Lincoln’s Mwaura goes the distance, earns triple crown, meet record and No. 1 time in nation

For the final time in his high school track and field career, James Mwaura let the crowd bring him home.

The stands at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma erupted when the Lincoln senior crossed the finish line in record-breaking time in the 3,200-meter run Saturday afternoon.

Mwaura won his second consecutive Class 3A state title in the event, finishing in a meet-record time of eight minutes, 46.87 seconds.

“The crowd was just amazing,” Mwaura said. “They pushed me all the way. It was perfect for me, and I got the record. It was a good day.”

The meet record — which erased the 2014 run of Seattle Prep’s Joe Hardy (8:55.11) — wasn’t all Mwaura got.

His time in the 3,200, a personal-best by nearly five seconds, is also the top time in the event in the nation this year.

And, the final title of his high school career also completed the distance triple crown — state titles in the 1,600, 3,200 and cross country — he’s been striving toward throughout his time running for the Abes.

“I’ve been working on it for two years and to finally do it, honestly I have no words to describe this moment right now,” Mwaura said.

SIMON SAYS THREE

Lakes junior Dorien Simon became a three-time state champion, winning the 100, 200 and anchoring the Lancers’ 4x100 relay team.

“It feels great,” Simon said. “I’m glad I can wear the Lakes jersey, call myself a Lancer and be here next year and do it again.”

Simon blew by the field to capture the 100 title in 10.56.

“I had a really good start in that 100 and I felt really good,” he said. “Once I had that good start and came out of the blocks, I knew I just had to hold it.”

That gave him momentum for the day. Simon said he stayed hydrated, and ate between races to keep his energy up.

He earned another sprints crown in the 200 (21.5) later in the afternoon.

And he ran the final leg of the 4x100 (41.68), in which the Lancers were six hundredths of a second off the meet record.

Alex Dangtuw, Marquees Wade and Cody Roe ran the first three legs of the race.

EDGE SEES DOUBLE IN HURDLES

Franklin Pierce senior Tyrell Edge swept the 2A boys hurdles races in his final season.

He won the 110 hurdles Friday at 14.9, and blew by the field in the 300 hurdles Saturday at 38.93.

Edge is the second South Sound boy to sweep the hurdles the past two years, following River Ridge’s Josh Braverman, who swept in 2017 and now runs for Iowa.

Edge said after falling in the 300 hurdles in last year’s finals, it was redemptive to get this final win.

“I’m happy that I went out this year with a bang, and I get the chance to go forward with my next step and evolve for my next journey,” he said. “I’m ready.”

STUECKLE DEFENDS 300

A day after seeing her 100 hurdles title swept away by Tahoma’s Alaina Brady, Emerald Ridge senior Karlee Stueckle successfully defended her 300 hurdles crown.

Stueckle, a University of Washington commit, set the all-time state record in the event two weeks ago in Sumner (41.76).

She ran a 42.2 on Saturday to repeat.

“Last night I went to bed and I was like, ‘I’ll wake up and I’m going to go get it.’ And I did it,” Stueckle said.

“That was my favorite. I’m never going to run it again, but it was a fun last one.”

SIMORA SETS RECORD

Puyallup junior Tanya Simora set the 4A meet record in the girls javelin, winning the event with a toss of 154-6.

Her historic throw came on her second attempt in prelims, and topped the previous record set by Skyview's Kara Patterson (150-9) in 2003 by nearly four feet.

Three South Sound athletes in Simora, Mwaura and Curtis' Lexi Ellis (4A girls triple jump, 43-6) set meet records Saturday.

LIFE CHRISTIAN RELAYS, SUMMERS DOUBLE UP

At the 1A/2B/1B state championships at Eastern Washington in Cheney, the 4x100 and 4x200 girls relay teams from Life Christian won 2B titles Saturday.

Both teams include freshman Tamia Ramos, seniors Susan Hurdelbrink and Amanda Hamel and sophomore Landyn Lovelady.

The 4x100 team finished with a time of 52.01, just edging La Conner, which finished in 52.06.

The 4x200 team finished in 1:49.05, just ahead of Saint George's time of 1:49.30.

Northwest Christian senior Eliana Summers won two state championships in the 800 (2:20.63) and 3,200 (11:39.78).

Summers edged Navigators junior Ava Shackell (2:22.32) for the 800 title, and Kittitas freshman Elena Jensen (11:47.95) for the 3,200 title.

The Navigators repeated as 2B team champions.

Aaron Lommers contributed to this report.

This story was originally published May 26, 2018 at 9:24 PM with the headline "Lincoln’s Mwaura goes the distance, earns triple crown, meet record and No. 1 time in nation."