Liberty Bell High School will send eight athletes — six boys and two girls — to the state track and field meet that begins Thursday (May 28) at Eastern Washington University in Cheney and continues through Saturday.
All advanced by placing fourth or higher in events at the 1B/2B District 5/6 championships at Ephrata last Friday (May 22).
As a team, the Liberty Bell boys placed fourth among 13 teams with 88 points behind Okanogan (104), Kittitas (100), and Bridgeport (97). The girls finished in the middle of the 13-team pack in seventh place with 34 points.
Individual performances that earned a trip to the state championships included Ben Klemmeck’s first place in the 1,600 meters and second in the 3,200m. Klemmeck already owns the Liberty Bell record in the 3,200m and is ranked third in the 1,600m.
Micah Klemmeck finished first in the 300m hurdles and second in the 110m hurdles.
Wil Chandler picked up second place in both the 200m and 400m. His 200m time of 23.63 seconds moved him into fourth place all-time in the LBHS record book.
Josiah Klemmeck finished fourth in the 3,200m.
Liberty Bell’s record-setting relay team of Jose Dominguez, Andrew Reggiatore, Wil Chandler, and Micah Klemmeck placed second in both the 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay. The four sprinters set the school record in the 4×100 earlier this season with a time of 44.96 seconds. Dominguez and Reggiatore will be on the team in Cheney.
Sarina Williams threw the javelin to a second-place distance of 129 feet, 1 inch. Earlier this year Williams shattered the old LBHS javelin distance of 120-4 with a throw of 132-8, and she has been consistently over 120 feet.
Lauren Fitzmaurice tied the Liberty Bell girls’ high jump record with a leap of 4 feet, 10 inches that was good for third place at district. She also finished fourth in the 100m hurdles and fifth in the 300m hurdles.
Coach Rocky Kulsrud said he is pleased with the group he’s taking to Cheney. “The competition will be intense but I believe the kids will be up for the challenge,” he said.
Liberty Bell performances at district championships (top four finishers go to state)
• Jose Dominguez
100m, 12.11, sixth place
• Wil Chandler
200m, 23.63, second place, fourth on all-time LBHS list
400m, 53.19, third place, sixth on all-time LBHS list
• Carter Dornfeld
800m, 2:24.71, seventh place
• Ben Klemmeck
1,600m, 4:36.77, first place
3,200m, 10:18.18, second place
• Josiah Klemmeck
1,600m, 4:46.07, fifth place, fifth on all-time LBHS list
3,200m, 10:43.52, fourth place
• Micah Klemmeck
110m hurdles, 17.41, second place
300m hurdles, 42.74, first place, fifth on all-time LBHS list
• 4x100m relay team
second place, 44.96, Jose Dominguez, Andrew Reggiatore, Wil Chandler, Micah Klemmeck
• 4x400m relay
second place, 3:38.22, Jose Dominguez, Andrew Reggiatore, Wil Chandler, Micah Klemmeck, fifth on all-time LBHS list
• Andrew Reggiatore
javelin, 133-5, fifth place
triple jump, 38-7.75, fifth place
• Lauren Fitzmaurice
100m hurdles, 17.46, fourth place, seventh on all-time LBHS list
300m hurdles, 53.12, fifth place, ninth on all-time LBHS list
high jump, 4-10, third place, tied for first on on all-time LBHS list
• Natalie Treise
100m hurdles, 17.48, fifth place, eighth on all-time LBHS list
• 4x100m relay team
sixth place, 55.71, Haley Post, Cece Odell, Jessica Johnson, Natalie Treise, 15th on all-time LBHS list
• 4x200m relay team
fifth place, 1:55.36, Haley Post, Lauren Fitzmaurice, Jessica Johnson, Natalie Treise, seventh on all-time LBHS list
• Sarina Williams
javelin, 129-1, second place