Consider Maddi Varela a quick learner.

Varela, a Kentlake High sophomore and track standout, blistered the oval on March 27 in the 400-meter dash at the Kent-Meridian Invitational. Varela won the event with a time of 59.79 seconds.

What has turned heads, however, is the fact that Varela was attempting the 400-meter dash for the first time in her prep career. Normally a sprinter, one who excels in the 100 and 200, the 400 just might be the perfect fit.

“(Maddi) just has a nice long fluid stride,” said Kentlake coach Jim Hewson. “She had never run the 400 before and maybe had done it once last year on a relay. We finally got her to try it and she goes out and is under 60 (seconds) on her first try.”

To put Varela’s mark in better perspective, it’s worth pointing out that it’s the 10th-best time in the state this season. In the 4A classification, it’s the fourth-best time this year.

“We just look for her to get stronger and stronger,” Hewson noted.

Of course, that could be said for the entire Kentlake High girls team. The Falcons aren’t huge on numbers (about 35 turned out this spring), which hinders their depth when competing against teams like Kent-Meridian, Kentwood and Tahoma. But what the Falcons do possess is a tremendous nucleus. And it’s a young bunch, too.

Along with Varela, Kentlake also returned standout soccer player Laura Rayfield this spring. Rayfield, a first-team All-SPSL North selection on the soccer pitch, is just as talented on the oval. In fact, she’s currently tied for fifth in the league in the high jump (5-0) and the long jump (16-4.5).

“She’s just a great athlete,” Hewson said.

Throw in junior Gabriela Suarez, who currently ranks fourth in the North in the shotput (31-10) and the Falcons have reason for optimism this spring.

Freshman sensation Tori Lanza has simply added to that optimism. A hurdler, Lanza has quickly found herself among the SPSL North elite as she ranks fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.06) and second in the 300 hurdles (48.53).

“She’s got a good work ethic,” Hewson said. “To step right in and run that well at the ninth-grade level and run that well … she’s got a good future.”

As do the Falcons.