Alejandre and Schilling advance to state meet

Two Raiders qualified last week to compete at the upcoming state track and field tournament in both of their events.

At the District 5-6 track meet at Ephrata Friday, Octavio Alejandre took first in the shot put and second in discus, and Katelynn Schilling took third in the shot and fourth in the discus.

The meet was postponed due to lighting after both the Raiders completed their events. Okanogan won both the boys’ and girls’ district titles at Ephrata.

Alejandre made his mark on the meet, becoming the district shot put champion while throwing the meet record of 47 feet, 9 inches, “smashing” by 15 inches the old record set in 2011 by Bridgeport’s Geo Campos, Raider Head Coach Lori Adkins noted. It was Alejandre’s third district title.

He nearly didn’t get to compete in the discus event, Coach Lori Adkins explained. “Due to official error, Octavio was not granted his final three discus throws at the sub-district level,” she said, “and by league decision he was allowed throws at the district meet.”

Alejandre took advantage of the second chance by throwing the event-leading toss of 120-11 going into finals. Then Willy Picton of Manson tossed a 125-foot throw, and Alejandre took second to advance to state. “He threw big, proving he deserved to be there,” Adkins said.

Schilling put together the right throws at the right time to take fourth in the discus with a throw of 94 feet, 8 inches. Then in the shot, Schilling and Diefenbach of Okanogan went back and forth until Schilling took third place and moved on to state with a throw of 34-7.75.

“Katelynn had solid performances with big throws in both events, moving her easily into state competition,” Adkins said, noting she’s proud to be taking both throwers to state.

The 2015 Track & Field State Championships for the 2B category will be held at Eastern Washington University in Cheney May 28-30. Alejandre will be throwing shot at 12:30 p.m. on Friday. Schilling will be throwing discus at 3 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, Schilling will throw shot at 12:30 p.m., and Alejandre will compete at discus at 3 p.m.

All throwing competition takes place behind Reese Court, where the practice fields are.