Trio of Chiefs to take state trip to Tacoma

YAKIMA — Three Moses Lake High School track athletes have advanced to the 2010 State Finals next week in Tacoma following their performances this weekend at Zaepfel Stadium.

Boys triple jumpers Dylan Moberg and Mitchell Hill advanced to the season’s final weekend by virtue of finishing second (44’1.25”) and third (43’10”) respectively.

Magie Munoz of the girls’ team squeezed out a bid to Tacoma by finishing fourth in the 400-meter run, running to a 1:01.28 qualifying time.

The top four participants in each event advanced to the state championships.

“We’re excited and its pretty cool since only four spots go to state so there was competition,” Moses Lake boys coach Kevin Whittall said. “Definitely our jumping has carried us over the past few years. In general I thought everyone did very good.”

Randy Koon was a just-miss in the long jump, ending up sixth (20’2.5”), while Jordan Wilks (javelin, triple jump) also made it to the finals in those two events.

Jordan Loera made the finals in long jump (seventh, 16’0.75”), triple jump (eighth, 33’7.25”), and javelin (eighth, 118’2”), as did Sadie Nielsen (12th, discus, 101’7”), Hannah Marsh (14th, 1600-meters, 5:50.11), and Munoz (eighth, 800-meters, 2:29.39), to record strong attempts for state bids.

“We’re really excited for Magie too represent our high school at the state track meet,” Moses Lake girls coach Nicki Weiland said. “She did a fantastic job in the 400 meters and we’re really proud how she showed at regionals to make the finals in both the 400 and 800. That’s really, really tough.”