Freeman rewrites school record, leads nation in discus

Photo by Larry Bale - Raymond HS senior Karlee Freeman reset her own school record in the discus over the weekend and also owns the nation's top throw.

Raymond's Karlee Freeman reset her own school record in the discus and now has the top throw in the nation after her weekend display at Bearcat Stadium in Chehalis. Freeman won the discus, shot put and javelin.

"We had a great two days at the Chehalis Activators meet on Friday and Saturday," RHS Head Track and Field Coach Mike Tully told the Herald.

"In Saturday's Classic Meet, Karlee Freeman had a breakout meet," Coach Tully said. "On her third throw of the discus prelims, she uncorked a throw of 173-3.

This was a career best, broke her own school record, and is now the leading high school thrower in the nation. She's been on the verge of popping a big throw, so it was good to see her get one. She also won the javelin with a career best of 130-1 and the shot put with a toss of 41-2. Somewhere in there, she also managed a fifth-place finish in the 100."

Raymond competed at both the Classic and the Invitational portions of the Chehalis Activators Invitational Friday and Saturday. Thirty-three teams competed.
"In Friday's Invitational meet, Casey Carter won the pole vault with a PR of 10 feet," Tully noted.

The Seagulls had several good performances in the Classic meet.

"Marcus Anderson had a big PR of 21 feet, 2½ inches on his first long jump of the day," Tully informed. "That mark held up for him to take the win. He also picked up fourth-place finishes in the high jump and triple jump.

"Ricky Robinett won a very competitive shot put competition with a mark of 46 feet, 10½ inches. This throw was matched by Ben Poplin of North Beach but Ricky got the win based on the better second best throw." Robinett placed 16th in the Classic discus.

The Seagulls took fourth place in the 4 by 100 Classic relay with runners Anderson, Patrick Edwards, McCartney Maden and Jimmy Thepsoumphou.

Also placing solidly in the Classic were Thepsoumphou (5th, high jump, 6th, long jump), Maden (6th, 110 hurdles, 8th, 300 hurdles, 12th, triple jump), Edwards (10th, long jump), Aidan Worlton (16th, high jump) and Jeremiah Meade (17th, 100).

Competitive placings for Raymond at the Invitational included Tina Sypahay (5th, triple jump, 16th, long jump), Meade (5th, 200), Ana Quintana (10th, 400, 19th, javelin) and James Robinett (tied-27th, shot put),

"Overall, it was nice to get some good weather and good competition," Tully added. "I'm very happy with the way the kids competed coming off spring break. Hopefully, we can keep that momentum going."

W.F. West won the boys' Classic team title and Raymond was fourth of 24 scoring teams. Black Hills won the boys' Invitational and Raymond was 12th of 27 scoring teams.

Maple Ridge took first place in the girls Classic and Raymond tied for eighth place of 25 teams that tallied points. Maple Ridge also won the Initational team title while Raymond finished 26th of 26 teams that scored points.

Raymond hosts a six-team meet tomorrow, will take qualifying athletes to Shelton Saturday and competes at Ilwaco Tuesday.