When Rainier senior Jeremiah Nubbe stepped into the discus cage at Onalaska High School on Thursday, he had no idea he’d be resetting history.
Nubbe, who entered Thursday’s track and field meet as the nation’s No. 1 boys discus thrower in the nation with a mark of 205 feet, 2 inches, let loose a throw of 197 feet on his first toss. He then hit 204 feet, 8 inches during his second throw. But it was his third that would cement his name in the state record books.
“I knew I hit it right and I knew it was the right flight and height,” Nubbe said.
It landed at 207 feet, 4 inches, beating Washington state’s 25-year-old record of 207 feet, 2 inches, set by Vinnie Pecht of West Valley High School (Spokane) in 1997.
“Honestly, it’s a big relief,” Nubbe said. “It’s been a long time coming. To finally see it come to fruition, I was happy to see it being around friends and family.”
The record has seemed as only a matter of time for Nubbe, who broke the Washington state junior record last year and has led the nation since his first meet of the year this season.
Nubbe also won the shot put with a personal best 55 foot, 8 inch throw, and the javelin with a 152 foot toss to sweep the throwing events.
Elsewhere, Rainier’s Dylan Davis was another big winner, with victories in both the 800 meters (2:11.94), 1600 meters (4:52.40), and the pole vault (10 feet, 6 inches). Davis also helped Rainier’s 4x400-meter relay to a victory in 3:51.05.
Rainier’s Chase MacFarland continued his recent tear, jumping 41 feet, 5 inches in the triple jump to pick up another win for the Mountaineers.
Ony’s Kole Taylor picked up a few wins in the long jump (18 feet, 8 inches) and 100 meters (11.69).
The Loggers also got a win in the 110-meter hurdles, thanks to Taden Miller’s personal best 19.79 run, and Rainier rounded out local teams with a win in the 400 meters (Hunter Waltman in 57.30).
In girls events, Rainier’s Selena Niemi was a double-winner in the 800 and 1600 meters, running in 2:37.08 and 5:57.72, respectively. The Mountaineers’ Emma Mathson won the 300-meter hurdles in 1:00.22, and Acacia Murphy won the high jump, clearing 4 feet, 8 inches.
