Tonasket’s Kylie Dellinger (second from left) used a big final kick to win the district title in the 1600 meter run.

TONASKET – Tonasket’s boys and girls track teams combined to send 24 athletes to next week’s District 6/7 regional meet, giving coach Bob Thornton high hopes at putting together a solid contingent for the state finals.

The Tiger boys finished second to Cashmere in the team scoring, while the girls finished fourth.

“It was great to see how well everyone gave it all they had to do their best and move on to the next level,” Thornton said.

The top four individuals in laned events, top four sprints, and top six in distance events and field events earned regional meet berths. The top three finishers in each meet Friday, May 18, at Cashmere head to the state finals the following weekend at Eastern Washington University.

John Stedtfeld, Jake Hickman, Cassie Spear and Kathryn Cleman all earned three regional spots. Stedtfeld won the 200-meter dash (23.27) and took second in the 100 (11.47); Hickman won the 800 (2:10.13); both competed on the winning 4×100 relay with Smith Condon and Zach Villalva (44.94); and Hickman joined with Devyn Catone, Jared Stedtfeld and Roberto Juarez to qualify in the 4×400 relay (3rd, 3:58.66).

“The 4×100 relay ran a near-perfect race, showing they are ready,” Thornton said.

Individually, Cleman qualified in the 300 hurdles (3rd, 53.11) and pole vault (4th, 7-0). Spear teamed with Kelly Cruz, Amber Kilpatrick and Karlie Henneman on the second-place 4×100 relay (52.73) and fourth-place 4×200, while Cleman joined with Timmarica Spellman, Kyndra Dellinger and Kylie Dellinger on the third-place 4×400.

Also winning district titles for the boys were Damon Halvorsen in the 1600 (4:44.39) and 3200 (10:04.52) while Villalva took second in the long jump (19-0.5).

Other regional qualifiers included Villalva in the 100, Jared Stedtfeld in the 400, Devyn Catone and Ryker Marchand in the 800, Dallas Tyus in the 1600, Joaquin Polito in the javelin, Ethan Bensing in the high jump and triple jump and Jared Stedtfeld in the 4×400 relay.

“Ethan showed the hops he had, (especially) with a big PR in the triple jump,” Thornton said. “Jake, Damon and John continue to excel in their events and are ready to do the same at the regional meet. And Jared Stedtfeld took a chance in the 400 and ran his best race of the year.”

Kylie Dellinger turned on the afterburners in the final lap of the 1600 to win by nearly 10 seconds (5:47.56).

“Kylie ran a great race,” Thornton said, “giving her the confidence she needs going into the regional meet.”

Other regional qualifiers included Ali Hill in the shot put, Yasmin Cervantes in the discus and javelin, Devan Utt in the high jump and long jump, and Savannah Clinedinst in the pole vault.

Friday’s regional meet begins at 4 p.m. at Cashmere.

“Everyone is peaking just right,” Thornton said. “We are looking forward to how well they can do this Friday.”