Wahluke track and field looking to make big strides
Joel Dugan/courtesy photo - Junior Mirna Gallaga performs in the discus competition at the 2018 Wenatchee Jamboree.
MATTAWA — The Warriors roster a young boys and girls squad in 2018 as just eight of 71 athletes on the teams are seniors. But that doesn’t concern coach Joel Dugan who says Wahluke will field some talented underclassmen.
“Sophomore Tanu Buck placed ninth in the 800 meter event at state last year and was a member of our 4x400 relay teams. Claudia Oliveras who is also a sophomore, broke the school record in the 1600m as a freshman. Sophomore Alberto Zapien will be interesting to watch as he qualified for districts in the 1600m and long jump, and was on the 4x400 state relay team in 2017,” he said “Our pole vault program is taking off too with three sophomores Isaac Sanchez, Riley Allen and Kyle Yorgesen who are poised to break our school record of 10 feet. Sanchez also flew under the radar last season with fast times in the 200m. We have numerous freshman boys and girls that have a ton of raw talent as well so we will be anxiously awaiting their result throughout the season.”
Anchoring the upperclassmen athletes are juniors Tony Avalos who placed eighth at state in the 100m and competes in the high jump, and Mirna Gallaga, who Dugan expects to be a force in the discus as she is throwing in the 90-to-100 foot range. She also competes in the triple jump and pole vault. As for the senior class it will be Alma Velas (800m) and Jessica Arellano (3200m) leading the way in the long distance races and Juan Morales who will be flirting with the 45-to-50 foot range in the shot put.
College Place, Royal and Connell are expected to be the teams that will set the bar in the boy’s competition. Dugan gives the Hawks the edge over the Knights and Eagles. “College Place will be a tough group to overcome.”
The track and field teams are in the midst of a fundraising effort and Dugan says the it’s been a huge success to date.
“A big celebration and shout out goes to our community and athletes. We are putting family and business names on our hurdles for $100 each and we have raised over $3,000. I am so grateful to our community for supporting the team and proud of my athletes for presenting to so many businesses.”
The team’s first competition gets underway March 16 when the Warriors host the Windbreaker Invite.