How many athletes sized up their day at the 47th annual Pasco Invitational on Saturday came down to the expectations game.
Some champions came away disappointed because their marks weren't up to snuff.
Others may not have stood atop the awards podium, but it didn't matter. Just taking home a plaque, a medal or a ribbon was accomplishment enough.
That was the case for Kamiakin junior Elise Jepsen. A year ago, she won the 3A state title at Edgar Brown Stadium in the high jump.
On Saturday, she only finished fifth, but in the process she jumped a career-best 5 feet, 4 inches. A few hours later, she went a career-best 36-6 to place second in the triple jump, and the smile she wore said it all.
"I hadn't PR'd in like two years in any of my events, so it's just a happy feeling to be able to get over that mental wall," Jepsen said. "The high jump bar didn't look that high. I was over it even before I jumped it. Today was just fun."
Hanford junior Taymussa Miller could relate. She won the Invite high jump last year, going only 5-3. This year, she placed third, but by clearing a school-record 5-6.
"I really like winning, but I got my school record and I'm only a junior, so I hope I just keep getting better," she said.
The Mid-Columbia produced five winners and a pair of athletes of the meet Saturday.
Kiona-Benton junior Whitney Leavitt won Outstanding Female Athlete honors by blitzing a strong 100-meter field to win in 12.20 seconds -- tying for seventh on the Mid-Columbia's all-time list.
"I was real loose before the race," Leavitt said. "My coach told me to just have fun, because if you worry too much, you're not going to do well. My start was much better than usual. It was just a great race."
Kamiakin senior Olivia Johnston avenged an earlier loss this season to Richland's Galia Deitz, holding her and Tekoa-Oakesdale/Rosalia's Ashley Stabl off to win the 300 hurdles in a season-best 45.37.
"I usually start the season slow, and this is the time of year I pick things up," said Johnston, who has signed with Eastern Washington. "This is the best competition here. You've got to be on your A-game."
Deitz, bound for Brown University in the fall, finished third in the 300 hurdles and second in the highs (15.08) to Bellarmine's Shaquana Logan.
"The 300 is one of my favorite races, but we have a love-hate relationship, and today it wasn't as much love," Deitz said. "But I was pretty happy with my 100s. I got a personal-best into a headwind."
Othello senior Courtney Kirkwood, a WSU signee, won the javelin with a throw of 143-11, almost 17 feet behind her area record of a year ago.
"It's been frustrating," she said of her year to date. "I've been trying to force things too much. I need to relax and let it come naturally, like it had in the past."
Richland junior Jessica Christian, who cleared 12-1 in the pole vault two weeks ago, went 11-9 to win the Invite title and had a good run at 12-2 on her second attempt.
"The Walla Walla coach said I just brushed the bar off with my shirt," Christian said. "Then I just hurried on that last one. But I'm excited with how I did. The heights will come along."
Prosser's 4x100 relay team was the only boys champion, winning in a state-best 42.91 seconds. It's the same quartet that won the 2A state title a year ago -- Aaron Galvan, Cody Bruns, Drake Washington and the meet's Outstanding Male Athlete, Cade Wandling -- but because of basketball season and vacations, it was only the second time they'd run together this year.
"Our handoffs were pretty smooth, but if we want to get real picky, we can work on some stuff," Galvan said. "But now, we've got to keep this up and finish strong like we did last year."
Kamiakin senior Greg Stapleton took second in the high jump by clearing 6-6, a personal-best by two inches.
"I'd gotten close to it a couple times before, so I'm excited," he said. "My first two tries (at 6-6) today, I was thinking too much about it. The third one, I felt good and I just got it over with and made it."
Southridge junior Andrew Gonzales was hoping for a personal-best in the 3,200, but in the windy conditions, it turned into a tactical race. He "settled" for a third-place finish in 9:26.96, two seconds slower than his PR.
"With Joey (Bywater) being in there, I expected the pace to be a little faster," Gonzales said. "But I placed third, and my goal was top-five, so I'm happy with that."
Moses Lake senior Tad Harman also was hoping to better his personal (and perhaps even school) record in the shot put, but he still was pleased by going a season- and area-best 53-11/4 on his final throw to take second.
"I figured I had nothing to lose, and I finally got on my plant foot and didn't worry about scratching," he said.