Photo by Patricia O’Blenes West Bloomfield High junior Phillip Washington, pictured earlier this season running in a relay race, won the Division 1 state title in the 400-meter dash.

Local track and field athletes excel in season finale

By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

A pair of West Bloomfield High juniors had big days at the June 5 MHSAA Division 1 track and field state finals at Rockford High.

Phil Washington won the boys 400-meter dash state title, while Taylor Gunn placed second in the women’s shot put and discus competitions.

Learning from mistakes
Washington was almost more relieved than excited to win his race after what happened in the state finals last year.

As a sophomore, he went out too fast, eventually falling behind and failing to place.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I worked really hard for it. I was relieved when I finally won.”

Washington, more confident and experienced heading into this year’s race, was even “kind of disappointed” despite his first-place finish. He ran a time of 48.42 seconds — resetting the school record, but believes he could have run faster.

“I held back the first half. I wanted a safe race,” he said.
Washington said that falling short last year motivated him and helped him mature.

“It pretty much changed me a lot,” he said.

West Bloomfield coach Lee Averill half-joked that he had been reminding Washington all season long this year about last year’s race.

“He went out too fast, that cost him,” the coach said. “I think he would have won last year — so I kept reminding him about that all year.

“He corrected that, and ran quite a few good races this year. He’s a lot smarter running his race. He looked good … had a good year.”

Averill expects Washington will have an even better year next year.

“He’s a good kid too on top of that, which makes it even better,” the coach said. “I’m looking forward to what he can do next year.”

Until he’s back in uniform for the Lakers, Washington will practice and compete this summer in Junior Olympic and AAU events.

Room to grow
Gunn, meanwhile, experienced a similar situation to what Washington dealt with last year. She, admittedly, didn’t throw her best in her top event, the discus, ending up in second place despite leading for most of the day until Walled Lake Western’s Alysha Johnson passed her for the title.

She was still proud of the day’s results, though, especially since she threw a personal best in the shot put to finish in second in that event, as well.

“It’s fine, because I know I have next year,” she said.
Gunn has reason to be optimistic, because she’s got a proven track record of improving at states. As a sophomore, she finished in fifth place in both throwing events.

She’s already broken the school record in the discus and hopes that next year she can break the shot put record, as well, and win state titles in both events.

“I know she wanted to win real bad,” coach Averill said. “I wanted to see her win, too. She’s a hard worker.

“She’s a real good kid, done real well the last couple years. She’s another one who has a lot of talent. She has a lot of potential.”

The coach credited the program’s throwing coaches with helping Gunn achieve her success, adding that she has “a lot of incentive” to return stronger next year and win a state title or two.

Like Washington, Gunn plans on spending her summer improving and competing in other competitions.

You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.