With the top four advancing out of the 1A District 4, Rainier had many hopefuls but only two state qualifiers.
Sophomore Peyton Dungan and senior Bailey Miller will represent their school Saturday at Eastern Washington University in Cheney. Dungan is set to compete in shot put and discus, while pole vault is Miller’s forte.
At district, Dungan placed second in shot put (38 feet, 11.75 inches) and fourth in discus (105-09). Miller took fourth in pole vault (11-00).
Both athletes are looking to end the season on an even higher note. Making the state tournament is great, but they have distances and heights they want to achieve.
Dungan is still looking for the elusive 40-foot shot put throw, and another opportunity to defeat Montesano freshman Jordan Spradlin, who won shot (40-09.75) and discus (113-09) at district. Miller is eying an 11-06 vault, said Rainier coach Rob Henry, who noted he and Dungan’s results were not great, but we’re good enough to advance.
And really, at this point of the season, it doesn’t matter how one makes state. The goal is to do so by any means necessary, and they did.
Henry said Dungan could place in the top eight in shot if she throws in the 40s. However, in order to do so, she needs to be more like her main competitor.
“(Spradlin) has a little better technique,” Henry said. “She uses her whole body, legs. Peyton is still getting there.”
Miller’s personal record is 11 feet, yet there’s room for improvement. Henry said he knows Miller can clear 11-06, he just has to do it on the biggest stage.
“I was just really, really happy for the kid,” Henry said of Miller. “He’s put a lot of hard work in the last couple of years to get there. It’s really neat to see him be able to qualify for state. He was close on 11-06 again. Hopefully this week is when he gets it.”
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