Allura Markow, Jake Andrews Break Two Meet Records Apiece In Seattle

Story and Photos by Keenan Gray of DyeStat

SEATTLE – The Washington High School Invitational at the Demspey Indoor Facility in Seattle continued a record-breaking theme that seemed to exist all over the country over the weekend. 

Eleven meet records fell on Saturday and Sunday, highlighted by five boys dipping under the previous 3,000-meter meet record time of 8 minutes, 31.32 seconds that was held by Washington Husky standout Joe Waskom since 2018.

Jesuit OR’s Jacob Nenow led a strong group of Northwest runners in his indoor debut as he crossed the finish line in a time of 8:19.09, just three seconds off his personal best time from last year’s OSAA 6A State Championships. 

“Been doing a lot of hard training these last couple of months,” Nenow said. “Not too much speed but a bit to get us ready here. I’m excited for track once we get a little bit more sharp. It’ll be fun.”

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Mercer Island WA’s Owen Powell took the lead from the gun for two laps before the pack caught back up heading into the mile. Nenow, along with Lakes WA’s Cruize Corvin, Bishop Blanchet WA’s Vincent Recupero and Walla Walla WA’s Brody Hartley, then took over in the second half of the race. 

Nenow, who announced his commitment to run for Tennessee last weekend, began accelerating in the final 600 meters to build his lead over the Washington boys, eventually finishing seven seconds ahead of the field. 

Corvin finished second in a time of 8:26.12, followed by Recupero (third, 8:27.88), Hartley (fourth, 8:30.90) and Nenow’s teammate Joshua Augustine (fifth, 8:31.26).

Gioana Lopizzo from La Costa Canyon CA edged out Arapahoe CO’s Emily Lamontagne at the line in the girls 3,000 by a margin of 9:35.60 to 9:35.62, taking down Annie Hill’s previous meet record time of 9:59.60. Branson CA's Adeline Johnson was third in 9:57.33. 

Dana Hills CA’s Allura Markow and Sehome WA’s Jake Andrews broke two records apiece in their respective events during Sunday’s competition. 

Markow completed a solid double, winning the girls mile in 4:49.16 followed by a 2:11.76 win in the 800 a few hours later. 

“It was good,” Markow said. “I’m overall really impressed with how this race went, the double went. I don’t really race the 800 too often and I’m really excited for this season with a lot more focus on it. So this was a good opener to see what else I can do.”

Markow came from behind in both races to pull out narrow wins with strong sprints over the final 100 meters. In the mile, she beat Air Academy CO’s Bethany Michalak by a margin of 4:49.16 to 4:49.75. In the 800, she outkicked JSerra CA’s Georgia Jeanneret 2:11.76 to 2:12.37. 

Skyline WA’s Rebecca O’Keefe and Lopizzo managed to dip under the girls mile record finishing third and fourth, respectively, in times of 4:53.59 and 4:55.72. Maya Baechler from Kitsilano BC was third in the 800, running 2:13.06. 

Andrews continued his dominance in the Northwest with another sweep of 200 and 400 races on the boys side. He first won the 400 in a time of 47.28 seconds, besting Chase Wells’ 48.90 previous meet record in 2018, followed by a 21.60 second effort in the 200, taking down Cristian Moore’s 2018 record of 21.94.

Clovis North CA’s Nickolas Miller finished second to Andrews in 200, running 21.66. Miller also finished second in the boys 60 in 6.90.

Bear Creek WA’s Braelyn Baker also completed the 200-400 sweep on the girls side, highlighted by a meet record time in the 400, 56.33, to take down Mikaela Smith’s time of 56.46 from 2015. Baker won the 200 in 24.62. 

Squalicum WA’s Andre Korbmacher was just short of his season's best time and US#2 7.74 in the 60 hurdles, placing first overall in a time of 7.75. That obliterated Chris Diaz’s former meet record time of 8.07 from 2015.

Emerald Ridge’s JaiCieonna Gero-Holt cleared 5-8.75 (1.75m) to win the girls high jump in a new meet record height, taking the previous best of 5-7 set by three others girls. Valentina Fakrogha from Ventura CA and Kyra Bakke from Tulatin OR matched the previous meet record to finish second and third, respectively. 

Gero-Holt also won the girls 60 hurdles in 8.98, edging out Ida B. Wells OR’s Avery Coker at the line.

Divine Animaka from the Vancouver Thunderbirds BC jumped a personal best by over eight feet in 49-3.25 (15.02m) in the boys triple jump to set a meet record mark. Jaylen Taylor jumped 14.26m in 2017. 

Puyallup WA’s Micah Bach ran 6.83 in the boys 60 en route to beating Oregon sprint standout Micah Williams’ 2018 meet record time of 6.88. 

King’s WA Adrianna Coleman, second in the country in girls weight throw, threw 53-0.75 (16.17m) in the event to finish first. Bothell WA’s Haedyn Bambolo, eighth in the country in shot put, threw 44-8 (13.61) to win.

Brayden Platt from Yelm WA completed his first indoor competition in the boys shot put, throwing a mark of 60-9.25 (18.52m), which ranks sixth in the nation. He was also third in weight throw with a mark of 53-10.50 (16.42m).