Track and field program abuzz with big turnout and new coaches

With a big new coaching staff and a turnout of almost 60 athletes – a nearly 50 percent increase from last year – there’s a lot of excitement around Blaine High School’s track and field program this spring.

New head coach Gabe Bolton coached track for 23 years in Arizona before moving to Whatcom County last summer. He also coached cross-country this school year.

Bolton recruited a big crew of assistant coaches and volunteers to the program, including head football coach Jay Dodd, former star basketball player and 2004 BHS graduate Jessica Summers and 2012 BHS graduate and former state track champion Cherish Morrison.

The team is relatively young with a lot of rookies, Bolton said. The only returning state qualifier is Ben Caro, who placed second in wheelchair discus and sixth in the 100-meter wheelchair at last year’s state tournament.

Bolton has high hopes for the team, but he said it’s too early to tell how it will do.

“I see a lot of talent and a lot of work ethic,” he said. “I see a lot of opportunities here with our athletes.”

In its first meet at Sedro-Woolley on March 13, Blaine athletes competed against Lynden, Nooksack and Sedro-Woolley. Blaine’s first-place finishers were: Nicholas Pearson in long jump with a personal best jump of 19 feet, 8 inches; Cassidy Condos in pole vault at 7 feet, 6 inches; and Taylee McCormick in 1600 meters with a time of 6 minutes. McCormick also placed second in 800 meters in 2 minutes, 45 seconds.

Malachi Crump finished third in 400 meters at 57.35 seconds; Caleb Kielpinski placed third in javelin with a throw of 133 feet, 2 inches; Scott Baldwin placed third in high jump with a personal best of 5 feet, 4 inches; and Ashley Dickerson placed third in triple jump with a distance of 28 feet, 7.5 inches, and third in 100 meters at 14.37 seconds.

Blaine track and field athletes compete next at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, March 22, at the Bedlington Invitational at Lynden High School. The first home track meet starts at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 27 at Blaine High School.