Maton and Peffers become state champions

Daniel Maton and Madison Peffers reached the top of the podium for the Camas High School track and field team at the 4A state championship meet.

Maton got the party started for the Papermakers May 25, at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma, by winning the 1,600-meter run with a school record time of 4 minutes, 11.24 seconds.

A couple of 2-mile competitors forced the CHS sophomore to make his move midway through the race.

“I knew if I hung with them until the last lap, I would get them,” Maton said. “I felt a lot of weight came off my shoulders. A lot of hard work paid off. It was nice.”

Maton doubled his pleasure two days later, when he clinched the 800 championship in 1:53.46. Noah Wallace, of Lake Stevens, was hot on his heels all the way through the finish line.

“It was a tight finish,” Maton said. “He passed me with 60 meters to go, and then I passed him again. It was really close.”

Cade Greseth, Maton’s teammate, followed in fourth place with a time of 1:54.4. The two Papermakers pushed each other into the lead during the first lap, and then started sprinting with 300 meters to go.

“This was the best 1-2 punch Camas had in the 800 in a while. It was fun to go all that way with Cade,” Maton said. “Both getting on that podium at state was a season accomplishment for us. We scored 15 points in one event, which is a big deal.”

All Peffers dreamed about during the week was breaking her school record in the high jump and becoming a state champion. On Saturday, the CHS junior achieved both with a leap of 5 feet, 6 inches.

“It still doesn’t feel real,” Peffers said. “Kind of like a dream that came true.”

Being the last competitor to jump gave Peffers an advantage. She took everything in stride, got plenty of rest, ate the right food and stayed hydrated.

“I just didn’t want anything to interfere with that day,” she said. “It couldn’t have gone any better. I accomplished every goal that I set and even more. It was an amazing track season.”

A year ago, at the state meet, Peffers couldn’t get over the bar. Now, she’s in the Papermaker state championship club with Maton, Yacine Guermali, Dylan Ingram, and the girls soccer, football and boys swimming teams.”

“Intense competition. Incredible field,” said head coach Alisa Wise. “She showed amazing focus, poise and confidence. I’m so proud of her.”

CHS senior Nkem Aduka brought home a state medal in the discus. She finished in seventh place with a toss of 119-2.

Maggie Wells grabbed 15th place in the shot put (33-4.5) and Ahmika Kluka took 16th place in the javelin (109-7).

Emma Jenkins earned ninth place in the 1,600 (5:06.97) and 10th place in the 3,200 (11:30.38).

William Sun claimed ninth place in the 300 hurdles with a personal best time of 39.96 seconds. He also took 12th place in the 110 hurdles (15.5).

Ellie Postma placed 12th in the 800 (2:20.92) and Rachel Blair grabbed 14th (2:22.09).

Jackson Lyne notched 13th in the 3,200 (10:02.65). Riley Truitt took 16th in the pole vault (9-6).