Efraimson No.1 in Nation for 1600m

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.”

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.”