John Rodeheffer placed third in the 1,600 to get Oak Harbor off to a good start at the 3A state track meet Thursday, May 28, at Tacoma’s Mount Tahoma High School.

In other action on the first day of the three-day meet, senior Hayley Lundstrom placed 12th in the high jump, and the boys 4×400 relay team of Dejon Devroe, Jared Gray, Mac Nuanez and Sebastian Ceaser did not finish in the top eight in the preliminaries and failed to qualify for the finals.

The 1,600 was a tight race; the second through fifth place runners all finished within a second of each other.

John Dressel of Mount Spokane won in 4:15.26. He was followed by Ingraham’s Patrick McDermott (4:16.98), Rodeheffer (4:17.08), North Central’s Andrew Vandine (4:17.18) and Nathan Hale’s Stuart Smith (4:17.6).

Rodeheffer, a senior, will also compete in the 3,200 finals at 1:55 p.m. Saturday, May 30.

“It was a strategic race that didn’t unfold exactly how we wanted,” distance coach Eric Peterson said, “but John adapted and still ran a great race earning a top-three spot. He’s focused and ready for the 3,200 on Saturday.”

Lundstrom and three others jumped 5 feet, placing ninth through 12 based on tie breakers. She was one height out of fourth place.

Devroe in the 800 meters and the girls 4×100 relay team of Janae Payne, Amaya Rittierodt, Jenna Cooley and Matti Miesle will run preliminary heats Friday, May 29.