All Grays Harbor track teams will gather in Aberdeen and Hoquiam this weekend for the annual Ray Ryan Memorial All-County Championships.

The meet technically begins Friday in Hoquiam, where the boys and girls pole vaults will be contested beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The remainder of the meet is scheduled for Saturday at Aberdeen’s Miller Junior High track. Field events are scheduled for 11 a.m., with the first running event planned for 12:30 p.m.

Hoquiam’s boys and Elma’s girls are the defending team champions.

The Eagle girls again rank as favorites. North Beach, which placed second to Elma last year (and was actually announced as the team champion on the day of the meet until a scoring discrepancy was discovered) again figures to challenge.

Experienced and deep Montesano, which has performed very well in early season invitationals, is regarded by most as the team to beat on the boys side.

Host Aberdeen, with some top-level performers but not much on its early meet resume, could be a darkhorse contender.

The marquee event (assuming both runners enter) could be the boys 400 meters. Aberdeen’s Bryan Sidor, last year’s state 2A runner-up and the possessor of the state’s third fastest time in the 2A ranks this season, could be challenged by Montesano’s Donovan Albert, fourth-ranked among state Class 1A runners. Sidor’s season-best time of 51.08 is about a half-second faster than Albert’s.

North Beach will feature two athletes top-ranked in the state in the 2B classification. Hyak pole vaulter Tawni Blankenship is the reigning state 2B champion and has a season best of 11-6 — a full two feet higher than her nearest rival. North Beach’s Rodney Washington is top-ranked among 2B athletes in the boys high jump at 6-5.

The meet is named in honor of the late Daily World sports writer and track aficionado Ray Ryan.