Mercy I’aulualo wrapped up her freshman track and field season with third place in the shotput and discus events after personal-record tosses. So far in two weeks of practice under the new coaching duo of Neticia and Aleluia Fanene, I’aulualo is already hitting her marks, which is giving her the motivation to pencil herself in for state competition. “Last year really showed me that I can do what I set my mind to and that I can beat anybody that is in my way,” I’aulualo said.

With all but one athlete celebrating a first state track and field meet experience, The Dalles head coach Garth Miller feels that the 2017 campaign is a good first step toward great things to come.

Molly Nelson is taking one final bus ride as a Riverhawk. Nelson is headed to state in Eugene as part of the 4x400-meter relay squad, and she is joined by teammates Shyanne Cady, Elizabeth Tapia, Tressa Wood, Jenna Miller, Emma Mullins, Justin Conklin, Julian Hernandez and Cameron Perez for action on Friday and Saturday at Historic Hayward Field.

A mix of The Dalles upperclassmen and underclassmen were on full display Tuesday on senior night for a Columbia River Conference track and field dual at Sid White Field, and more than 25 picked up personal records. TD head coach Garth Miller likes to see his older and young kids stepping it up, establishing depth and putting themselves in position to be legitimate contenders when the districts roll around on May 11-12 in Hermiston.

Julian Hernandez scored a win for The Dalles boys’ track team, and the girls had four top-3 finishes for a fourth-place tie at Friday’s Apple Blossom Invitational at Henderson Field in Hood River. Leading the girls’ team was Avery Cardosi and Paige McLeod, who finished second and third place, respectively, in the 800-meter race.

The Dalles track and field team posted 12 top-5 finishes, including 10 from the girls’ team, against 6A and 5A competition Friday at the East County Classic held at Mount Hood Community College in Gresham. Kayla Seibel had the best outcome for the girls, taking third place in the triple jump with a leap of 31-feet-1.5 inches, Avery Cardosi added a fourth in the long jump at 16-1.25 and sophomore standout Bailey Nearing hit a career-best in the 400-meters with a final time of one minute and 7.5 seconds.