The track is heating up, and so is the competition! We're thrilled to announce The News Tribune's Track & Field Athlete of the Week poll for contests held from April 27 to May 2. This is your chance to cheer on the incredible athletes who have been setting personal bests and breaking records across the South Sound. Voting is open now and will remain active until noon Thursday, so don't miss your opportunity to make your voice heard.
Leading the pack this week is a standout group of athletes who delivered jaw-dropping performances at the South Sound Classic in Puyallup and other meets. From lightning-fast sprints to powerful throws, these competitors have shown what it takes to excel on the track and in the field. Let's take a closer look at the nominees and their impressive achievements.
Boys' Track & Field Nominees
JoMierre Askew-Poirier, a senior from Lincoln, blazed to victory in the 200-meter dash with a personal best of 21.35 seconds at the South Sound Classic. Jackson Dirks, a Cascade Christian senior, launched the discus an incredible 176 feet, 9 inches—also a new personal best. Giovanni Eddinger, a senior from Orting, showed his strength in the shot put, winning with a personal best of 52 feet, 9.5 inches.
Izear Ferguson, a Sumner senior, turned heads with a personal best of 10.55 seconds in the 100-meter dash at a Wednesday meet at South Kitsap, marking the third-fastest time in the state this spring. He followed it up with a winning time of 10.75 seconds at the South Sound Classic. Rogers seniors Amin Fidaar and Elijah Harvey dominated the distance and hurdles events, respectively. Fidaar set a new meet record in the 1600-meter run (4:09.38) and won the 800-meter run (1:54.93), while Harvey broke his own meet record in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.13 seconds.
Girls' Track & Field Nominees
Savannah Ferencz, a Sumner junior, leaped to a personal best in the long jump, winning with a mark of 18 feet, 10.5 inches at the South Sound Classic. Hannah Huff, a Tahoma senior, showcased her power in the shot put, taking the win with a throw of 41 feet exactly.
Ready to cast your vote? The poll is located below. If you're having trouble viewing it, try opening the page in a different browser like Chrome or Safari. Please note that emailed votes will not be counted. Want to nominate a South Sound high school athlete in the future? Reach out to reporter Jon Manley at jon.manley@thenewstribune.com or Tyler Wicke at twicke@thenewstribune.com, or send a direct message on Twitter/X (@manley_tnt or @WickeTyler) with the athlete's name, school, year, position, and stats from the past week. Nominations are due by 5 p.m. Sunday.
Let's celebrate these amazing athletes and their dedication to the sport. Happy voting!