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Matt Wallis

BURLINGTON — The Skagit County Track and Field Championship was started more than 100 years ago to showcase some of the best prep athletes in the county.

On Friday, the best in the county proved to be among the best in the state.

Burlington-Edison’s Kinsey Davis and Chelsea Genther each won two events, Josh Simpson set a state-best time among Class 2A athletes to win the 3,200 and the Tigers bested a competitive field to claim both halves of the meet.

The Tigers’ girls scored 241 team points to beat their closest competitors, Mount Vernon (136) and Anacortes (85).

The boys scored 251 in a win over opponents including Sedro-Woolley (117) and Mount Vernon (116).

It was the 19th straight victory for the girls’ team and the seventh straight for the boys.

Genther won the 100 (13.10 seconds) and 300 hurdles (48.53), and Davis claimed the 200 (27.02) and 400 (1:01.17).

Simpson, who was bested by Anacortes’ Danny Lindstrom in the 1,600, overtook the Anacortes standout late for a victory in the 3,200 (9:40.0).

“It was a breakthrough race for him,” Burlington-Edison coach Kevin Gudgel said. “Josh runs with emotion. When he does, he’s tough to beat.”

The Tigers won 13 events to help sweep the two-day event, but Gudgel noted all the events were competitive and also featured strong performances from the small-school competitors.

“It’s looking like it’s becoming competitive in every event,” he said. “The marks aren’t only good countywide, they’re good statewide. It’s a high-quality invitational now. That’s good, what we want to do — showcase the talent in the county in all classifications.”

Anacortes’ Thomas Kassa won two individual events Friday, bringing his two-day total to three wins. In addition to Wednesday’s win in the triple jump, he also won the 200 (23.59) and long jump (20 feet, 9 inches).

“The county meet is one of my favorites. I like the competition here,” he said.

While Kassa won three individual events, the win he was proudest of was a team event: the 400 relay team, which won in 44.92.

“The teamwork was great,” Kassa said.

Sedro-Woolley’s Emily Warman was a two-time winner, adding to Wednesday’s long-jump win with a victory in the triple jump (37-33⁄4). Anacortes’ Kaila Hammond claimed the shot-put title (37-01) to go along with Wednesday’s win in the discus.

Several small-school competitors also shined, including Mount Vernon Christian’s Melinda Vander Ark, who won the 100 hurdles (17.15); Sabrina Schwindler who topped a tough field of competitors for a high-jump win of 5-4; and Cora Kellerman, whose throw of 119-7 is second-best in the state among Class 2B athletes.

Concrete’s Lukas Scherer won the javelin on the boys’ side with a throw of 167-09, second in the state among 2B athletes.

“I was excited to compete against 2A and 3A kids, and proud I stacked up against them,” he said.

n Trevor Pyle can be reached at 360-416-2156 or by e-mail at