GIRLS TRACK: Kentwood wins district title, takes aim at state

Holly DeHart wants to rid herself of the butterflies and stomach pains that marked the days leading up to last year’s track & field state meet.

So the Kentwood star took a different mental approach to last Saturday’s district meet at Mount Tahoma High.

“I went with the mindset that (district) was state,” said DeHart, one of the state’s elite sprinters. “I am trying to do things to get my mind off of state and imagine that it’s just like any other race.”

If last weekend’s results are any indication, DeHart approach is right on the mark. DeHart won the 200-meter dash and ran the second leg on each of Kentwood’s relay teams in leading the Conquerors to the district crown. Kentwood finished with 79 points and was followed by Skyview (62) and Tahoma (53).

The Conquerors have been considered among the state title contenders all season. With that in mind, the district title was a solid achievement, but more remains to be done before a celebration can be had, DeHart said.

“There was a group of kids who went out to dinner (after district), but that was pretty much it,” DeHart said. “A couple of us were literally on the field the entire day. I think I stepped off the field once. I was worn out and just wanted to go home and relax.”

There was no relaxing for DeHart in the finals of the district meet. She blistered the oval in the 200, winning the event in 25.14 seconds. She helped  teammates Mykala Benjamin, Mariah Lee, Quincie Proctor-Guyton and Quincie Proctor-Guyton en route to titles in the  4 x 100 (48.12) and 4 x 200 (1:40.87).

With district out of the way, it’s now time to focus on state, DeHart said.

“Even the fastpitch coach, athletic director and teachers at our school are really excited for us,” she said. “Track & field is something that people don’t know about at our school. To even get a league title … it’s a big step up. It’s really exciting for all of us. We’ve put in so much hard work on things like Saturday practices.

“I think this team deserves (a state title).”

The time to get it done is now, Kentwood coach Steve Roche said.

“There’s one more step to climb,” he said “The big prize is still hanging out there. They sure are excited. Basically, when you look at it, all they’ve had this year is success. That’s kind of been the norm. They know this is the greatest challenge they will have faced this year.”

The top eight finishers in each event earned state berths. Kentwood will send a district-best 14 female competitors to the state tournament. Kent-Meridian advanced the second most competitors locally with 11, followed by Tahoma (10), Kentridge (5) and Kentlake (1). After Kentwood and Tahoma, Kent-Meridian, which took eighth with 42 points, was the next highest team finisher followed by Kentridge (11th with 23 points) and Kentlake (27th with 1 point).

Tahoma’s third-place finish came on the backs of its 4 x 100 and 4 x 200 relay teams (Kassie Jensen, Paige Hammock, Mande McKinney and Cassidy Richmond), both of which took second.

Outside of the Kentwood relay teams and DeHart’s individual title, Kent-Meridian’s Chelsea Muskelly was the only other local athlete to bring home a gold-medal finish. Muskelly delivered a first-place performance in the high jump with a mark of 5-feet, 6 inches.

• OFF TO STATE: A look at the local girls who will be competing at state – Kent-Meridian: Chloe Watson, Deedra Patterson, Kariona Micks, Alizhae Hillsman, Jenica Rogers, Stephanie O’Hara, Tapri Nelthrope, Chelsea Muskelly, Jenna Crain, Sazurice Williams. Kentlake: Becca Peterson. Kentridge: Molly Shiroishi, Lexi Klinkenberg, Amelia Carpenter, Kim Concillado, Katie Lake. Kentwood: Holly DeHart, Madelayne Varela, Mykala Benjamin, Kailey Ulland, Sarah Toeaina, Mariah Lee, Quincie Proctor-Guyton, Tessa Carlin, Reilly Retz, Megan McNally, Carly Horn, Beth Parrish, Alyx Toeaina, Kacie Seims. Tahoma: Kassie Jensen, Lauren Clawson, Elizabeth Oosterhout, Savanna Haverfield, Paige Hammock, Mande McKinney, Cassidy Richmond, Saibra Rubadue, Nadine Hyde, Kylie Eager.