Spring break last week was all work and little play for Foss High sprinter Marcus Chambers.
Training in lieu of spending time with friends was a tradeoff the junior was willing to make if it helped him drop his times.
The strategy paid off Saturday afternoon at the Tacoma Invitational at Lincoln Bowl, where Chambers won the 200 (21.72 seconds) and 400 meter (49.18) races.
Sporting a fresh fade haircut with “FHS” shaved into the side of his head, Chambers clocked a season- and Class 3A-best time in the 400.
“I had a little time with friends (last week), but it was basically (about) getting stronger,” Chambers said. “I felt strong.”
Later in the day — in a matchup of two of the fastest sprinters in the city — Chambers edged Lincoln’s Quadelle Satterwhite (21.97) in the 200.
“He has a great start; I have a great finish,” Chambers said.
Satterwhite, slowed by a leg injury he suffered at a meet Thursday, still put forth a strong effort.
“It’s a little bit different when I’m not 100 percent,” said Satterwhite, who won the 100 (10.86) earlier in the day. “But (Chambers) told me to push him, so I was pushing him.”
Todd Beamer sophomore Alanna Vann was also fighting through an injury. Despite a tight hamstring, the 5-foot-1 speedster won the girls 100 (12.40) and 200 (25.39), breaking her own school record in the 200 and setting personal bests in both races.
“So far this season I haven’t really been running full out,” Vann said. “So today was the first time I really tried to kick it in. I’m really happy with where my times are going.”
Federal Way teammates Mariyah Vongsaveng (15.71, 100 hurdles, 46:04 in 300 hurdles) and Aaron Persinger (15.19 in 110 hurdles, 38.84 in 300 hurdles) were double winners.
“I was just focused all my races,” Vongsaveng said. “I was really shocked (with the times). Very shocked.”
In the field events, Gig Harbor junior Courtney Jost dominated, winning the triple jump (39 feet, 21/4 inches), long jump (18-23/4) and high jump (5-4).
“I’ve just been working really hard on the little things,” Jost said. “Last week it all just clicked. And now it’s going really well.”
Jost’s season-best mark of 18-73/4 in the long jump is the best in the state this year.
The junior has been able to combine the technical aspects of her jumps with an offseason conditioning program and improved mental discipline, Tides coach Kevin Eager said.
“She wanted to rely on her raw strength for everything (before),” Eager said.
Gig Harbor also got wins from Will Drinkwater (1,600 in 4:17.45), Wolfgang Beck (3,200 in 9:19.71) and Brenna Peloquin (3,200 in 11:12.43), helping lead the Tides to the boys (100 points) and girls (91) team titles. Federal Way finished second (81) in the boys standings, while the girls were fourth (53.5).
Beamer took second in the girls standings (60) and third in the boys (54).
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