RICHLAND – More than 40 Cardinal athletes set personal records in their opening track and field meet of the year March 19 at the Richland Jamboree at Hanford High School.
Medical Lake Coach Gene Blankenship.said 42-of-44 athletes set personal records to open the season.
"Granted, we have a lot of freshman on the team this year," Blankenship said. "That partially explains why we had so many personal records, but these kids went out and worked hard too."
Medical Lake also produced seven Top 3 finishes, including Connor Palmen who won the 800-meter race with a time of 2:01.44.
Distance runner Reid Headrick took bronze in the 1,600-meter race, finishing in 4:31.99. The time puts Headrick as the fifth fastest all time in Medical Lake for that event.
Blankenship said this is Headrick's first year in track, and he has hopes for the distance runner to break the school record by the end of the year.
"To finish his first 1,600-meter race in the 4:30s is outstanding," Blankenship said. "We have high hopes for Reid."
Headrick also ran in the 4x400-meter relay race, with teammates Nakai Ornelas, Hector Gomez and Connor Palmen. The four finished third in that event with a time of 3:58.38.
Kayla Ramsey also took third in her 1,600-meter race in 5:44.37. Grace Grubaugh also broke into the Top 10, finishing 9th in 5:47.37.
"We tend to have our best finishes in the distance races," Blankenship said. "That's because we train for those all year, but I would like to see some improvement in our throwing events."
Allison Payne finished the 3,200-meter race with a time of 12:42.08 and became the 10th fastest on the school's list.
Sierra Harden pole vaulted 7-foot-6, which is the fifth highest vault in Cardinal history.
"We have a good team this year with 60 or 61 kids, that are exceptionally well behaved," the coach said. "We were the smallest school on Saturday, and we did very well. I think we are looking to have a strong season."
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