Tahoma a force to reckoned with in league and state | Track and Field

Published 7:58 pm Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Change is a good thing.

Just ask the Tahoma High track and field team, which has a new throwing coach in Keith Eager and a new distance running coach, about the value of change.

And yet, there’s a level of stability in the girls program that could make the team even more formidable than it was last year, when the girls won the West Central District title then finished third overall at state.

Senior Kassie Jensen said that the Bears will feel the losses of Tate Latimer, a hurdler who is now at the University of Washington, and Bianca Walton, a jumper who took home gold in the triple jump at state last year.

The rest of the girls squad is strong, however, Jensen noted.

“Our relays won state last year and all those girls are back,” Jensen said. “We lost some big girls so we have to step up.”

Julianna Mock, who also runs cross country for a strong Tahoma girls team in the fall, said the girls track and field team expects to dominate again this year.

“We really don’t have that much competition as far as full teams — but there are always individuals at schools that are good — Kentwood is the only team,” Mock said. “We better beat Kentwood.”

The Bears take on the Conquerors in two weeks. Mock said Tahoma hopes to avenge its defeat at the hands of Kentwood — the only South Puget Sound League North Division loss in 2010 for the Bears — at that meet.

Kylie Eager, a sophomore, the younger sister of Derek Eager who won state in the javelin and the discus last year, said the girls throwers should be improved this year especially with the help of her dad. Keith Eager has coached a number of athletes who have gone on to compete both at the Division I level and the Olympics.

“I think we’re going to be pretty strong this year,” Kylie Eager said. “We’re pretty young. We only have two seniors.”

Jensen said that while Tahoma has one minor area of weakness — the jumping events — there are many areas of strength.

“I think we’re pretty diverse,” she said. “Our sprinters are pretty strong. Teamers are going to need to step up if they want to do well.”

The boys team, which is young according to sophomore distance runner James Dagley, could surprise this year.

“Our distance team is pretty solid,” Dagley said. “We have a new coach. So, it’s a little bit of a different routine.”

Senior hurdler Jeremy Voss said having the new coaches has helped the different athletes get more specialized training which is critical for a team with a number of freshmen.

“It helps us,” Voss said. “The different events are more specialized so it helps us focus.”

Sophomore thrower Dallas Hayes said that having Keith Eager will help a young boys throwing group.

“We’re still in the shadow (of Derek Eager),” Hayes said. “We have no seniors. We have a bunch of freshmen and sophomores. We’re working a lot more on technique.”

Dagley said other teams in the SPSL North should keep an eye on the Bears.

“We’re a young team and we’re on the uprise,” Dagley said.