State track: Kamiakin’s Musser, Donais win titles

Wyatt Musser does not like to lose.

After placing second at regionals last week in the discus, the Kamiakin junior made peace with it and said he’d win the state title the following week.

He is a man of his word.

Musser unleashed a monster throw of 185 feet, 10 inches Friday on his first attempted, and that held up for the Class 3A state title at Mt. Tahoma High School.

“When I let that go from my fingers, it was the best throw I’d ever had,” said Musser, who was second in the event last year. “It was like a Texas Roadhouse steak going down to my stomach.”

After his disappointing performance at regionals, Musser took a different approach to state.

“This week, I focused more on my footwork and less on throwing,” he said. “I knew I’d come in here and have competition, and I love it. I don’t like not having competition. That helped a lot. I wouldn’t have thrown as far if not.”

Musser’s throw also shattered his own school record of 168-9.

He finished the day with a fifth-place finish in the shot put with a personal best 52-0 1/4.

Kamiakin’s Heather Donais successfully defended her title in the 100 hurdles in a time of 14.79 seconds, holding off Sidney Trinidad of Arlington (15.02) down the stretch.

“Half of my high school career I was a state champ,” Donais said. “I had a lot of competition. That’s what I needed all year. I was a little nervous, but I’m more nervous for the open 100 (Saturday).”

The title puts her one ahead of her mom, Joyce (Schweim), who won a 100 hurdle state title for Puyallup in 1986.

“I have one more than her,” Donais said. “Ha ha, Mom.”

Donais will try for her second 300 hurdle title Saturday. Her mom was a two-time champ in the event in 1985-86.

Roman Ruiz was the last man standing in the 4A pole vault.

The stadium was empty as the Chiawana senior soared over the bar at 15-6 to win the first boys state track title for the Riverhawks.

But it didn’t come easy.

“I missed twice at 13-6,” Ruiz said. “I had just run the 110s and I was tired. My first vaults weren’t good and my heart was pounding, but I wasn’t going to no-height at state. I’ve cleared all of these heights before. I knew what to do.”

Ruiz and Kaleb Taylor from Gonzaga Prep were in a battle for the title with the bar at 15 feet. Taylor missed on his third attempt and finished second at 14-9.

Ruiz cleared the bar on his third attempt, then cleared 15-6 on his last attempt.

Richland’s Walker Seely finished third with a personal best 14-6.

Ruiz also finished fifth in the 110 hurdles in a time of 14.78.

Walla Walla’s Mitchell Jacobson picked up the 4A high jump title with a height of 6-10.

“I’m pretty excited,” said Jacobson, who finished ninth in the triple jump. “I was pretty nervous coming in. I knew there would be good competition.”

Jacobson and D’Jimon Jones of Federal Way each cleared 6-6 and 6-8, but had a little more trouble with 6-10. Both missed on their first two attempts, and after Jones missed his third, Jacobson soared over the bar.

“I tried for 7 feet, but I was pretty tired,” Jacobson said.

The Mid-Columbia boys continued to pick up points in the field events as Richland’s John Hardy finished fourth in the discuss with a personal best of 156-10, and Walla Walla’s Kurt Blackman seventh at 150-9.

“I made it to state and got fourth. I’m super excited,” Hardy said. “I hit that on my last throw in the finals. It was my last discus throw ever, so I gave it my all and it worked out.”

In the girls 3A long jump, Kamiakin’s Allison Stapleton finished fourth with a mark of 17-9 1/2 — her best mark this season — while Hanford’s Mikal Sanchez was seventh at 17-3.

“I really like the competition,” Stapleton said. “It pushes me to compete.”

Stapleton, who has battled back and hip injuries all season, was able to get healthy enough to compete in the postseason.

“It has been frustrating,” she said. “My first meet I went 17-7 and I thought that was a good starting point. A week and a half later, I got hurt. I was triple jumping and my hip popped. It was painful. I didn’t know if I would be able to finish the season.”

Mountlake Terrace’s Chinne Okoronkwo set a 3A meet record with a leap of 19-3 1/2, eclipsing the old mark of 19-0 1/2, set by Angie Tasker of Washington in 1985. Okoronkwo will compete collegiately at Wisconsin.

“I have been competing against Chinne for three years,” Stapleton said. “She is fun to watch. It’s like ‘Wow, she is flying.’ ”

The Kamiakin and Southridge girls 4x100 relay teams keep battling it out on the track. The Braves earned a spot into the finals with a time of 50 seconds in the first heat. The Suns, running in the second heat, turned in the same exact time.

In the boys 300 hurdles, Ruiz and Reilly Smith of Hanford (3A) will be on the track. Both were eighth in qualifying.

In the 2A meet, Grandview’s Gunner Chronis finished tied for sixth in the high jump at 6 feet, then placed eighth in the triple jump at 42-1 1/4.

Prosser’s Kiora Steinbock placed eighth in the javelin with a toss of 114-0, while teammate Kyla Norell was eighth in the triple jump with a mark of 35-1 1/2.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 8:04 PM with the headline "State track: Kamiakin’s Musser, Donais win titles."