75 schools, over 1,000 athletes to compete Saturday in Shoreline Invitational track meet, the largest all-boys meet in the Northwest

The Shoreline Stadium will play host to more than 1,000 athletes from 75 schools Saturday in the Shoreline Invitational track meet, the largest all-boys' meet in the Northwest.

Many of the schools that send boys’ teams to the Shoreline meet send girls’ teams to the Lake Washington High School girls’ meet the same day.

The 25^th Annual Shoreline meet is scheduled for Saturday at noon at Shoreline Stadium.

The meet will have many of the best high school boys’ track and field teams and individuals from around the state.  Field events are scheduled to begin at noon, while the first running events start at 1 p.m.

Although it is designated as the 25th annual meet, the Shoreline Invitational has been around for more than 40 years. The meet first began in 1972 and continued through the late 1970s. With the closing of Shoreline High School, the meet shut down as well. In 1985, the meet started again under the name Thunderbird Invitational, and barring a few missed years, it has been going strong since. The name was changed back to Shoreline Invitational in 1994, with both Shoreline high schools  -- Shorecrest and Shorewood – acting as co-hosts.

Ticket Prices are $7 for adults, $5 for students with ASB cards and $4 for seniors and children.

    

It is not too difficult to find some key outstanding individuals that will compete Saturday. Picking the team favorite might be more challenging.  A number of teams will have a chance at top honors, including Auburn Riverside, Bothell, Bellevue, Eastlake, Eisenhower of Yakima, Ferris of Spokane, Kentridge, O’Dea of Seattle and White River.

Last year, Federal Way dominated the team championship with 59 points, topping Wenatchee (45) Bothell (39) North Central (37) and Liberty of Issaquah (37). Eight of last year’s top 10 teams return (Federal Way, Bothell, North Central, Liberty, Central Valley, Roosevelt, Eisenhower and Shorecrest).

Of the 17 events on the state leader board, seven of the leaders will be at Shoreline Stadium Saturday. In addition many events include three or more of the state’s top 10.

One hot event is the high jump that includes 5 of the state’s top 10 participants, all with marks over 6-6 this season.

The 1600 should be entertaining, with five of the states best, including Korey Krotzer of Auburn Riverside who has a 4:08 mark. He is the current state leader in the 3200.

Other events with three or more of the state’s top 10 are the 100, 200, 800, 110 hurdles, 4x100, 4x400, discus, high jump, long jump, and triple jump.

In addition, the meet includes a few non-traditional events, including the distance medley and sprint medley relays, and adds its own flavor as the only meet in the area with a scored frosh-soph 1600-meter run.