When it comes to state track and field, the terms Federal Way and jumps are almost always after a first place podium announcement. This year was no different as senior Geron White took home two top finishes at the WIAA State Track and Field meet at Mount Tahoma on May 29-31.

“People know that there are different levels to this. Some people do what they can, some people do track to prepare for other sports. I do this because it’s my life. Everything I do out here I take it to heart. I compete like this is my last meet ever,” White said.

White came into the state as the favorite in the high jump and triple jump, and in the long jump, he entered with the sixth best qualifying jump.

First up was the long jump and White jumped 22 feet, 1.5 inches, which was enough to take third place in White’s third strongest event.

White has made at least one event at the state tournament his entire high school career. Now he has a stacked trophy case to show how far he has come.

“It shows my journey throughout this whole time. I have come to state every year since I was a freshman. I’ve never had results like I have had this year,” White said.

On day two, White had his main event, the high jump. In 2024, White won this event jumping 6-06.00 and on his first jump he showed that he was a step above the competition. Typically, high jumpers use the Fosbury Flop technique. It’s a method introduced by Dick Fosbury in 1968 that revolutionized the high jump event. The Fosbury Flop is when a high jumper clears the bar by launching their head and shoulders over the bar first, before their lower half clears the bar.

With the bar at six feet, White took his first jump and hurdled the bar. While his competitors were looking for any inch of an advantage over one another, White announced his presence with panache and authority.

“It was a wake-up call to them. You’re out here doing all that and that is your PR. I am going to show you that this is something light to me,” White said.

His goal was to break the state record, set by Jakobe’ Ford of Shadle Park at seven feet, two and a half inches, back in 2017. White couldn’t reach the 7’2” mark, but his six feet, eleven and three-quarter inches, was more than enough as he beat the rest of the field by over five inches.

For the final day, White had just the triple jump remaining, and with the highest mark heading into the event, White was oozing with confidence.

“It goes to show I am the best athlete in Washington state, period,” White said.

Typically, jumpers, will get the crowd involved with a slow clap that builds up as the jumper gets ready to head full speed toward the sand pit. White on the other hand switches things up — he gets the crowed to clap twice and that speeds up as he prepares to take flight. The entire Mount Tahoma Stadium knows when Geron White is ready to go and that is just how he likes it.

“I just like to be different. I dyed my hair, I tried to become ginger. I just like doing stuff different, I don’t like to be like other people,” White said.

What can be seen as arrogance or cockiness is not what White is below the surface. He is an uber-confident athlete who respects every aspect of track and field. On practice days, or on competition days, this is his life.

He also will be seen after every event shaking hands with every competitor, official and organizer that was involved in his competitions.

“These officials are out here working their hardest, raking these pits. Mind you, this isn’t meant to be disrespectful, these aren’t the youngest people. The fact they are out here in the first place shows a lot of commitment. I thank the officials every time to show my respect,” White said.

In terms of other athletes from Federal Way, the 4 c 100 relay for Federal Way took second place behind Lincoln with a 42.00 second race.

Todd Beamer High School’s Keith Rogers Jr. ran a 10.92 in the 100-meter dash for third place and he took seventh in the 300 hurdles.

Austin May of Federal Way took eighth in the 100-meter dash.

Shane King of Thomas Jefferson High School reached the podium in the javelin throwing the spear 169 feet, two inches, taking home sixth place, and Caden Barclay in the pole vault also placed sixth.

Decatur High School’s lone point scorer on the boys side was Kahlel Jackson, who tied for eighth with Jackson Scott of Ballard and Luke Melvin of Heritage in the pole vault.

In the longest race of the meet, Federal Way’s Abigail Collier finished in sixth place with a 10:53.14, a new personal record in the 3,200-meter run. Collier qualified and was right in the middle of the pack as far as that time went, but raced well above that time of 11:13.01.

Sema’J McGee from Todd Beamer High School also took home some hardware as the Titan senior took sixth in the triple jump.

Decatur also had a point scorer on the girls’ side in a field event — senior Silaulau Alefaio took eighth in the shot put.

Austin May hands the baton to Zamarie Tellez in the 4×100 meter relay. Ben Ray / The Mirror

Sema’J McGee takes flight in the triple jump for Todd Beamer. Ben Ray / The Mirror

Keith Rogers Jr. runs the 300 meter hurdles. Ben Ray / The Mirror