This past weekend’s South Puget Sound League 4A sub-district track and field meet, conducted at French Field in Kent, provided a jumping off point for the state dreams of several athletes from Auburn and Auburn Riverside high schools.

The top-six finishers at the sub-district meet qualified for the district meet, to be conducted today and tomorrow at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma and a chance to compete at the Washington State 4A meet on May 28-30 at Mount Tahoma Stadium.

In the distance events, Raven junior Kenny Krotzer cruised to two first-place finishes in the 800- and 1,600-meter races, notching 1:55.15 and 4:16.80, respectively.

Teammate Julian-Blake Cowan also captured a first place in the 3,200 with a 9:25.84 and earned third in the 1,600 with a 4:23.84.

For Auburn, sophomore hurler Danny Shelton was first in the shot put with a 53-02.50 toss, his best of the season.

Fellow Trojan Nick Conlan, also a sophomore, was third in the discus with a 140-02.

In the javelin, Auburn moved on two competitors to the district meet with Max Pratt throwing a season best 154-05, good for third place, and Rob Vernon coming in sixth place with a 143-10.

In the girls competition, Trojan distance runner Micheal Paulston was second in the 1,600 and third in the 800 with a 2:21.42 and a 5:04.74 finish, respectively. Both times were season bests for the junior.

Teammate Ashley Plemmons was fifth in the javelin with a 92-10.

Auburn Riverside moves on three athletes to the district meet with Elise Jones qualifying in the high jump and pole-vaulters Rebecca Turnbow and Kylee Smith, also qualifying.

The West Central District Track and Field Meet begins today at 11 a.m. at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma.

The top six finishers in each event will move on to the Washington State 4A track and field championships May 28 to 30 at Mount Tahoma Stadium.

ALSO: The South Puget Sound League 3A/Western Cascade Conference sub-district track and field meet was conducted this past weekend at Sunset Chev Stadium in Sumner with Auburn Mountainview capturing fifth in the boys team competition with 59 points and 10th in the girls competition with 32 points.

Individually, Lion senior Seth Rumbaugh was first in the 800 and second in the 1,600 with times of 1:56.70 and 4:29.76 respectively.

Freshman Jarey Suiter also earned a trip to the district meet with a fifth-place finish in the 100 and a third in the 200.

Also earning a trip to districts were Taylor Hughes in the 400, Corey LiaBraaten in the 110- and 300-hurdles, Josh Melu in the triple jump and the boys 4×400 relay team.

For the girls, senior Kendra Alexson was first in the vault with an 8-09.00.

Alexson also qualified with the 4×100-relay team’s fifth-place finish, along with teammates Kylie Olenick, Alayna Wagers and Purshall Brown.

Olenick also qualified in the long jump.

Also qualifying for districts was the 4×200-relay team of Alexson, Wagers, Silvia Wagner and Brown and the 4×400 team of Alexson, Krystal Clark, Tayla Alfrey and Hilary Frett.

Christi Ometu was second in the shot put and fifth in the discus.

The West Central District 3A track meet will begin at 11 a.m. today at Mount Tahoma. Stadium in Tacoma.