Athletes from WV, U-Hi, CV land state track titles

By Craig Howard Current Contributing Editor

A state championship of any sort didn’t seem likely for Addy MacArthur after she suffered a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear before her freshman year at University High School.

Major injuries to both knees while playing soccer put a serious damper on MacArthur’s pursuits in track and field where she was emerging as a top-flight discus and shotput thrower.

After her second setback, however, MacArthur had a mental shift.

“The first time, I was very discouraged,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d be able to compete again. The second time, I knew what I had to do to get back. I definitely had a better attitude. I knew what resources were there for me.”

MacArthur’s dad, Phillip, was a thrower at Washington State University and had been through an ACL rehab himself. His advice, as well as additional support and encouragement from those in MacArthur’s network, were beneficial on the road to recovery.

“Everybody I was around helped boost my mood,” MacArthur said. “I knew I had to get well before I could really push myself.”

MacArthur made it back for her freshman year of track at U-Hi but fell just short of qualifying for state in her two signature events.

“I wasn’t 100 percent,” she said. “But missing state motivated me with weight training. I told myself I was definitely going to get to state next year.”

MacArthur’s throwing career started at Horizon Middle School where she showed signs of greatness.

“I knew I was going to be decent at it, I just didn’t know I was going to be where I am now,” she said.

At Mt. Tahoma High School in Tacoma, site of the 2A/3A/4A State Track and Field Championships, MacArthur arrived as a humble, but confident, contender. She was seeded first in the discus and second in the shotput.

Unlike the previous year, where a still-healing ACL made mobility a challenge, MacArthur tackled both events with a flourish. She placed second in the shotput with a toss of 40 feet, 5.75 inches and captured first in the discus with a personal best of 134 feet, 3 inches.

“I was nervous,” MacArthur said of her winning effort in the discus. “It was my second to last throw and everything went well. It was my best throw of the season.”

MacArthur was only one of two underclassmen on the medal stand to receive her gold medal.

“It didn’t really sink in until I was up on the podium,” she said. “Winning state was not something that had crossed my mind. It made all that work worth it.”

MacArthur, who maintains a 3.95 grade point average, has already heard from Princeton University after her feats at state. Since her healing journey, the junior-to-be has shifted her career goals from teacher to physical therapist.

“I want to work with people and inspire them,” she said.

After placing fourth in the long jump at the state 2A meet in 2022, Jayden Barta of West Valley knew this year’s title would likely involve a clash with the defending state champion, Troy Petz of Lynden.

Barta cruised through the GSL regular season with an undefeated showing in his signature event as well as the 400 and 200 meters.

“It did concern me that I didn’t see the competition you see in 3A and 4A,” the senior said. “I had a goal to be a state champion in the long jump.”

In the long jump finals, Barta trailed Petz before nailing a jump of 22 feet, 5 inches. Petz then responded with a leap of 22 feet, 5.75 inches, leaving Barta in second place with the competition winding down. It was then that Barta reached back for a personal best of 22 feet, 9.25 inches, a mark that Petz could not overcome. The long jump state crown would be going back to West Valley for only the second time in school history.

“I was super hyped,” Barta said. “It was definitely a great moment for me, my teammates and my coaches.”

Barta said being more settled in the atmosphere at state made a difference.

“I knew I just needed to clear my mind and control my nerves,” he said. “I was used to the environment this time.”

Barta took home another medal from Tacoma, this one after placing runner-up in the 400 meters with a personal best of 48.32 seconds. He will continue his track and academic pursuits at Eastern Washington University.

Last year, Brandon Thomas was a key to Central Valley’s combined team state title on the boys’ side. His achievements in two ambulatory events – the shotput (first) and 100 meters (runner-up) provided 14 of CV’s 52 winning points.

This time around, Thomas was a state competitor in a quartet of events. He broke his own state record by over 7 feet in the shotput with a throw of 49 feet, 10.25 inches and captured another title in the discus with a new all-time state best of 123 feet, 9 inches.

Thomas also finished second in the javelin and third in the 100 meters.

“I like the challenge,” Thomas said of expanding his event participation this year. “The team is what really stands out about track. It’s an individual sport but you have so much support from your teammates. It’s just different.”

In the spring of his sophomore year, as track was just starting up, Thomas was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his lower right leg. An amputation just above the ankle followed. In a display of resilience that has inspired all who know him, Thomas fought his way back with a prosthesis to compete in football – where he was named the All Greater Spokane League Defensive MVP last season after logging 119 tackles – and track and field.

“Just accomplishing the goals I’ve set is the big thing for me,” Thomas said.

Thomas was recently named the Metro Boys’ Athlete of the Year and Against All Odds winner at the Spokane Youth Sports Awards. A 6-2, 225-pound linebacker – he has committed to play football at Eastern Washington University and says he may consider competing in track with the Paralympics as a long-term goal.