EPHRATA — It’s early yet, but defending 100-meter hurdle 1A state champion Maggie Delay was in fine form Tuesday afternoon, winning the 100 hurdles by nearly a second at the Icebreaker Invitational to help Royal win the nine-team girls meet by a mere two points.

Delay won the 100 hurdles (16.91 seconds) and the triple jump (34-feet-8), finished second in the pole vault (10-feet) and ran a leg on the Knight’s winning 4x200-meter relay team (1:54.61).

“I like how challenging the hurdles are. You have to be mentally tough (to run through the entire stand),” said Delay after running a 16.91. “My steps are better in the first part of the race right now, because I should be three-stepping and I’m taking four. I’ll get them down as the year goes on. Last year, I was the 1A state champ (15.72). I’d like to do that again this year, so that’s my goal.”

The Royal girls scored 140 points to win a meet where 11 points separated the top three teams. Connell was second (138) and Ephrata (129) finished third. Quincy (13) was eighth and Wilson Creek (2) was ninth.

Senior Joelia Juarez (1:04.12) came from 10 meters back to edge teammate Gracelynne Miller (1:06.69) to win the 400 meters. The Knight’s 4x200 relay (Gracelynn Miller, Abigail Delay, Mattie Delay and Noelia Juarez) won running away with a time of 1:54.61

Ephrata’s Katelyn Ostrowski won a tightly contested long jump duel with Clare Norman of Cashmere. Ostrowski had the winning mark of 14-feet ¼ inch. Norman was second at 13-11. Ostrowski was also second in the triple jump (30-5 ½).

The Ephrata boys were without 2A state participants Ethan Green and Anthony Evans, but managed to put together a quality afternoon, winning the nine-team meet with a score of 127. Royal (77) was fifth, Quincy (52) was seventh and Wilson Creek (10) was ninth.

Ephrata junior Brad Flanigan (16.61) bested the field in the 110-high hurdles and Hunter James had the best javelin throw (159-1) throw of the day, clipping Rams Gonzalez (147-5) of Royal by nearly 12 feet.

Ephrata freshman Aaron Evans is on the learning curve, but is picking up speed in a hurry.

“He’s a little bit quicker than I am, so he gets me in the 100. But I’m stronger on the curve so I can beat him in the 200,” said older brother Anthony Evans, who made the 2A state championship race in the 400 last season.

Aaron Evans ran the opening leg of the Tigers winning 4x400 relay, teaming with Valerio Barajas, Chris Walker and Timothy Novitskiy for a time of 3:51.99.

“This is my first meet, so right now I’m concentrating on my form,” said Aaron Evans (25.61), who was second in the 200 meters. “I like the 100 the best, but I just try and do my part to score points for the team. Anthony helps me the most. He sees everything and tells me right away. He knows what he’s talking about, so I listen and try to apply it.”

The action shifts to the Pappa Wells Invitational in Yakima on Saturday. For complete results log onto http://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/MeetResults.aspx?Meet=287523#384

Boys team scores

1, Ephrata 127. 2. Connell 109. 3, Kittitas 98. 4, Cashmere 86. 5, Royal 77. 6, Wilbur-Creston 76. 7, Quincy 52. 8. Thorp-Easton 14. 9. Wilson Creek 10.

Girls team scores

1, Royal 140. 2, Connell 138. 3, Ephrata 129. 4, Wilbur-Creston 101. 5, Cashmere 89. 6. Kittitas 21. 7, Thorp-Easton 15. 8, Quincy 13. 9, Wilson Creek 2.