Ballard High School track students celebrate victories at state competition

By Bucky Beaver

Ballard High School sent eight student-athletes to the state track and field championships at Mt Tahoma this weekend and six of them placed.

Emma Suchland in lane 4, courtesy BHS Athletics

Senior Emma Suchland placed in two events, finishing third in the 100 m dash (12.25 seconds) and second in the 200 m dash (24.97 seconds). In both events she was just 0.02 seconds away from the runner ahead of her. Emma is a senior at Ballard with a 4.0 grade point average and will run track at Brown University next year.

Mia Wrey at the finish line, courtesy BHS Athletics

Also placing was junior Mia Wrey who finished third in the 1600 m run with a time of 5:05.26. Ballard’s 4×400 m girls relay team finished 5th with a school record time of 4:00.50. This team consisting of junior Rachel Livengood, sophomore Carolyn Birkenfeld, and freshmen Cora Davies and Marie Culp will return in tack next year. Also competing at state was senior Alex Bowns in the 1600m run finishing in 16th place (4:26.30). He will run track at University of Portland next year. Junior Stuart Thomas competed in two events at state: the 110m and 300m hurdles, finishing seventh in both preliminary heats.