Camas High School runner Alexa Efraimson, a sophomore, won the 1600m event at State competition Thursday with a time of 4:39.25, setting a new State record along the way.
According to her coach, Alisa Wise, Efraimson started to separate herself from the pack shortly after the second lap.
Efraimson has won a string of track events these past two track seasons, setting meet records and impressing fans.
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| The Papermakers have had a great softball 2013 season (19-5). |
The Camas High School Varsity Softball team heads to State competition in Spokane on Thursday as the No. 2 seed, after losing in the Bi-District Championships in Spanaway over the weekend.
The Lady Papermakers played four games (3-1) in the Bi-District tournament and held Emerald Ridge 1-0 until the bottom of the seventh inning when Emerald got off two hits to win the game 2-1.
Camas faces Lake Stevens on Friday at noon as they enter the double-elimination tournament.
“We can do this,” said Papermaker second baseman, Lena Richards. “We’ve had such a great season, but it was crushing to lose to Emerald Ridge. This is our second loss to them.”
The team has had an incredible season winning 19 games, and losing only five.
Richards attributes their success to good team chemistry, hard work, excellent coaching, supportive fans, and, of course, talent.
The last time a Camas softball team won a state championship was in 2002.
Camas Little League and Majors Mariners hitter Zach Terry hit it out of the park Friday night against Columbia Little League at the start of a three-day Majors District 4 Tournament. Terry hit it right over the fence. His Mariners team beat their Columbia opponents.
KENT, WA (Meridian High School) – The Camas High School Track & Field team had a very successful showing at Regionals competition this past weekend, including several first-place finishes and a new meet/school record.
In total, 16 Papermakers qualified for State competition this coming week (May 23-25) at Mount Tahoma High School.
Sophomore Alexa Efraimson set a new meet/school record in the 800m (2:06.54) and also won the 1600m (4:58.70) and the 4×400 Relay, along with teammates Cami Parsons, Jordan Davis, and McKenzie Good. Kimi Knight and Ali Nuce competed in the Prelims for the 4×400 event, and are part of the relay team going to State, as well.
In addition, Alexa Efraimson is now the nation’s top-ranked 800m runner.
Sophomore Alissa Pudlitzke placed second in the 3200m (11:05.85), just behind Sofia Kane, of Olympia.
“I’m excited to go to State in the 3200 and happy about my placing at Bi-Districts in the 3200m,” said Pudlitzke.
Senior Grayson Anderson qualified for State in the High Jump (6’) and 200m (23.02) and is looking forward to his final high school meet.
“Into state I want to qualify for the finals in the 200,” says Anderson. “I feel like that would be a great conclusion to my season for sprints. As for the High Jump I want to win it all. I want to be the state champion. I placed fifth my sophomore year and third my junior year and I just feel that this year it’s my turn to take home the gold. I have had such an incredible season here at Camas so it’s hard to summarize the track and field program. We are more than just a team – we are a family. We win together and we lose together. Before this season I thought that track was an individual sport. Now I know that it’s so much more than that. I came to Camas High School specifically for the track program and it has been the best decision I’ve ever made.”
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| Camas sophomore Alexa Efraimson is the No. 1 ranked 800m high school runner in the nation (2:06.54). |
Senior Andrew Kaler qualified for State in the 1600m (4:20.89) and 3200m (9:29.64) events, placing eighth in both.
“Well I was pretty happy about my performances this weekend,” said Kaler. “I had personal records in both these races, and coming into both of them I was not ranked to make it to State. However, I knew that I could make it and so I went out there with the attitude that I was going to make it, and it ended up happening, which I was psyched about. Looking ahead to these next two races at State, I know that there will be a lot of great guys competing, and so I hope to just go out there and get into the pack and see what happens. I am really excited and I hope for the best for me, my teammates, and even the people from our district.”
Senior Lauren Neff placed fifth in the Long Jump (5’) while Freshman Caleigh Lofstead placed fifth (10’) in Pole Vault, — both are State qualifiers. Sophomore Nicole Corbett qualified for State in the Discus (133’-1”), as did Seniors Amber Corbett (second place at 130”-4”) and McKenna Jackson (111”-0”) for Javelin. Amber set a new school record for Javelin.
Junior Josh Ryan placed sixth in the Long Jump (21’-3”) and Senior Blane Behrent, who’s still nursing an injury, placed third in the Pole Vault (13’).
“It was a roller coaster ride at Regionals,” said Camas Co-Head Track Coach Alisa Wise. “These kids really worked hard in the Prelims, which are brutal with everyone fighting to get into the finals. A lot goes into strategizing for these meets. It’s about managing their schedules, and we just have to play it really smart and careful.”
In other local Track & Field news, Skyview’s Colby Gilbert placed first in the 1600m (4:15.22) and 3200m (9:11.35) events.
“I trained a lot in the off-season,” says Gilbert. “And really enjoyed the running! And I’m just doing some tune-up stuff to stay confident (for State).”
Other Skyview athletes who qualified for State are: the Boys 4×100 team (Kevin Washington, Kalvin Johnson, Forrest Russell, Kris Quintanilla), Aubrey Wardell (Shot Put and Javelin), Forest Russel (Long Jump), Emily Morrison (Triple Jump) and Jucinda Rose (Pole Vault).
