Metro League Track | Lakeside girls, O'Dea boys reign

Here is how Lakeside ended Holy Names' five-year reign as Metro League girls track champion:

"We just nickeled and dimed it," said winning coach Doug Porter, whose team won only two of 17 events in the meet, which ended Friday at the Southwest Athletic Complex.

"There is not a more surprised person in this stadium than myself," Porter admitted.

Lakeside hadn't won the Metro girls track title since 1992, but pole-vault proficiency made the difference.

Rachael Severtson won the vault by clearing 10 feet, 3 inches and senior teammate Anne Burton tied with the only other two girls in the event for second place by clearing 7-6. That gave Lakeside 16.3 points in the vault on the way to 98.3 total. The Lions finished ahead of Seattle Prep (87) and Holy Names (74).

Lakeside's other victory was by Madeline Rathbun, who won the 800 meters in 2 minutes, 19.7 seconds.

O'Dea won the boys' title for a record 11th consecutive year but there was more drama than usual. The Irish lost points when they failed to finish the 400 relay after a botched second handoff, and they trailed by 18 points after nine of 16 events.

Washington football recruit Johri Fogerson led the O'Dea resurgence by winning the high jump at 6-4 to lead a 1-2-3 Irish finish in the event. He also was third in the long jump.

O'Dea finished with 115 points. Seattle Prep was second with 97.

One of the meet's feel-good stories was Bishop Blanchet senior Chris Boyle, who won the 3,200 in 9:35.64. Last year, he failed to qualify for the meet.

"I just put in the work," he said. "Winter training and summer training."

Blanchet distance coach John O'Leary said Boyle's confidence also was a factor.

"Chris started believing in himself this year," O'Leary said. "He started taking risks in racing. Last year was his first year of track, and he's learned a lot."

Notes

• Seattle Prep senior Bennett Taylor won both hurdle races, the 110 in 15.08 and the 300 in 40.34.

• Blanchet sophomore Kate Holman won the 100 hurdles in a school-record 15.78, and junior teammate Emily Hutchins won the 300 hurdles in 47.56.

• In one of the meet's most exciting races, Holy Names senior Chelsea Burns won the 1,600 in 5:17.68, edging Emily Farrar (5:17.86) of Bainbridge. They had the same finish in the 3,200 Wednesday.

• UW football recruit Alameda Ta'amu of Rainier Beach won the discus at 137-7 after winning the shot Wednesday at 51-11. Another Beach double winner was junior Charney Combs, in the girls 100 and 200.

• Cleveland's Olivia Ward completed a double by winning the triple jump. She won the long jump Wednesday.