LC’s Rusnak leaps personal best but can’t defend long jump title

Lynden Christian’s Hannah Rusnak beat her state title-winning long jump from last year by three inches, but it wasn’t enough to win a repeat title in the event on Friday, May 27, at the Class 1A Girls’ State Track and Field Championships at Eastern Washington University.

Rusnak jumped a personal-best 18 feet, 11.25 inches on Friday, but La Salle’s Lauren Newman won the title with a leap of 19-4.5. Rusnak ended up claiming second place.

“One of her goals was to jump 19 feet, and she missed that by three-quarters of an inch,” LC coach Kent De Hoog said in a phone interview. “She barely scratched on one that she said would have been one of her best, but that gives her something to aim for next year.”

Meridian’s Payton Lunde also placed in the event, finishing seventh at 16-9.25.

Rusnak was the top qualifier in the 100 hurdles — another event she is a defending state champion in — with her preliminary time of 15.56 seconds, was second fastest in the 100 meter preliminaries (12.74 seconds) and helped the Lyncs turn in the third-fastest prelim time in the 4x100 (50.21 seconds). She finished third in the 100 last year at state.

“She’s still nursing an injury and is not at full speed,” De Hoog said. “We’re just amazed at how well she’s doing. That foot injury is bothering her a whole lot.”

Nooksack Valley’s Micahaela Yonkman also qualfied sixth fastest in the 100 hurdles (16.94 seconds).

Dunford continues to climb

After placing sixth in the state pole vault as a freshman, fourth as a sophomore and third as a junior, Mount Baker’s Katherine Dunford placed second in the pole vault on Friday.

“She’s super excited to finish second, especially with the season she’s had,” Mount Baker coach Rob Gray said in a phone interview. “She hurt her back about a month ago, and it’s really bothered her, but she was able to jump really well today.”

Dunford matched her season-best leap of 10 feet, 6 inches. Cashmere’s Elli Kimes won the event by clearing 13-0.5.

Himango sets personal mark

Nooksack Valley sophomore Grace Himango beat her personal best in the shot put by more than a foot with a throw of 37-9.5 to claim third place on Friday.

Her previous best was 36-6 set April 14.

This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 9:44 PM with the headline "LC’s Rusnak leaps personal best but can’t defend long jump title."