The Haines High School track team made a mark at the state meet in Palmer last week, but team members are already planning for a better performance next year.
Freshmen Haley Boron, Mark Davis and Wesley Verhamme, sophomores Siyel George and Becca Wheeler, and junior Kamakana Kanahele competed against the best athletes in Alaska at the meet in Palmer, May 25-26. All but one of the local athletes were new to state competition.
Verhamme placed fourth in shot put and set a personal record of 42.3 feet, following three experienced seniors from Gustavus, Monroe Catholic and Grace Christian high schools. Verhamme was the only underclassman to place in the top eight and had the best performance of the Glacier Bears.
Kanahele had the second-best score for Haines, placing sixth in discus with a throw of 117.6 feet. Kanahele said it was “quite spectacular” to watch the high-caliber athletes.
“It was amazing to see everyone from all the different places and to see how fast they all can run,” Kanahele said. He said he compared the performances of students around the state to those in the Southeast region to know how he needs to improve. “I thought I was fast, but they made me feel super slow.”
He said the tough competition inspired him to work harder for his senior season. “It was good for me to see them run because it gave me a goal for next year to do better and make it into a running event,” he said. Kanahele said he’d like to qualify for sprint events next year, as well as shot put and discus. “It made me realize how much dedication you have to put into it. You don’t get there just by pure luck.”
Long-distance runner George placed ninth in the two-mile race, at 10 minutes and 40.91 seconds. He finished 13th in the one mile run in four minutes and 49.78 seconds, only .1 seconds short of his personal best. Coach Pete Degen said George qualified in three events but scratched on the 800-meter run to focus on the other events.
Davis placed 10th in 300-meter hurdles with a personal record time of 46.75 seconds.
Representing Haines girls, Wheeler placed 10th in shot put with a personal record throw of 27 feet, 4.25 inches. She also finished 11th in discus. Boron placed 15th in both the 100-meter dash and discus.
“At this stage of these athletes’ development, the focus is self-improvement,” Degen said. “We went to state with the idea of setting personal bests and gaining the experience of the state meet. Overall we had a great weekend and the kids did well.”