CONNOR’S PICKS
Track and field: Bellingham, Sehome, Squalicum tri-meet
4 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, Civic Stadium
These three schools are always among the best in Class 2A when spring rolls around.
Of the 19 individual and relay state championships won by Whatcom County track and field athletes last season, Bellingham, Sehome and Squalicum made up 10. The Sehome boys team won the 2A team title, as well.
But this early-season meet is about more than just some of the top athletes in the state competing against each other. This is truly a community meet, with friends from different schools celebrating the sun coming out (hopefully) and the spring season beginning.
It’s also hosted at Civic Stadium — Bellingham’s athletics centerpiece. There will be many more throws, hurdles, races and jumps to be had there over the season, but this meet kicks it all off.
WWU: Softball vs. Northwest Nazarene
12 and 2:30 p.m. March 15-16, Viking Field
Western Washington University softball will be the only game in town this week — but luckily it’s a good one.
The Vikings (15-2) will host Northwest Nazarene (12-2) for four games at Viking Field to begin their Great Northwest Athletic Conference schedule. Western has already seen three of its GNAC opponents (Saint Martin’s, Western Oregon and Simon Fraser) this season, but none of those games went on its league record.
After a 12-day break following non-league play, this will be the Vikings’ return to action, and the beginning of a long 24-game GNAC schedule. After facing Northwest Nazarene, however, Western will head to the 2024 Tournament of Champions in Turlock, California for a five-game slate before resuming league play against Saint Martin’s on Friday, March 29.
Western is currently ranked 14th nationally among NCAA Division II programs, and it will look to continue that dominance in pursuit of a GNAC title this season.
Recreation: 2024 Chuckanut 50K
8 a.m. Saturday, March 16, Fairhaven Park
This is perhaps the longest, most grueling race in our backyard. The Chuckanut 50K (31.1 miles) — a mountain ultra race — is already a difficult event without the added 4,740 elevation gain participants must push through.
Runners must scale the Chuckanut Mountain Ridge during the race’s middle 30K, while the first and last 10K stretches are along the Interurban Trail. It requires the highest levels of fitness, so it’s not for everyone. This is not a “fun run.”
Last year, 446 runners completed the race, while an additional 12 did not finish. Participants come from all over the country — the top 12 finishers in last year’s race came from outside of Washington, including states like Colorado, Montana, Vermont, Oregon and California.
FULL CALENDAR
Friday, March 8
Baseball
Blaine at Burlington-Edison, 4 p.m.
Nooksack Valley at Mariner, 4 p.m.
WWU
Men’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Women’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Men’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
Women’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
NHL
Winnipeg Jets at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Open Roller Skate, 6 p.m., Depot Market Square
Saturday, March 9
Baseball
Nooksack Valley at Selah, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Oak Harbor at Ferndale, 12 p.m.
Mount Baker at Orcas Island, 12:30 p.m.
Sehome at Port Angeles, 1 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Bellingham, 1 p.m.
Sehome vs. Forks, 3:30 p.m., Civic Field, Port Angeles
Softball
Ferndale at Squalicum, 1 p.m.
Boys soccer
Squalicum at Marysville-Pilchuck, 7 p.m.
WWU
Women’s basketball at GNAC Championships, time TBD, Nicholson Pavilion (Ellensburg)
Men’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
Women’s track and field at NCAA Division II Indoor Championships, all day, Pittsburg, Kansas
Men’s and women’s outdoor track and field at PLU Open, all day, Pacific Lutheran University
Women’s rowing at PLU Invitational, all day, American Lake
Sunday, March 10
Recreation
Walking Soccer, 6 p.m., Bellingham Sportsplex
Monday, March 11
Baseball
Meridian at Coupeville, 4 p.m.
University Prep at Blaine, 4 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Squalicum, 6:45 p.m.
Softball
Meridian at South Whidbey, 4 p.m.
Boys soccer
Sedro-Woolley at Nooksack Valley, 3:30 p.m.
Arlington at Ferndale, 7 p.m.
Lakewood at Meridian, 7 p.m.
WWU
Men’s golf at Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout, all day, Alameda, California
Women’s golf at Fujikura Invitational, all day, Vista, California
Tuesday, March 12
Baseball
Sehome at Arlington, 4 p.m.
Sultan at Mount Baker, 4:30 p.m.
Bellingham at Squalicum, 6:45 p.m.
Softball
Sultan at Mount Baker, 4:30 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Squalicum, 6:30 p.m.
Boys soccer
Mount Vernon at Ferndale, 7 p.m.
Lynden at Squalicum, 7 p.m.
Anacortes at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Bellingham at Sehome, 7 p.m.
WWU
Men’s golf at Tim Tierney Pioneer Shootout, all day, Alameda, California
Women’s golf at Fujikura Invitational, all day, Vista, California
NHL
Las Vegas Golden Knights at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Wednesday, March 13
Baseball
Friday Harbor at Meridian, 4 p.m.
