Shoreline Invitational, Washington's Premier Invitational, has new look for 2018

39th Annual Shoreline Track and Field Invite is Saturday 

When: Saturday, April 28, 2018 Place: Shoreline Stadium Time: 9 a.m. 

Coed format: For the first time in 38 years, Shoreline Stadium will host a coed version of the

Shoreline Invitational. Some of the top boys and girls track and field teams and individuals from around the state will be in attendance for the 39th annual event. More than 1,600 athletes from 78 schools are expected at one of the biggest invitationals in the Northwest. 

Storied history at Shoreline: The meet first began in 1974 and continued through 1982, with the coed version being held between 1977-1982. With the closing of Shoreline High School, the meet shut down from 1983-1988. In 1989, the meet started up again under the name Thunderbird Invitational in an all-boys format and has been going strong since. The name was changed back to Shoreline Invitational in 1994, with both Shoreline high schools (Shorecrest and Shorewood) supporting the meet. 

Team title up for grabs: Last year, Bonney Lake edged out North Central to win the boys title by three points, 45-42. This year’s field is balanced and predicting a team champion isn’t easy. 

Girls Records eager to be broken: Considering the girls meet records are from such a small sample size (1977-82), many records could fall Saturday. 

Washington State’s best will be on display: Of the 17 events that exist on the athletic.net state leader board, many of the state leaders will be in attendance on Saturday. In addition, multiple events include three or more of the state’s top 10. 

The Girls 300 Hurdles features the top three in the state going head to head for the first time with University of Washington commit Karlee Stueckle from Emerald Ridge coming in just ahead of host school product Ami Njadoe of Shorecrest. The featured section will include eight girls at 47.08 or faster. 

Soaring over the Competition US#1 Tyler Cronk of Kentridge, who cleared 7-3 at the Pasco Invite earlier this year and already boasts three jumps over seven feet on the season looks the clear favorite to win the High Jump competition, but can he break the meet record held by Fredrick Norris of Roosevelt (7-1)? 

The Boys 800 is headlined by the US#6 and state leading Peter Smith of Gig Harbor, WA.  He’ll be pressed by 2017 state runner-up Johan Correa of Kennewick, Nicholas Mullineaux-Perrault of Glacier Peak and Dante Paskeicz of Interlake. 

James Mwaura 3200 meet record?  The meet record was set in 2012 by NXN champion Kai Wilmot of North Central with 8:57.66.  James Mwaura comes in with a PR of 8:51 run earlier this year at Arcadia.  If the conditions and the competition cooperate, we could see a new standard set under the lights.