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KENNEWICK -- The Southridge girls dominated CBL 3A dual meets the past two years, but always kept an eye on what their 4A sisters were up to.
"We would look at the 4A brackets and think, 'We've got to step it up next year,' " said senior Kasey McNeill.
Next year came, and the Suns kept on rolling. They made it three straight undefeated seasons last week, sweeping a four-team CBBN meet on their home track to wrap up another dual-meet title.
"I'm not going to say I'm surprised," said Suns coach Sheila Smith. "We knew we had a solid team, but to change from 3A to 4A, and into a 14-team league, I really didn't know what would happen."
What happened was the Suns continued to have a strong contingent in the sprints and jumps -- led by McNeill, the CBBN leader in the 100 meters and long jump -- as well as the hurdles, pole vault and relays.
But the key for the Suns to defeat the likes of Richland, Wenatchee and Pasco was the addition of junior Emma Murillo to their ranks.
Murillo, who sat out last year after transferring from River View, has given Southridge something it has rarely enjoyed -- points in the throwing events.
That also will be key Friday at Edgar Brown Stadium when the Suns go after something that has eluded them during their dominant dual-meet run -- a district title.
The Suns have had only one thrower qualify for state in their history -- Jennifer Steel in the javelin in 2002 -- and only three have ever placed at regionals.
Murillo, who qualified for the 1A state meet as a freshman in the discus, should break that trend. She is the area leader in the javelin and No. 2 in the shot put this season.
"I can identify with her," said Smith, who starred at Columbia (Burbank) before competing at Washington State. "It takes time to realize that just because I was at this level (at Burbank), it doesn't mean that I can't be at this level (at WSU).
"This last couple of weeks, I think she's realizing that she can compete with these girls, that she can break school records."
Her confidence grew with a third-place finish in the javelin at last month's Pasco Invite, and last week she threw a career-best 132 feet, 3 inches in that event as well as 38-0 1/2 (another career-best) in the shot.
Murillo admitted to being "a little bummed" when she wasn't cleared to compete for the varsity last season, but she quickly turned it into a positive.
"I used that year to work on my technique and not worry about competition," she said. "It turned out to be a blessing, because it set me up for this year."
Murillo has the third-best mark on the eastside in the javelin, and her throw is better than the state standard of 131-5. She also is No. 2 in the shot.
"I've been keeping a close eye on the marks," she said. "I didn't expect this season to go this well. I'm going past the goals I set for myself, and that's really cool."
NOTES: The top 10 athletes at Friday's CBBN 4A district meet advance to the Eastern Regional meet next weekend in Spokane. The 3A district meet, which is Friday at Fran Rish Stadium, will send four qualifiers to regionals. ... McNeill, the All-Area girls soccer MVP who has signed with Eastern Washington, has talked with the EWU track coaches about perhaps joining their program as well next year. ... Kiona-Benton seniors Whitney Leavitt (track) and Katharine Lotze (field) and coach Jim Perry swept the girls season honors in the SCAC East. Wahluke hurdler Lalo Mendoza is the boys track athlete of the year, while Royal jumper Blair Collins won the field award and Knights coach Lyndsy Roberts was named boys coach of the year. ... Othello junior Tiffany Martinez was named the CWAC North girls field athlete of the year.
