4A State Track and Field: Cohen Butler of Camas repeats as 3200-meter champion in record-setting fashion

TACOMA — By the time Cohen Butler powered into the final straightaway of Saturday’s Class 4A boys 3,200-meter final, victory was all but secured.

History, however, was still waiting.

The Camas senior broke away from an early lead pack with two laps remaining in the eight-lap race and stormed to the Class 4A state championship Saturday at Mount Tahoma High School, crossing the finish line in a state-meet record 8 minutes, 43.77 seconds.

The victory secured Butler’s second consecutive 4A title in the event and shattered the previous state-meet record of 8:49.00, set by Olympia’s Ethan Coleman in 2022.

“I’m truly blessed to be able to run as well as I am and be as healthy as I am,” Butler said. “Even if I’m a little under the weather this week, to be able to go after records like that is just amazing.”

The senior entered the state meet with momentum after running a blistering 8:44 at last weekend’s regional meet against many of the same competitors he faced Saturday. Butler said that performance gave him the confidence to believe a special finish to his high school career was within reach.

But at first came disappointment at his final high school state championships. He finished third in last week’s 1,600 meters (4:07.42) and admitted he used that result as motivation for the 3,200.

“It helped me get a little fire in my gears for today and be able to run fast,” he said.

Butler was part of an early three-runner pack alongside South Kitsap’s Isaac Benjamin and Olympia’s Quenten Lanase that ran a 4:18 opening mile. As the laps clicked away, Butler relied on experience to make his move with two laps remaining.

“It just takes some experience knowing when to move,” he said, “when guys are feeling tired and when to go for it.”

That lead only grew as he headed down the final straightaway. As the crowd roared and the clock flashed record pace over the final stretch, Butler soaked in the moment. After crossing the finish line in celebration, he embraced his father and Camas head track and field coach, Chris Butler, along the finish-line fence.

“I’m super proud of how I was,” Butler said, “and super grateful to my coaches and all of my teammates and everyone who’s helped me along the way.”

Clark County runners fared well in the 4A girls 3,200 meters. Ella Koch of Union placed second in 10:44.49, well behind state champion Latham West of Bonney Lake (10:18.99). Sara Thompson of Union was third (10:50.27) and Sophia Rogers of Battle Ground was fourth (10:51.99).

Paris Ackerman of Skyview was fourth in the 200 (24.72) and sixth in the 100 (12.30).

Kyleigh Moore of Camas was fourth in the discus (125 feet, 2 inches).

And Chase McGee’s state record in the pole vault didn’t last long.

McGee broke a 56-year-old record when he cleared 17-5 last year. But McGee’s mark was surpassed Saturday when Jonathan Allen of Hanford cleared 17-6.

3A/2A Boys

The goal was straightforward from the start of the season for Columbia River’s boys 4×100-meter relay team: break the school record.

How about a 2A runner-up finish to go with it?

The quartet of Savion McCoy, Solomon Menendez, Wayne Harrison and Ben Wheeler raced to a time of 42.02 seconds, finishing second behind Lynden (41.80).

McCoy, the team’s lead-off runner, said the accomplishment was especially meaningful considering the team entered the year unsure of just how far it could go. Saturday’s time broke the previous school record of 42.44 set in 2024.

“It means everything,” McCoy said. “At the beginning of the year, we didn’t know how well we’d do, but we kept chipping away. We’ve gotten close before. Having your name in the record book is a great feeling — you can’t beat it.”

All four members also qualified for state in individual sprint events, including Wheeler (100) and Harrison (200) reaching finals.

Prairie’s Brady Davidson turned his first trip to the state meet into a runner-up finish, clearing 6-7 to place second in the Class 3A boys high jump.

The junior said he initially took up track simply for fun, but quickly developed a passion for the high jump.

Davidson cleared a personal-best 6-8 at the 3A District championships two weeks ago and said that breakthrough performance, along with a strong showing at the Nike Jesuit Relays, helped build the confidence that fueled his state-meet success.

“This is just a confidence event,” Davidson said. “So, I got my confidence up, and I started jumping higher.”

Now, after earning his first state medal, Davidson already has his sights set on what he can do in 2027.

“I just want to get 7 feet (and) get first,” he said. “I’m here for everything. I’m not playing around next year.”

In other 2A boys events, Brian McLemore III placed fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (39.07), and Verryan Pinson of Woodland was fourth in the javelin (170-6). Aaron Barron Pintor of Columbia River was fourth in the 3,200 (9:15.92), and teammate Wyatt Nitzschke was fifth (9:18.07).

3A/2A Girls

When Mark Morris’ Elsie Herold crossed the finish line in Saturday’s Class 2A girls 300-meter hurdles final with both arms raised and a wide smile across her face, what she didn’t know was that she had also made history.

Herold’s winning time of 42.85 seconds not only established a personal best, but also broke the Class 2A state-meet record previously held by Sehome’s Hannah Tarleton.

“Oh my gosh — really?” Herold said after her race.

In fact, all three girls classifications at the 4A/3A/2A state meet saw meet records fall in the 300 hurdles over a weekend that featured more than 30 meet records across the three classifications.

Herold led from start to finish in what she described as the stronger of her two hurdle events. She credited her lane assignment for helping her stay relaxed throughout the race.

“I’m honestly kind of glad that I was in lane six,” she said, “and I wasn’t in lane four because seeing my competition really stressed me out and that let me stay in my own head being ahead of everyone so I just decided to stay in that spot and not let anything pass me.”

It capped a busy day for the junior, who also anchored Mark Morris’ 4×200-meter and 4×400-meter relay teams to state-meet placings. The Monarchs were third in the 4×400 relay, and sixth in the 4×200.

R.A. Long’s Josephine Sully capped a memorable day for the Lumberjills by winning the 2A girls pole vault behind multiple personal-best jumps.

The sophomore entered the competition at 9 feet, then cleared 10-6, 10-9 and her winning height of 11-3 on her first attempts. Freshman teammate Olivia Thomas finished third at 10-6.

“It was a good day because I hit a lot of PRs that I never thought I could achieve,” Sully said. “I just kept praying that I would just grow wings and fly over the bar. And I was able to do that.”

Olivia Banfield of Columbia River was fourth in the 400 (57.99).

In the 3A meet, Ellie Treadway of Kelso was the runner-up in the javelin with a mark of 133 feet, 8 inches. Penelope Holyoak of Central Kitsap won at 136-11. Emma Tompkins of Heritage was fifth (122-10).

1A Girls/Boys

Violet Heidt of Seton Catholic ran to a runner-up finish in the 200 meters and posted two other top-five placings at the Class 1A/2B/1B state track and field meet Saturday in Yakima.

Heidt ran the 200 in 25.17 seconds to finish behind Aysia Garcia of Zillah (25.09). Sara Miller of Columbia-White Salmon was third in 25.47.

Heidt also placed fourth in the 400 (58.26) and fifth in the triple jump (35-5.5).

On Friday, Riley Mazza of Kalama earned a state title in the pole vault, clearing 11 feet.

In the boys meet, Jackson Short of Seton Catholic earned a runner-up finish in the 110-meter hurdles (15.04 seconds), finishing behind Xander Timmons of The Bush School (14.56). Riley Sweeney of King’s Way Christian was third (15.20).

Aiden Zahniser of King’s Way Christian placed third in the high jump (6-0), and Brody Burgoyne of Castle Rock was fourth in the 400 (50.54).