Anderson sets the bar

Maybe Nick Anderson should be late for all his track meets.

Anderson, a senior at South Kitsap High School, arrived slightly tardy on the morning of Saturday’s preliminaries heats at the South Kitsap Invitational.

Anderson said the late start only fueled his desire to win as he went on to set a state-best mark en route to a victory in the long jump (22 feet, 7.75 inches).

He also set a personal record in the triple-jump (43-8), edging Lincoln’s L’Shawn Dennis by two and a half inches.

Anderson’s victories helped guide the boys team to a third-place finish (74 points) behind Wilson (110) and Lincoln (91).

While Anderson said he never plans on being late to a meet again, it fits the mold of his preparation before a competition.

“I’m a last-second type of guy,” Anderson said. “Just before I get on the runway I get mad at myself and pump myself up to get an adrenaline rush.”

Apparently it works as he broke his own school record—which he set two weeks ago — by three inches.

“I had jumped a (21-10) to win but I had one more jump left,” Anderson said. “I figured I’d just give it all I had. I landed it and it felt good but when the judge said, ‘22 feet, seven inches,’ I was like, ‘cool.’ I didn’t know it was the best in the state until later.”

SK also got key points from Drew Polley (third, 3,200-meter run, 9:47.36), Ryan Ocholik (third, 300-meter hurdles, 41.41), Charlton Mason (second, high jump, 5-10), and Jake Boling (third, discus, 138-07).

SK’s Stephanie Milne provided the most exciting finish of girl’s race.

In the last 100 meters of the 800-meter run Milne held a slim lead over Central Kitsap’s Crystal Lundhal.

But Lundhal made her move and caught up to Milne as they both crossed the finish line, requiring a photo-finish to determine the winner.

Milne was declared the winner in a time of 2:25.48, three-hundreths of a second ahead of Lundahl.

Anderson wasn’t the only athlete to set a state-best mark for the 2003 season.

Bellarmine Prep’s Brie Flenagle scorched the 1600 meter field with a state-best 4:56.06.

Not bad for an athlete that was being groomed for the 800 meters this year.

SK standout Kayle Peterson got her wish to compete against Flengle, but even her personal-record 5:10.48 wasn’t enough to stay with Flengle.

“I tried to keep up with her but I couldn’t,” Peterson said. “I thought she would stay with me and then kick at the end. She obviously didn’t use that strategy.”

Peterson said she was amazed at Flengle’s time considering she’s an 800 specialist.

“She could win state in the mile but I don’t even think she’ll even run it,” Peterson said.

Peterson, who is a two-mile specialist, she said there is nothing to hang her head about.

“I set a personal best so I’m not too disappointed,” she said. “I’m still hoping I qualify for both (races) at state.”

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