Ellensburg Dominates CWAC Meet with Wave of First-Place Finishes
ELLENSBURG — Ellensburg High School delivered a commanding performance Thursday, sweeping through a CWAC league meet with a dominant combination of event winners and overwhelming depth across nearly every discipline.
From sprints to distance, hurdles to field events, the Bulldogs controlled the meet with a relentless string of first-place finishes that set the tone early and never allowed the competition to recover.
Distance and Mid-Distance Set the Standard
Ellensburg’s distance program was the backbone of the meet.
On the girls side, Marianna Crosby captured the 1600 meters in 5:47.60, leading a strong showing that included Kennedy Wachsmith in third and a cluster of Bulldogs filling the top nine.
The boys matched that effort behind Mystic Hammond, who won the 1600 in 4:21.30. Ellensburg added critical depth with David Hammond placing third and Rhye Phillips fourth.
The 3200 meters turned into a statement race, as Calder Finn led a clean Ellensburg sweep, winning in 10:04.49, followed by David Hammond in second and Collin McGuire in third.
In the 800 meters, David Hammond added another victory for Ellensburg, crossing first in 2:04.88, while Rhye Phillipscontributed a third-place finish.
Sprints and Relays Fuel Momentum
Ellensburg’s sprinters took control of the meet in emphatic fashion.
Sascha Johnson led one of the most dominant performances of the day, winning the boys 200 meters in 22.91 as Ellensburg swept the top eight places. Johnson doubled back to win the 400 meters in 50.48, with Daniel Sullivanfinishing second and Caleb Reynolds adding a fourth-place finish.
The Bulldogs continued to pile on points in the 400, placing six athletes inside the top nine.
On the girls side, June Nemrow delivered a standout performance in the 3200 meters, winning in 10:59.35, while teammate Emerson Warness finished second.
Ellensburg’s relay teams were equally impressive.
The girls 4×100 relay team of Yutong Liang, Lillian Porter, Kimball Packard, and Brea Potucek took first in 51.69. The girls 4×400 team of Haley Bostwick, Liang, Faye Nemrow, and Ella Frick added another win in 4:18.95.
The boys 4×400 relay team of Sascha Johnson, Camden Wedin, Daniel Sullivan, and Caleb Reynolds secured first place in 3:29.92.
Hurdles and Jumps Highlight Versatility
Yutong Liang was one of the meet’s most dominant athletes, sweeping both hurdle events. She won the 100-meter hurdles in 16.81 and the 300-meter hurdles in 47.87.
In the boys field events, Coltyn Taasevigen stood out with wins in both the triple jump (43 feet, 8.5 inches) and long jump (21-0), showcasing elite explosiveness.
James Hall added another highlight by winning the high jump at 6-2, while also placing second in the long jump.
Ellensburg continued to stack placements in the jumps, with multiple Bulldogs finishing in the top five across long jump and high jump.
Throws Add to the Dominance
The Bulldogs were just as effective in the throwing events.
Carlos Patino won the boys shot put with a throw of 51-3.5, leading a 1-2 finish with Silas Stewman in second.
On the girls side, Faith Rector claimed the shot put title at 30-8.5.
In the javelin, Andi Musser led the girls with a winning throw of 109-6, while the boys saw Levi Gough dominate with a first-place mark of 168-1.
Gough added another victory in the discus with a throw of 134-2, giving Ellensburg a strong presence in the throws.
Depth Makes the Difference
While the event wins were headline-worthy, Ellensburg’s depth ultimately separated the Bulldogs from the field.
Across nearly every event, Bulldogs filled second- and third-place finishes. Athletes such as Brea Potucek (2nd, 100 meters), Ella Frick (2nd, 800), Yusen Liang (2nd, 110 hurdles), and Israel Cox (2nd, triple jump; 3rd, 300 hurdles) added valuable points.
That consistency across all levels ensured Ellensburg maintained control from start to finish. The Bulldogs host Prosser and Selah on May 7, 2026 in their final CWAC meet of the year.