Bellingham at Marysville-Pilchuck, 4 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Overlake, 4 p.m.
Squalicum at Marysville-Getchell, 4 p.m.
Softball
Friday Harbor at Meridian, 4 p.m.
Sehome at Bellingham, 6 p.m.
Girls golf
Bellingham, Sehome at Avalon Golf Links, 3 p.m.
Boys soccer
Meridian at Sedro-Woolley, 7 p.m.
Girls tennis
Blaine at Sedro-Woolley, 3:30 p.m.
Ferndale at Squalicum, 4 p.m.
Sehome at Mount Vernon, 4 p.m.
Lynden at Bellingham, 4 p.m., at Western Washington University
Track and field
Lynden at Oak Harbor, 3:30 p.m.
Blaine at Ferndale, 3:30 p.m.
Mount Baker at Lakewood, 3:30 p.m.
Bellingham, Sehome, Squalicum at Civic Stadium, 4 p.m.
NHL
Washington Capitals at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Badminton at Bloedel, 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., Bloedel Donovan Multipurpose Room
Thursday, March 14
Baseball
Mount Vernon Christian at Blaine, 4:30 p.m.
Softball
Squalicum at Sehome, 4:30 p.m.
Boys golf
Bellingham, Sehome, Squalicum at Skagit Golf and Country Club, 2 p.m.
Blaine, Ferndale, Lynden, Lynden Christian, Meridian, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley at Semiahmoo Golf Club, 2 p.m.
Girls golf
Bellingham, Meridian, Ferndale, Lynden Christian, Mount Baker, Nooksack Valley, Squalicum at North Bellingham Golf Course, 3 p.m.
Boys soccer
Lakewood at Nooksack Valley, 3:30 p.m.
Lynden at Lynden Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Lake Stevens at Ferndale, 7 p.m.
Burlington-Edison at Blaine, 7 p.m.
Bellingham at Anacortes, 7 p.m.
Friday, March 15
Baseball
Lynden vs. Clarkston, 1 p.m., at Ridgefield High School
Meridian at Granite Falls, 4 p.m.
Squalicum at Ferndale, 4 p.m.
Lynden at Ridgefield, 4 p.m.
Bellingham at Mount Baker, 4:30 p.m.
Softball
Blaine at Cedar Park Christian, 4 p.m.
Lynden at Archbishop Murphy, 4 p.m.
Bellingham at Lynden Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Boys soccer
Squalicum at Sehome, 7 p.m.
Track and field
Mount Vernon at Nooksack Valley, 4 p.m.
WWU
Women’s basketball at NCAA West Regional, TBD
Softball vs. Northwest Nazarene, 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Viking Field
Saturday, March 16
Baseball
Sedro-Woolley at Sehome, 10 a.m.
Nooksack Valley at Friday Harbor, 12 p.m.
Chief Sealth at Bellingham, 1 p.m.
Granite Falls at Blaine, 1 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Cedar Park Christian, 3 p.m.
Overlake at Sehome, 4 p.m.
Softball
Friday Harbor at Ferndale, 12 p.m.
Mount Baker vs. Colville, 12 p.m., at Ephrata High School
Friday Harbor at Ferndale, 2 p.m.
Marysville-Pilchuck at Sehome, 2 p.m.
Squalicum at Kingston, 2 p.m.
Mount Baker vs. Naches Valley, 2 p.m., at Ephrata High School
Boys soccer
Bellingham at Meridian, 12 p.m.
Granite Falls at Blaine, 1 p.m.
Lynden Christian at Oak Harbor, 1 p.m.
Lynden at Anacortes, 2 p.m.
Track and field
Squalicum at Arlington, 12 p.m.
Girls tennis
Blaine at University Prep, 3:45 p.m.
WWU
Women’s basketball at NCAA West Regional, TBD
Softball vs. Northwest Nazarene, 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., Viking Field
NHL
Nashville Predators at Seattle Kraken, 7 p.m.
Recreation
Challenge Accepted, 2 a.m., Bloedel Donovan Park
2024 Chuckanut 50K, 8 a.m., Fairhaven Park
Chuckanut 50K kids’ race, 10 a.m., Fairhaven Park
Peter Marcus Rough Water Race, 10 a.m., Bellingham Community Boating Center
Runnin’ O’ the Green, 10 a.m., corner of Cornwall Ave and West Laurel Street
Sunday, March 17
WWU
Women’s basketball at NCAA West Regional, TBD
CDN’s sports calendar is published online Thursdays and in print Fridays. To submit an event for consideration, email connorbenintendi@cascadiadaily.com. News Producer Eric Trent compiled the featured listings.
Connor J. Benintendi is CDN’s sports editor; reach him at connorbenintendi@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.
