Gretchen Hoekstre, seated in center, is surrounded by Seaside teachers and coaches at her signing.

The Seaside track team officially opened the 2019 season March 15 in a big meet invitational in Portland, as Grant hosted the Cotton Invitational.

The Astoria girls finished sixth out of 16 schools, with Seaside 11th. On the boys’ side, Astoria was 10th and Seaside 13th in the scoring.

Seaside senior Gretchen Hoekstre, who signed a letter-of-intent earlier in the week to compete next year Brigham Young University, won the shot put with a toss of 42 feet, 2 inches, and also won the discus with a personal best 144-2 ½.

In the boys’ meet, Seaside’s Luke Nelson was fourth in the shot put (43-5), followed by teammate Derrick Bennett (fifth, 43-4). Seaside’s Parker Conrad was fourth in the javelin (142-2).