Kentridge’s Tyler Cronk sails over the bar during the high jump finals at the 4A state track and field championships at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School last Saturday. Cronk, a 6-foot-8 senior, cleared 6 feet, 9 inches, to capture his second straight title. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentridge’s Tyler Cronk sails over the bar during the high jump finals at the 4A state track and field championships at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School last Saturday. Cronk, a 6-foot-8 senior, cleared 6 feet, 9 inches, to capture his second straight title. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

All charged up: Cronk, Hines capture state titles

Kentridge seniors grab gold; other locals pull podium finishes | PHOTOS

Tyler Cronk and Solomon Hines came up golden on high school’s biggest track and field stage last Saturday.

Kentridge’s senior stars punctuated standout prep careers with strong finishes at the 4A championships at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma.

Expected to win, Cronk did just that, climbing 6 feet, 9 inches to defend his high jump title. Wanting to clear 7 feet, Cronk missed on three attempts at 6-11.

Afterward, he graciously accepted the win and looked back fondly on his career at Kentridge.

“It’s not just for myself, I jump basically for my family and my school,” the 6-foot-8 Cronk said. “Winning last year and again this year feels good.”

Cronk, among the national leaders with his personal-best 7-3 set earlier this season, thanked his supporters and coaches for his good fortune. He will take his talents to Saint Martin’s College in Lacey, where he plans to compete in track and study secondary education.

“Going from 6-5 my sophomore year to 7-3 my senior year, it took a lot of hard work, lifting and stuff,” he said. “I was able to be determined to try and go for the state record today, but I didn’t get a chance to. It felt good, working hard, having a good coach and a good family. To be able to be here now, it’s an honor.”

The state record stands at 7-4½ set by Franklin’s Rick Noji back in 1984.

Denied a win in his 100-meter showdown against Graham-Kapowin’s D’Angelo Biggs, Hines took care of business in the 200.

Pressed by his friend, Auburn Riverside’s Jaden Robinson, Hines held a step-or-two edge to the wire, winning in a personal-best 21.65 seconds. Moments later, the rivals exchanged hugs.

“It feels so good,” Hines said of the win. “It was a good get-out (from the blocks) and I was good off the turn. I knew if I kept it all the way, I’d have it. … I had to push myself mentally and physically.”

Earlier, Hines settled for second in the 100 (10.95) and anchored the 400 relay team with Nathan Peak, Doyal Bolin and Caleb Barrera to fourth place (42.40).

Tough finish

Kent-Meridian’s Alex McGeachy tweaked a hamstring early on and scrambled to finish eighth in the 300 intermediate hurdles (41.9).

He earlier missed the 110 finals.

“I had a pretty good season, but it didn’t finish the way I wanted it to,” said McGeachy, who plans to play football in the fall at Central Washington University.

Good showing

Kentwood senior Haily Suit managed just fine, finishing sixth in the 100 meters (12.33) and anchoring the 400 relay – with Alyssa Gonzalez, Jessica Robinson and Faith Marshall – to second (48.03).

Kentlake’s Stanford-bound Jordan Fong captured the discus (137-7) and was second in the shot (41-6¾).

Kentwood’s Destiny Capers was fifth in the discus (129-1) and seventh in the javelin (personal-best 123-11).

Elsewhere

Kentridge’s Lauryn “Lolo” Ford claimed bronze in the long jump with a personal-best 18-11¼. … K-M junior Aaron Tulloch made the podium in the triple jump (48-7¾, eighth). … Kentwood’s Daniel Gaik was eighth in the 400 (51.35). … The Royals’ 800 relay of Makayla McIntosh, Brittany Tellis, Qwaniah Levy and Olivia Carter was seventh (1:44.23).


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Kentridge’s Solomon Hines points to the sky and after winning the 200-meter dash at the 4A state track and field finals at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma last Saturday. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentridge’s Solomon Hines points to the sky and after winning the 200-meter dash at the 4A state track and field finals at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma last Saturday. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentridge’s Solomon Hines, middle, races Auburn Riverside’s Jaden Robinson, right, and Federal Way’s Anthony Frazier, left, in the 100-meter dash at the 4A track and field championship last weekend. Hines took second in the 100 at 10.95 seconds. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentridge’s Solomon Hines, middle, races Auburn Riverside’s Jaden Robinson, right, and Federal Way’s Anthony Frazier, left, in the 100-meter dash at the 4A track and field championship last weekend. Hines took second in the 100 at 10.95 seconds. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentridge’s Lauryn ‘Lolo’ Ford took third in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 18 feet, 11¼ inches. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentridge’s Lauryn ‘Lolo’ Ford took third in the long jump with a personal-best leap of 18 feet, 11¼ inches. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentlake’s Jordan Fong, bound for Stanford, took silver in the shot put with a heave of 41 feet, 6¾. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentlake’s Jordan Fong, bound for Stanford, took silver in the shot put with a heave of 41 feet, 6¾. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentwood’s 400-meter relay finished second in 48.03 seconds, with Hailey Suit pulling anchor duty. She also took sixth in the 100 at 12.33. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

Kentwood’s 400-meter relay finished second in 48.03 seconds, with Hailey Suit pulling anchor duty. She also took sixth in the 100 at 12.33. RACHEL CIAMPI, Reporter

More in Sports

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kentridge

Judy Chen (Sr.) tennis and Richard Calkins (Sr.) judo are this weeks winners.

Anthony Diaz celebrates the game’s winning goal. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kent-Meridian soccer survives and advances

Royals down Federal Way 2-1 for second win this season over Eagles.

Riley Lambarena pitched four innings against Kennedy. Ben Ray / The Reporter
West Central District baseball tournament preview

Breakdown and analysis for the first round of the playoffs.

Jozi Thompson pitching against Interlake. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Fastpitch district tournament preview

Kentridge, Auburn Riverside and Auburn Mountainview begin quest for the state tournament.

Jo Thompson pitches against Auburn Riverside. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge has five-game win streak snapped vs. Auburn Riverside

Chargers now turn eyes to the postseason as they nab the No. 4 seed in districts.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athlete of the Week: Kentlake

Raiden Renggli (Sr.) soccer and Taylor Le (Fr.) track and field take home this weeks awards.

Jack Coleman delivers a pitch for Kentwood against Auburn Riverside. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentwood baseball just misses the postseason cut

Kentwood drops series to Auburn Riverside and misses playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Photo provided by Kidder Matthews.
New pickleball facility set to open in Auburn this summer

A 43,959-square-foot building is set to become Rally Pickleball Club.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Coach of the Month: Honey Sychtysz

Sychtysz is a true champion of inclusion as she coaches unified basketball and track and field.

Jo Thompson in action against Auburn Riverside. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Kentridge’s Thompson strikes out 18 in win vs. Auburn Riverside

Kentridge defeats Auburn Riverside 3-1 in first meeting of the season.

Graphic provided by Kent School District.
Kent Reporter Athletes of the Week: Kent-Meridian

Keira Wu (Jr. Tennis) and Kade Cagampang (Fr. Baseball) are this weeks winners.

Keilor Garcia puts Decatur to bed after scoring the second Royals goal of the night. Ben Ray / The Reporter
Royals boys soccer wins seventh straight after slow start

Kent-Meridian downs Decatur and creeps toward the top of the standings.