The Mid-Columbia Athletes of the Week for May 18, 2012.

Girls

Marlee Rees, Senior, Prosser

Rees is peaking at the right time.

She set personal records in the 100 meters (12.4 seconds) and the long jump (17 feet, 5 1/2 inches) at the CWAC district meet last week, and anchored the winning 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams.

Now, she is hoping to advance in all four events to the Class 2A state meet for a second consecutive year.

“I think we have a good chance at winning in the 4x200,” Rees said of state title chances.

Rees won’t be done with her track and field career this weekend, though. She is talking to Eastern Washington about running for the Eagles this fall, and is working on making sure she is NCAA compliant.

First though, she has some business to take care of at the regional meet this weekend.

Q'n'A

Favorite food: Lasagna
Favorite nonsport activity: Camping at Little Naches
Favorite athlete: Georges St-Pierre, a UFC fighter, a hardworker, humble
Favorite class: Health occupations, a class at the hospital where students go through the different rotations.
Prerace ritual: The relay teams do a little dance to Get Low by Lil Jon before warming up.
Must-have on the road: Cheetah print blanket
Favorite movie: Walk the Line
Favorite TV show: Pretty Little Liars or Bones
Best song on your iPod: Sunday Morning by Maroon 5
Career plans: Get her RN, become an ER nurse and then a flight nurse.
If you had a million dollars: Go on my dream vacation with my family

Boys

Joe Collett, Senior, Hanford

Collett had plans to run the 400 meters and the 300 hurdles this season, but it had rarely come together considering the races are run nearly back-to-back.

At the CBBN 3A district meet last week, the Falcons coaches decided to enter Collett in both, telling him to take it easy in the 400 and just make sure he qualified for regionals.

Collett did just that, conserving energy to run the 300 hurdles 15 minutes later and advancing in that event as well.

He ended up qualifying for today’s regional meet in the 110 and 300 hurdles, the 400 and the 4x400 relay.

Not bad, considering he’s only run the 400 three times this season. Of course, if anyone could juggle that many events, it’s Collett — as you’ll learn if you keep reading.

“It will be a good challenge,” he said, “but it’s exhausting.”

Q'n'A

Favorite food: Ravioli
Most like to meet: An Olympic hurdler
Unusual talent: Can juggle fire. And knives. He was a part of the circus club in fifth grade and learned how to juggle pretty much anything, as well as ride a unicycle.
Sports highlight: 2012 Pasco Invite, and the first time he three-stepped all 10 hurdles in the 110 race.
Favorite class: Statistics
Favorite movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. the World
Favorite TV show: NCIS
Best song your iPod: This is the House that Doubt Built - A Day To Remember
Dream vacation: Australia or New Zealand
If you had a million dollars: Go on dream vacation. And buy a boat.

Coaches nominations: Nominations should be sent to sports@tricityherald.com and must be received by noon Sunday.