Auburn-area athletes tune up for league test

Better weather, better results.

Molly House and Kacey Provo are counting on it this week as 4A North Puget Sound League track and field athletes discover Kent’s French Field.

The Auburn Mountainview standouts took a precautionary approach to things at the storm-delayed, All-City Meet at Auburn Memorial Stadium last Friday. Cool, breezy weather proved uncooperative as many athletes pulled through with reasonable times and distances, waiting for a chance to shine this week and peak at the right hour of the looming district competition.

The NPSL meet gets underway Wednesday and resumes Friday, with field events beginning at 3:30 p.m., running finals at 5.

House, a state-class senior hurdler, chose to sit out the All-City gathering to rest a sore, tight leg. She hopes to be back in the starting blocks for both hurdle races – at 100 and 300 meters – and perhaps pull some relay duty this week at Kent.

House saved her best for last year, finishing fifth in the 3A intermediate hurdles finals with a career-best 45.35 seconds. She set a 2017 outdoor season-best 45.69 at the Mount Si Invitational on April 22, so far the eighth-quickest time in the state for all classifications.

“Hoping to go 44,” the Western Washington University-bound House said of her goal, which may put her on the state podium. “(The hurdles) takes so much focus and a lot of determination. … It’s an awesome feeling.”

Provo, only a sophomore, is confident as he tries to climb greater heights, with a good shot at breaking the school record at 14 feet. The 5-foot-8 Provo, a competitive gymnast, reached a personal-best 13-6 earlier this season, second best in District 3.

“Today the weather made it especially hard,” Provo said.

After clearing his opening height at 12 feet, Provo skipped other attempts, saving some energy in hopes of pulling off a record launch. On this day, it didn’t happen.

Auburn junior Kyle Wilhoyte seized the opportunity, clearing a personal-best 12-3 to grab the win.

Elsewhere

Unofficially, Auburn Mountainview – strong in numbers – won the boys and girls team titles, followed by Auburn Riverside and Auburn. … Auburn Mountainview’s Joel MacDougall, who led the boys team to the Baker Division crown this spring, was the division’s Male Coach of the Year award. … Auburn Mountainview’s Talan Alfrey, the NPSL Baker Division Male Field Athlete of the Year, won the long jump (19-10¾), triple jump (41-4½) and 110-meter hurdles (16.89). … Auburn Riverside’s Jaden Robinson doubled in the 100 (11.37) and 200 (23.14) and joined Isaiah Prescott, Jaden Solis and Jakolby Wright in taking the 400 relay (44.59) … Auburn Riverside’s Aulane Mpouli took the 100 (personl-best 12.12) and shot put (personal-best 36-7¼). …