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East Valley's Bates, West Valley's Beardemphl take state titles in Tacoma
Red Devils hurdler sat atop 110 event all season, Rams thrower capped season with a fury
STAT HOUND
May 30, 2026
TACOMA – East Valley senior Preston Bates started the season as one of the Class 2A favorites in the 110-meter hurdles after finishing fourth a year ago, owning the best time much of the season.
West Valley’s Benjamin Beardemphl capped his senior season by going from a solid CBBN javelin thrower, to one of the state’s best in the final couple weeks.
On Friday, both stood on top of the podium as state champions at Mount Tahoma High School.
Bates raced to the 2A state championship, clocking 14.72 seconds Friday, 0.16 seconds ahead of Steilacoom’s Jaylen James.
The Red Devils standout already owned the top 2A time of 14.47 recorded earlier this month.
“Preston had a great season; he has been working hard for many years to get to this point,” East Valley coach Chris Bartheld said. “(He) was determined to go for a state championship this year.”
Bates will run in the 300-meter hurdles final Saturday, having posted the seventh-best time in Friday's qualifying.
Just a week after uncorking 4A’s second-best throw of the season and one that ranks in the top 10 in Yakima Valley history, Beardenmphl won the state title with a mark of 180 feet, 10 inches, a foot better than Chiawana’s Gavin Naef.
The championship came after he won at districts with a throw of 185-10.
“Great coaching by Tyler Killam getting him to peak at the right time,” West Valley athletic director Jaff Jamieson messaged. “Great kid, very happy for him.”
Wenatchee’s Josiah Walker (triple jump) and Eastmont’s Andrew Saenz (110-meter hurdles) finished second in their respective events. Panthers junior Vantage Morrison was fifth in the hurdles.
The Big Nine took three of the podium spots in the girls pole vault with Wenatchee’s Maile England third, Eastmont’s Kennedy Davidson fifth and Eisenhower’s Kalista Silva eighth.
The Panthers girls squad is third with 11 of 18 finals coming Saturday. West Valley and Wenatchee boys are tied for fourth, with Easmont sixth after six of 17 events.
CLASS 2A
Ellensburg’s James Hall, East Valley’s Dax Stecker and Othello’s George Gentry finished second third and fifth in the high jump.
Ellensburg senior Katherine Mickelson, who is bound for Eastern Washington, was the runner-up in the 800, while freshman teammate Brea Potucek was fourth in the triple jump, matching her Thursday finish in the long jump.
Fellow Bulldog Carlos Patino was third in the shot put.
Ellensburg's girls are third with six of 18 events finished, while the Bulldog and East Valley boys are tied for fourth after seven of 17 events.