SPORTS
by Jack Kintner

On a perfect afternoon that saw perennial host Lynden Christian lose its manners along with the league finals track meet, Blaine’s undefeated girls track team blew away all comers, beating second place Meridian by a wide 23.5-point margin.
Lynden Christian has hosted the league’s season-ending meet for years under the capable leadership of LC’s athletic director Harlan Kredit. But the Lyncs are not used to losing, especially the 35-point pasting hung on them by a bunch of fast and strong Lady B’s only too happy to oblige.
The boys weren’t far behind, outdoing LC 69-34 while finishing a strong second to Meridian, 144 to 69, despite winning only two events.
The Women in Orange were paced by a healthy Erin Lippie who soared over 10-6 with inches to spare in the pole vault, Kim McLeod in the high jump (4-10), Julie Meaker’s wins in two dash events, the 200 (27.07) and 400 (1:00.86), and her role in Blaine’s narrow but decisive win in the 4 x 100 relay (51.59) by just a third of a second over second-place LC.
Lacey Montgomery won both the 100 (17.33) and 300 (49.44) hurdles and the speedy Breanna Olason won the 100 (12.98) by half a second.
If there was a little heartbreak, Olason was nicked by just .07 seconds (a literal blink of an eye) by teammate Julie Meaker in the 400, and by just .01 seconds (a blink of a squirrel’s eye) for second behind LC’s Shanna Coonhop.
Melissa Galbraith, who carries the biggest heart in the county after coming back from a life-threatening illness, finished a credible third in the metric mile 15 seconds off the pace at 5:51.28.
Likewise Alisha Fisher, laid low by a torn ACL last year after setting a record in the long jump, will travel to districts on the strength of her third place pole vault (8-6) and fourth place long jump (14-11.75) which was just over two inches off the winning distance.
Other individual girls moving on to the district meet at King’s include hurdler Alison Raine and dash runner Cassie Acidera
The flashy Jason Vasquez, whose resemblance to a famous L.A. Laker guard goes no farther than his ever-present shades, won both the 100 (11.53) and 200 (23.21) meter dashes for Blaine’s only wins. Distance runner Douglas Ramirez was bested by archrival Mark Burke in both the 800, by less than a second, and in the metric mile by about nine seconds.
Other individual performers from Blaine going on to district – Bryan Williams in 110 and 300 meter hurdles, Akoni Gilman in discus, Tygr Cain in the pole vault and Nate Tewalt in the triple jump and high jump.
District competition is Friday May 19 at King’s in Edmonds, followed by the state meet at Eastern Washington University May 25-27.

Blaine golfers lead undefeated

Call it the Orange Crush, or Agent Orange, by whatever name Blaine’s golfers ruled the links this year.
Last week we looked at the impressive girls’ team and this week it’s the boys as both squads prepare for the two-day district meet to qualify for the state tournament.
The last home match for the Blaine boys’ team at Semiahmoo, a typical outing for the lads on what is by far the best home course in the league, was played on May Day in a wind that had birds flying backwards.
John Dudley was medalist for the third time out of five league matches this year with a 75, three over par on the Arnold Palmer-designed course. Palmer himself would have had a tough time breaking par because of the wind.
Four other team members scored in the 80s - Jake Hillard (81), Mitch Moquin (87), Sam Conway (88) and Vince Phelps (89).
Sixth man Daniel Hartman, who hit a beautiful sand wedge shot off the tee to within six feet of the pin on three (and calmly rolled it in for a birdie) ended with a 93 that made him the drop-out score on this highly competitive team.
Both teams won their respective league and district titles last year and the boys brought home the state championship. Like their distaff teammates, the boys had a virtual lock on first in the league going into the league finals last week at Skagit Valley’s 27-hole Avalon course. Dudley was medalist, as he has been in all but two league matches this season during which Blaine has gone undefeated. He won the individual league title with a 74, one stroke over Meridian’s Evan Needham.
Tegan Bukowski led her team to an unbeaten season this year as well, the girls winning the finals with a Stableford scoring mark of 519. Bukowski herself medaled with an 85, 16 strokes ahead of her nearest competition.
This week’s district match ended after press time, but is a lot like a two-day version of a pro match. After a day of competition all but the top 20 golfers are cut, and those remaining continue for the second day.
The top 11 (nine places and two alternates) continue on to the state tournament next week. Both teams will play at Spokane’s downriver Golf Club.