Von Steinhilb, a coach for 17 years and an announcer for 20 years, said he planned to retire after the track meet. The 77-year-old’s compassionate voice provided stadium commentary to accompany the girls’ courage.

The deep tones of Von Steinhilb played a role in the drama.

At 77, announcing his final track meet, the retired coach looked down the final 100 meters and noticed a lone girl in a black uniform running long after the race was won.

Genevieve Sarich was still on the track.

Running alone.

“Bring her home!” Steinhilb exhorted and the crowd responded with applause as the Raymond runner puffed her way to the finish line.

The scene was the WIAA 2B state championships at Eisenhower High School stadium in Yakima.

There had been a mix-up with the flip boards that officials use to indicate how many laps remain. The 3200 meters is the longest race in high school track. Eight laps.

As Bella Buckner, an eighth-grader from St George’s High School, raced in to win, Sarich was actually completing her seventh lap. She stopped running. As she was getting a tiny paper cup of water at the finish line, officials realized their error and sent her back out on the track.

Together

The applause for the Raymond senior had died down and many in the bleachers were seated when Steinhilb took up his microphone.

He drew attention to the final turn.

Two more girls were still running.

Holding hands.

Two others in the field of 16 had dropped out, unable to complete two miles in the unrelenting sunshine.

But not Stefania Tlachi of River View and Jaidyn Barajas of Mabton.

In her final season, Tlachi, a senior, had won the 3200m in six of her eight meets, winning her district to qualify for state in 15.36.63.

Barajas, a freshman, had qualified behind her, having placed in the top five in her prior races.

The 3200m was their only event. But their medal chances were lost in the same mix-up over laps.

Holding hands, side by side, they ran for home.

Few spectators remained seated. Applause went from a ripple to a roar.

Two teenage girls were holding hands, running the last 100 meters.

“Bring ’em home!” purred Steinhilb.

Applause did just that.

They hugged at the finish line. Scorers recorded their times as 19.41.12 and 19.41.13.

Buckner had won in 11.52.29.

Trophy

The only shade in the stadium was under the medals tent. Sarich found a chair in the rows reserved for winners, her face distorted with tears. Eight girl throwers in front of her chatted as they awaited their medals.

Two days earlier, she had earned the eighth-place medal in the 1600m, achieved in a personal best time of 6.18.88. It earned a point that would help Raymond to edge two other tied schools for the sixth-place team trophy. Buckner had finished second, part of a 1-2-3 sweep for her school.

At the 3200m state finals in Cheney last year, Sarich had placed 11th. Her personal best time was 14.12.16, set in Ilwaco May 2. She had just run her final high school race, two miles in the Yakima heat. The state record book would show her 12th in 18.40.13. Two girls who advanced with her from the district meet earned medals; county neighbor Nora Soule from Ilwaco had finished ninth.

‘Character’

Some while later, an announcer called three names to report to the awards podium: Genevieve Sarich, Jaidyn Barajas, Stefania Tlachi.

In their Seagull and Panther uniforms, two seniors sat together, their faces composed, as officials engineered the moment; Barajas was not there.

The announcer spoke. “In the 3200 meters, there was a little bit of confusion with the amount of laps remaining …” he began.

Because of this, the WIAA was presenting the trio with sportsmanship medals.

“They showed good character” in completing the race.

Genevieve Sarich and Stefania Tlachi climbed atop the state track meet winners’ podium.

Tears were gone. Replaced with smiles.

Applause was prolonged.

Sarich and Tlachi had their medals. And Barajas’s would come in the mail.