Wise isn’t used to having such a few number of kids compete at State, and she attributes that to the change from 3A to 4A this school season.
“4A has a higher concentration of quality,” Wise says. “Where 3A may have one to three great times, all the 4A times are fast! But the bottom line is the kids who qualified are the kids who will have the best chance at scoring.”
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| Camas Senior Grayson Anderson at the start of the 200m at Regionals. Photo by Pamela Anderson. |
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| Camas Senior Grayson Anderson at Regionals this weekend. Photo by Pamela Anderson. |
The Camas Girls Varsity Softball team finished league play Wednesday night winning against Battle Ground, 5-1, and holding onto their winning streak.
Their record earned them a spot in the District Championship game next Tuesday, May 14 at Heritage High School against the winner of Monday’s 6pm game.
Win or lose the girls will play on Friday, May 17 at 10 am in the Bi-District Tournament.
Details to come.
More than 425 Track & Field athletes gathered at Doc Harris Stadium Tuesday night to compete in multiple events between Liberty and Skyridge Middle Schools for the annual Twilight Meet.
The youth competed in all typical Track & Field events, but in their respective grades (6-8). The meet is an annual event between the two middle schools in Camas, and is an opportunity for the youth to experience track and field.
We will post all results when they become official, but here are some highlights.
Zach Terry won the 100m event for sixth grade boys (12.91). Ibuki Murata and Logan Reilly, also representing Skyridge, placed second and third, respectively.
Jenna Efraimson won the 400m (1:05.46), representing Skyridge.
Jacqueline Purwins won the 100m Hurdles (16.99) for seventh grade (Skyridge).
Liberty Middle School won the 4×100 Relay (49.81). The team consisted of Jason Driver, Elias Bashi, Michael Boyle and Michael Proudfoot.
Logan Reilly won the Shot Put (33’4″) for sixth grade.
Danny Wing won the High Jump (5’4″), representing Liberty eighth grade.
More details to come.
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| Skyridge Middle School athletes prepare for competition. |
The Camas Girls Track and Field team won the Jesuit Twilight Meet Friday night, edging out Jesuit on their home turf. The Girls earned 73.5 points. Jesuit placed second with 70.66 points.
The Camas Boys placed fourth with 48 points.
Papermaker Alexa Efraimson won the 1500m (4:22.33) Friday night, which culminated in her third consecutive winning weekend. Incredible!
Alissa Pudlitzke placed second in the 3000m (10:27.50). Jordan Davis placed sixth in the 100m Hurdles (15.82).
The Camas Girls 4 x 400 Relay placed second in that event, earning a time of 3:59.23. The relay team consisted of McKenzie Good, Ali Nuce, Jordan Davis and Alexa Efraimson.
Camas also won the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) with a time of 12:40.67. The team consisted of Maddie Woodson, Kimi Knight, Camille Parsons, and Alissa Pudlitzke.
The Girls also took the top two spots in Javelin. Amber Corbett placed first (129-10) and McKenna Jackson second (123-11).
Co-Head Track Coach Alisa Wise was ecstatic about the results. She said Camas came from behind several times, chasing down a Jesuit runner and changing the overall outcome.
“They were amazing!” she said.
The Papermaker boys worked hard, as well.
Andrew Kaler placed second in the 3000m (9:00.37).
Grayson Anderson won the High Jump (6-06.00).
Blane Behrent placed third in Pole Vault (12-06.00).
Camas Track and Field will compete in Districts this coming week. Details to come.
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| Camas Varsity Softball pitcher Harli Hubbard. |
Using their powerful offense and solid defense to clobber the competition the Lady Papermakers sent each team home on mercy rule four times in a single week.
On Monday they played Skyview. Wednesday was their perfect game against Union. Thursday they faced Wilson, and tonight was Evergreen. So far, the girls are 8-0 in league play.
“We are just begun to find our rhythm as a team. We are picking each other up and playing as a unit,” says Lena Richards, a member of the Varsity team. “We are happy with the success but not finished. We are looking at the next game but won’t be happy until we get the state title we believe we can have.”
They have two more league games, one this Monday at Heritage, and then another on Wednesday hosting Battle Ground. Wednesday is also Senior Night, when the team pays tribute to MacKenzie Farnham, Erin Tauscher, Amee Aarhus and Alecia Huegil.
Friday’s win earns Camas Softball a spot in the District Championship game, which is a week from next Tuesday.
The Camas Lacrosse Team played their final home game Wednesday night against Forest Grove, winning 4-2. There was a herculean effort to get this club organized, off the ground and running as it is today.
The boys and their families, friends and fans made this all possible, bringing an intriguing game to a town that’s learning how it works.
The Camas LAX team showed their hometown what a great sport this is, and what it takes to compete.
Photo by Chandler Revard.
State 4A Football Championship Game!
Here are some action shots from Saturday’s big game between Camas and Sumner — taken by @tyler_mode_media
Final score: Sumner 27, Camas 24
State 4A Football Championship Game!
Summer 27, Camas 24
Sumner scored a field goal with 4 seconds on the clock.
Camas Kicker Jackson Tyler makes 32-yard field goal to tie up the game. Sumner 24, Camas 24. 6:12 4th quarter
State 4A Football Championship Game!
Sumner scores! 13-yard TD reception
Sumner 24, Camas 21
9:12 4th quarter
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