“On your marks … Get set … Go!” The sharp BANG of the starter’s gun echoed across the stadium as athletes launched forward, accelerating quickly as the race started. On May 2, the energy at Lakewood High School in Arlington, WA matched the perfect sunny weather—fast and full of momentum as athletes pushed themselves in one of the last invites of the regular track season. As the regular season concludes, the top athletes in each event will advance to the post-season.
The Sunny and 70! Invitational brought together athletes from 32 different Washington high schools for a full day of high level competition. Unlike regular season meets, this invite allowed many athletes to enter in any events, but only approved the best 32 times to compete in each event, showcasing talent in every area across sprints, distance, relays, and field events.
Plenty of IHS athletes had strong performances, with many earning first place in their respective events. Senior Austin Schildt, competed in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay, and the 4x400m relay, winning the 100m dash with a personal best of 10.58 seconds. Senior Jackson Battistoni, competed in the high jump, and won with a height of 6’8.5”. Junior Ella Miller, competed in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, and the 4x100m relay, winning the 300m hurdles with a time of 45.59 seconds. Junior Sally Davis, competed in the 2000m women’s steeplechase race, winning first place and becoming the new record holder with a time of 7:23.09 minutes. Overall, Issaquah delivered strong results, with varsity girls taking first place, varsity boys finishing second, and freshman and sophomore boys team placing fifth.
For other athletes, this invitational was a chance to reflect on their goals and performance. Eve Braun, a freshman who competed in the 100m, said, “My goal was to get my PR. I was very close! My favorite part was almost getting my PR.” Similarly, Sally Davis, who competed in the 200m women’s steeplechase race, stated, “My goal going into the meet was to work on my hurdling form, lead the race, and finish strong. I achieved it! I placed first as well as broke the meet record. My favorite part was probably the energy of the invite, and how engaged and excited everyone was. It made the racing environment so much more fun.”
Beyond the result, the Sunny and 70! Invitational plays an important role in shaping the rest of the season for many athletes. Performances at invites like this can influence rankings and qualification opportunities later in the season. The regular season is coming to an end, and athletes are working hard to qualify for the post-season, and move on to later races. One thing is clear: this invitational showed that the rest of the IHS track season is shaping up to be fast, competitive, and full of talent.
