24th ANNUAL VIKING TRACK AND FIELD TEAM CLASSIC
The 24th annual Viking Track and Field Team Classic will be held Saturday, April 21, 2007 at Lake Stevens High School beginning at 12:00 noon. As always, some of the finest track teams from around the state of Washington will challenge the host Lake Stevens Vikings. This year's girls meet will feature teams that have placed in the top 10 at the state meet 6 times in the past 5 years. Those include Eastmont's State Championship in 2002 and 3rd place in 2003. Shorecrest's 9th place in 2003. Joining the fray will be a stacked Gig Harbor tides team featuring the 2007 state x-c distance championship crew to go with an outstanding group of hurdles, jumpers and vaulters. Host Lake Stevens, a team that is coming of an outstanding 2006 season in which they won the WESCO 4A, Northwest District Championship and placed 10th at state should figure into the mix. Among their athletes is returning state javelin champion and 5x state placer Brittany Aanstad Several of the teams could be standing on the podium in May 2007.
The boys meet will be a very evenly matched field bringing in some very solid boys teams. Joining Lake Stevens in contention will be an oustanding Washington High School team, a much improved Graham-Kasosin with great sprinters/relays, and an absolutely stacked Gig Harbor team that has it's eyes set on not only a Viking Classic crown, but another 4A boys state championship. Toney Henderson will be going for his 3rd straight state long jump championship and 3rd season over 24 feet as well as the accomplished distance crew that Patty Ley has put together. Joining us this year will be the always well coached Yelm Tornado’s under Mike Strong.
The format of the Viking Team Classic puts a premium upon overall team balance and strength. Eight schools comprise the field, with every school entering 2 athletes in every event. The limited number of teams and the necessity of entering all events makes it extremely difficult for a team to win the meet through the efforts of only a few individuals. Instead, a team must be well balanced in all event groups (sprints, hurdles, distance, jumps and throws) in order to compete for the Viking Team Classic championship (the winning team invariably is an excellent dual meet team as well). The format makes for a compact, well-run and exciting meet, without the tedious multiple heats that large invitationals include.
As an added incentive for overall team balance, a trophy (along with a cooler filled with pop for the ride home) is given to the school with the highest combined boys and girls score, in addition to separate boys and girls team championship trophies.
Participating schools in this year's Viking Track and Field Team Classic:
Eastmont
Gig Harbor
Graham-Kapowsin
Lake Stevens
Shorecrest
Stanwood
Washington
Yelm
Field events begin at noon and running events at 12:15. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for students with ASB cards. Children under age 6 are free.
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