Derek Suomela is pictured winning his heat in the 400 meters Friday with a time of 52.86. The winner of the other heat finished in 52.21. His 800m heat was run just one hour later. He ran 2:09.45 for ninth.

YAKIMA — On a day of celebrations for Naselle, Mylee Dunagan was a teensy bit disappointed.

Last year, as an eighth-grader, she placed ninth — off the state podium — in the high jump.

This year, she was leaving the 1B track championships with three WIAA medals.

“I am not happy with how it turned out,” she said. “I will be here in four events next year.”

Naselle girls and boys track and field athletes earned a total of 11 medals; the freshman won three.

Her first, in long jump, had complications. “I was surprised, because I jumped off with my wrong foot!” she laughed.

• Thursday, she placed sixth in the long jump with a personal record (PR) of 15-2.

• Friday, she placed fourth in the high jump with 4-10.

• Saturday, she placed fifth in the triple jump with 32-3.5.

On learning about her comment, head coach Scott Smith smiled. “Mylee has high standards. She jumped well in all her events,” he said. “In high jump, 5-0 was her PR and she jumped well. In triple jump, she got 32. That’s a big deal. In long jump, she broke 15 where she had been at 14-11. She was good in all of them!”

High expectations

Last year, Naselle earned the second-place team trophy, thanks to points from Trent Stephens, who won the long jump and medaled in his three other events, plus a cadre of throwers.

The three-day meet, previously hosted by Eastern Washington University, shifted to Eisenhower High School in Yakima. Naselle’s team scores this year put the boys ninth among 1B schools; Evergreen Lutheran and Mary Walker finished at the top of the boys’ medal table. The Comet girls placed 11th; Garfield-Palouse was a runaway girls team trophy winner.

“I think we came in with really high expectations,” said the coach. “When you get to this level, little techniques and things that you have been working on all year can make a difference.”

Two NHS seniors stood on the podium for discus. Tyler Kirkman placed second, having thrown 129-4, and Elmer Toftemark was fifth with 113-4. Kirkman led in the final stages, but was overtaken by a throw of 135-3 from powerfully built Waterville senior Abraham Diaz. They went head-to-head the following day in the shot put, with Diaz making the champion throw of 47-11.25 and Kirkman off the podium with 38-11.

“That was fun, a good way to end my senior year,” Kirkman said. “I owe a big thanks to my team and my coach, and glad my Dad and aunts came to support me.”

Vault trio

Pole vault saw three medalists. Junior Jacob Pakenen placed third, clearing 12 feet. The winner, who cleared 12-9, was one of six Pomeroy athletes on the podium (the top eight receive medals). NHS freshman Jason Gardner cleared 8-6, but did not place.

Senior Bella Colombo placed third, clearing 8-9, and classmate Bella Dunagan placed sixth, clearing 7-6. The winner set a 1B meet record, clearing 12-3.

Colombo, who competed in other events earlier in the season, was slightly surprised. “I had never pole vaulted, except I tried it a couple of times in seventh grade,” she said.

“Getting to the top three in the event was very good.”

The next day in the javelin, she concluded her Comet sports career with an eighth-place medal. She threw 103-1; the winner, the defending state champion, threw 134-9.

Bella Dunagan, who earlier high-jumped 4-8 for ninth place, was happy she joined the spring team. “I did track in middle school and I wish I had stuck with it,” she said. “I will miss it. It was really fun. I am glad they ‘made me’ do the pole vault! It was a really good experience.”

Close

The last Naselle athlete to stand on the podium was Derek Suomela — twice. The junior had a busy second day, competing in the preliminary 400 meters and 800m heats with only an hour in between. He won the 400m in 52.86, but didn’t advance in the 800, running 2:09.45 for ninth. (He had placed third in the 400m last year.)

On Saturday afternoon, action resumed after a lengthy safety protocol delay caused by lightning near the stadium. Suomela was high jumping, clearing the early heights and in medal contention when the announcer called over the finalists in the 400m. He hurried to the starting line and positioned his blocks.

The race proved one of the closest of the meet. Up against the other heat winner, Pearce Hess of Grace Academy, Suomela appeared to be just ahead at the final turn rounded into the straight. Both boys dipped their heads at the finish line, then turned to look back at the giant scoreboard.

Hess won in 51.63; Suomela had 51.65. The difference was 0.02 seconds.

Suomela had just enough time to stand on the podium for the medals photo-call before hustling back to the high jump area and resuming competition. He tied for fourth with 5-10; the winner set a 1B record with 6-9.

Other Naselle athletes advanced to state, but did not medal. Colombo teamed with sister Sophia, who is an eighth-grader, junior Desirae Gifford and freshman Paige Haataja for a 4x200m relay heat. Their time was 2:11.64.

Toftemark, Pakenen and Kirkman formed a 4x100m relay team with Brayden Colombo, finishing their heat in 49.35. Colombo, a senior, was Naselle’s third discus qualifier, throwing 102-4, but did not advance to the final round.

Eighth-grader Andy Rosas competed in triple jump, leaping 35-5.75, but finishing off the podium.

Their coach, Smith, took the opportunity to praise their attitude as well as their effort.

“Every track meet has its highs and lows. There are kids that are disappointed with their performance and yet they PR,” he said. “Last year was a premier year; this year, we had pretty high expectations…

“But we have great kids. They do a good job handling adversity and if they do well they don’t get arrogant.”

He commended his assistants, Jack Osadchey, a former Steilacoom sports standout in his second year coaching throwers at Naselle, and Stephens, who graduated in 2022.

“Jack has so much knowledge and has a good rapport with the kids. Trent is a great communicator.” Smith said.