South Sound state Track & Field preview: what to watch for at Mount Tahoma this weekend
This just might be the year. After two 4A girls sprinters went under 24.13 seconds in the same district 200 meters run in less than perfect conditions last weekend, it could be that the oldest girls big-school track record on the books finally may find itself replaced.
Clover Park’s Donna Dennis has stood at the top of the 4A 200 meters ranks for 42 years now. Her record of 24.13 was set in 1982.
But last weekend, Federal Way’s Cassandra Atkins and Emerald Ridge’s Mikayla Gardley treated the West Central District III/Southwest District IV bi-district fans gathered at French Field in Kent to a pair of performances that both went under that mark.
Gardley won the race in 23.80 seconds at districts. Atkins, who finished second in the event a year ago at state, went 24.11.
“She got off to a really slow start,” Federal Way coach Quinn Gillis said of Atkins. “But Cassandra is one of the most motivated and gifted athletes I’ve ever been around.”
Dennis’ mark has been challenged before.
In fact, a decade ago another Eagle actually went under the record during the prelims at the state meet. Hannah Cunliffe threw down a 23.89 time before going 24.66 in the finals to still run away from the field at Mount Tahoma High School that final Saturday.
“Hannah would have broken it,” Gillis said. “But she was running at about 70 percent.”
Cunliffe was taking it easy, having had a few health concerns leading into state that year. But wait, didn’t the prelim time count?
It would have, had the run not been wind-aided. Due to the wind, the Cunliffe run was not considered a record in 2014. Whether the weather gives Gardley and Atkins the opportunity to take Dennis off the record board remains to be seen.
One thing is for sure, though. Expect an attention-worthy effort from both of these athletes. Not that such things will be on Atkins’ mind.
“You never hear her talk about records,” Gillis said.
Even so, Atkins will have more than the 200 mark squarely in her sights. The Eagles senior is the two-time defending state champion in the 4A triple jump and the defending champion in the long jump, as well.
Atkins again leads the state in both events entering the state meet this weekend at Mount Tahoma. She popped a 41-6 in the triple jump at districts, a personal record. Her 19-7.75 this spring in the long jump leaves her just over an inch shy of the 4A state meet record set by River Ridge’s LaShonda Christopher in 1994 (19-9).
A year ago, in a meet other than state, Atkins actually set a personal best of 20-7. Something close to that mark this weekend would likely eclipse the overall state record of 20-1.25 set by Wurrie Njadoe of 3A Shorecrest in 2016.
“She’s never satisfied with where she’s at,” Gillis said. “She just always focused on the next jump. She always wants to go farther. She’s such a competitor. She just jumps.”
Or runs.
That work ethic and competitive nature leads Atkins to want to be perfect in how she does things. Perhaps that’s one reason the University of Oregon-bound sprinter and jumper doesn’t like the 100 meters so much as the slightly longer distance that she is so competitive in.
“Her speed is over distance,” Gillis said. “And she’s very critical of herself.”
For Gillis and the other Federal Way coaches it sometimes comes down to pulling back.
“Cass has so many people around her trying to coach her,” Gillis said. “She’s been very good for a long time, so sometimes it’s just about keeping her focused and not over-coaching. She wants to do everything right. In the jumps, I just try to stay out of her way.”
That coaching philosophy has paid dividends for the Eagles. And it could add not only more titles from a Federal Way High girl this weekend, but also the possibility of some meet records.