PORT ANGELES — Tarah Erickson already has the school and family pole vault records.

Next up is conquering the state of Washington.

Starting today, Erickson and Port Angeles teammates Cameron Braithwaite, Katelyn Noard and Jolene Millsap get their chances on the biggest stage: the 2A track and field state championships at Mount Tahoma Stadium in Tacoma.

Joining the Roughriders at the meet will be athletes from Sequim’s track and field program.

Erickson, seeded No. 1 in state, will compete in the pole vault after finishing first in last week’s West Central District championship meet.

Braithwaite earned his way in three events, the long jump, triple jump and javelin throw.

Noard will also be throwing the javelin after her fourth-place finish at districts.

Millsap, a sophomore, is making her first trip to state, running the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

With the meet featuring teams from across the state, Port Angeles girls coach Bill Tiederman said it’s difficult to project how the Riders will fare.

But having athletes from all over the state compete means the talent and skill level will be high.

“It makes for a fun meet because the best are all there,” Tiederman said.

Vaulting to the top

Erickson likes where she is as she prepares for her third trip to the state championship meet.

“I had a great districts [meet],” Erickson said before practice at Port Angeles High School on Tuesday.

“I did everything I wanted to do. I’m going into state better than I thought I would be.”

Erickson’s 11-3 vault surpassed Dani Weatherbee’s 2007 school record of 11-0.

“She really wanted that one,” Tiederman said.

Erickson has been chasing Weatherbee her entire high school career.

Before Erickson came to campus, Weatherbee owned the sophomore, junior and school girls pole vault records.

Erickson surpassed the sophomore mark and spent this season gunning for the school record.

Her 11-3 vault also helped her surpass her dad, who was a high school pole vaulter in Minnesota. His top vault was 11-0.

Erickson goes into the state championships ranked first in a tough event.

“There are four or five capable vaulters,” Tiederman said.

“There’s not a clear favorite. All of them have vaulted 11 feet or more this year. It’s such a technical event that anything can happen.”

Erickson has a two-fold approach going into the state meet: work hard and have fun.

“Everyone has dreams [of winning state],” she said. “You’ve got to know you can do it.

“But whatever I get, I’ll be happy with.”

Experienced, ready

Braithwaite also played football and basketball for the Riders, but he says there’s more pressure during a big track meet.

“In track, there is a lot of pressure on yourself. It’s ‘did you do your workouts?’”

“In basketball and football, you have your teammates to pick up the slack.”

He considers the long jump the best of his three events, but recently he’s been performing best in the triple jump.

That was the case in the district championships when he finished first in triple jump and second in the long jump.

He also placed fifth in javelin.

But in his third trip to state, Braithwaite said he has experience on his side.

In fact, he now realizes competing in big events can help his performance.

“It’s a lot better because you get the adrenaline going and you can jump better,” Braithwaite said.

First sprint to state

Millsap hopes to be able to harness that adrenaline during her first state championships.

“The coaches told me to run my race and don’t worry about other people’s times,” Millsap said.

“I just have to run as fast as I can.”

She finished third at districts in the 200 and fifth in the 100.

The better finish isn’t the only reason she says the 200 is her favorite.

“As I come around the corner, I can pick up more speed,” Millsap said.

“I know I’m halfway done and I kick it into gear. I like coming from behind and catching up.”

High hopes for Wolves

Despite sending less athletes to state that he expected, Sequim coach Brad Moore is optimistic about those who did qualify.

“It’s exciting when you have kids who have a legit chance [to place],” Moore said.

“Our relay team has a chance to win the whole thing.”

That 4×100 relay team finished first at the West Central District championships.

The team, made up of Jayson Brockelsby, Dylan Chatters, Emanuel Herrera and Judah Breitbach, also set the school record.

“It’s going to be one of those meets where whoever runs the smoothest will win [the relay],” Moore said.

“I’d like to see them break the school record again.”

Moore says Brockelsby and Herrara should have good showings in their other events.

Brockelsby captured the district long jump crown with a 6-02 mark.

Herrera qualified in the 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter hurdles.

Despite the stiff competition in all of the events, Moore looks forward to seeing the Wolves compete and likes their chances to reach the podium.

“I’m excited and I hope they’re excited,” Moore said.

“I think they’re ready to do it. Now we just have to get them there and see if they can get it done.”