knows,” said Cougar coach Don Zisette.

But there’s a bit more strategy involved.

“Well, I start out fast, very fast, and the other guys think I won’t be able to maintain the pace, so they slack off,” McCauley said. “They slow down and I can run my race.”

And in fact, at the 1,600-meter finish Leo Espinosa from Lakewood was fully 35 seconds behind the front-runner from Langley.

Patrick Monell, utilizing the strengthening skills learned as a wrestler, long-jumped 17.2 feet for first place and put his shot 38.10.

For the seventh-grade girls, Jenna Khaleff was first in the 100-meter dash at 13.7 and the 200-meter in 30 seconds flat. Becky Sawyers took a first in the 400-meter with 1:14.3 and Madi Boyd ran the 800-meter in 2:57.

Colleen Groce high-jumped 4-1 for a first-place win.

For the seventh-grade boys, Cooper Nichols was first in the 200-meter dash in 29.4 and Calvin Shimada triumphed in the long jump with 13-9.

Coach Zisette said the Cougar’s season was a big success.

“We had a great year and the next one will be even better,” he said.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at

221-5300 or sports@southwhidbeyrecord.com.