Despite rainy and challenging conditions throughout much of Friday’s competition, the Cashmere Bulldogs continued their impressive performance at the WIAA 1A State Track and Field Championships at Zaepfel Stadium, putting several athletes on the podium and advancing multiple competitors into Saturday’s championship finals.

Junior Taylor Kunz led the way for the Bulldogs by earning a state medal in the girls long jump. Kunz soared 17 feet, 4.75 inches to place fourth overall and secure a spot on the podium.

Senior Joseph Acton also delivered a standout performance, reaching the podium after finishing in 4th place in the boys discus. Acton recorded a personal-best throw of 157 feet to finish among the state’s best throwers. He will return to competition Saturday in the shot put.

Kunz wasn’t finished making her mark on the meet. The junior won her preliminary heat in the girls 100-meter hurdles and advanced to Saturday’s finals with a time of 15.84, the fourth-fastest qualifying mark overall. Fellow junior Amelia Flick also earned a spot in the finals after clocking a 16.14, the seventh-fastest time in the preliminaries.

Cashmere’s boys 4×100-meter relay team continued its strong season by winning its preliminary heat. The quartet of Caleb Dillin, Ty Cockrum, Isaiah Black and Isaac Zavala crossed the finish line in 43.32 seconds, the second-fastest qualifying time of the day. The Bulldogs will enter Saturday’s finals looking to challenge Lakeside, which set a new 1A state meet record in the prelims with a time of 41.78.

The Bulldogs’ girls 4×100 relay team also punched its ticket to the finals. Kiana Baty, Avril Guerrero, Brynne Patrick and Taylor Kunz were involved in one of the closest races of the day, finishing in a dead heat with Zillah as both teams were credited with times of 50.73. Zillah was awarded the heat victory, while Cashmere’s time ranked fourth overall heading into Saturday’s final.

Cashmere added another relay finalist in the boys 4×400. Ty Cockrum, Jack Binger, Caleb Dillin and Isaac Zavala combined to run 3:28.52, good for the fifth-fastest qualifying time and a place in Saturday’s championship race.

Junior Mackenzie Van Bogart continued her outstanding state meet by advancing to the finals in the girls 800 meters. One day after placing third in the 1,600-meter run, Van Bogart won her preliminary heat in the 800 with a time of 2:19.81. Her mark ranked third overall among the qualifiers heading into Saturday’s final.

The girls 4×200 relay team narrowly missed advancing to the finals. Danna Infante, Kiana Baty, Avril Guerrero and Brynne Patrick posted a time of 1:47.56, finishing ninth overall, just one place shy of qualifying for the championship heat.

Other Friday Highlights

• Taylor Kunz placed 13th in the girls shot put with a throw of 32-7.5.
• Sophomore Jackson Binger ran 52.43 in the boys 400 meters, finishing 14th in the preliminary standings.
• Junior Kaleb Thayer placed 13th in the boys javelin with a throw of 146-8.
• Freshman Connor Diaz finished 13th in the boys 110-meter hurdles in 17.13.
• Brynne Patrick narrowly missed qualifying for the girls 200-meter finals, running 26.07 to place 10th in the preliminaries.
• Sophomore Makelah Gatens recorded a personal-best clearance of 9-6 to place 10th in the girls pole vault.
• Freshman Allie Neff finished 13th in the pole vault after clearing 8-6.
• Senior Isaac Zavala ran 22.42 in the boys 200 meters, placing 12th in the preliminary standings.
• Senior Ty Cockrum finished 12th in the boys long jump with a leap of 19-6.

After two days of competition, the Cashmere girls sit in sixth place in the team standings while the Bulldog boys are tied for seventh. With numerous athletes qualified for Saturday’s finals, Cashmere remains in position to make a strong push up the team leaderboard on the final day of the state championships.