Former BHS sprinter reflects on record-breaking senior season

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, August 11, 2026

2026 Bainbridge High School graduate Cate Torrell rewrote the history books by becoming the fastest female athlete in Kitsap County’s history this past spring, breaking West Sound records in the 100-meter dash (11.84 seconds) and 200-meter dash (24.12 seconds).

Torrell also competed with a record-breaking Bainbridge 4×200 relay team (1:40:70) with Ollie Tietje, Ema Delecki, and Maya Zick, placing first at state. Additionally, that same relay team contributed to a school-record 4×100 relay performance for the Spartans (48.52), which placed second at state.

The senior sprinter placed third in the 100 and second in the 200 at state, finishing behind Kela Noji of Nathan Hale, who was the top female sprinter in the state across all classifications.

“It was really cool,” Torrell said. “I mean, it was super special to be a part of that team and to be able to win that state championship. I think, especially in track, you can have a historic year and still not come away with championships just because of how good other athletes are in any given year and circumstance.”

Having a historic year as Torrell did requires a lot of training, both on and off the track. Andrew Lackman, the Bainbridge High School sprints coach, encouraged Torrell and other BHS athletes to not “overthink,” largely due to the nature of track as a sport.

Lackman and Torrell worked on general strength, coordination and flexibility work as well as “generating explosive power” and getting in shape over the course of the season, throwing in some heavier strength-training workouts and dynamic movements and “top speed work” to help BHS athletes follow a routine throughout the course of the season.

Torrell didn’t qualify for the state meet her freshman and sophomore years, providing her plenty of fuel to improve in her last two years.

“This year, I started training her with the boys. Before we kind of tested it out, I (asked) her, ‘Hey, are you okay with this? I know this is different.’ Her reaction was like, ‘I love it,’” Lackman said.

Torrell additionally played volleyball for the Spartans as well as the North Pacific Juniors club team as a side hitter on top of training for track. She also competed in the Nike Outdoor Nationals at the University of Oregon June 18-22, placing 23rd in the 200M event with a time of 24.42.

“I think it’s kind of, is it the chicken or the egg?” Lackman said. “Like, who really set the culture? Because she was a huge contributor to our success, not just from her own success, but her mentality set the tone for everyone. When the boys see Cate jumping in on their workout because she’s not getting enough from her own, that changes how they think about the workout.”