OLYMPIA, Wash. – DeAndre Wright (Fr.) from The Evergreen State College men's track and field team is the Evergreen Featured Athlete of the Week for June 2, 2026. Wright graduated from Rainier Beach High School in Seattle, Washington. He competed in track and field at Rainier Beach and with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

At Evergreen, he competes in sprints and jumps. He qualified for the 2026 Cascade Collegiate Conference Track and Field Championships in the 100-meter dash and the triple jump.

He experienced a variety of approaches to track and field events while participating on the Rainier Beach and AAU teams. "What stands out to me the most from high school and AAU is the difference in practice and coaching styles," Wright said.

Those differences helped prepare Wright for the college level. Evergreen is where he chose to continue his track and field career.

"I decided to come to Evergreen because one of my teammates said I should join him on the track team, and when I talked to the coach, I was really sold on being a new part of helping build this program."

Wright gradually improved his times in the 100-meter dash and his distances in the triple jump. By the time the CCC Championships started, he was ready for conference competition. The 100-meter dash featured 27 athletes, and there were 23 competitors in the triple jump.

"I just remember feeling super confident coming into conference ... to put on a show and be recognized," Wright recalled.

He certainly excelled during the CCC meet. Wright set school records in both of his events while earning seventh place in both events. In the 100-meter dash, he won the second heat and took seventh place overall with a time of 10.77 seconds. He broke his own school record, which he set in 10.97 seconds at the Ed Boitano Invitational at the University of Puget Sound earlier in the season.

In the triple jump, he set the school record in both the prelims and finals at the CCC Championships. During the prelims, he registered a mark of 13.39 meters (43' 11.25") on his third and final attempt to set the school record. He broke the record again with a distance of 13.72 meters (45' 0.25") on his last attempt in the finals as he secured seventh place.

Wright possesses some key skills to being successful in dashes and in horizontal jumps. Those skills have helped him stand out for Evergreen in the CCC.

"My top strength as a sprinter is being able to get out of the blocks faster than my competition and my top strength as a jumper is really just being coachable and trying to do everything my coach tells me so I can achieve the best possible results."

As a team member, Wright has lots of opportunities to interact with other track and field athletes. He appreciates the time he spends with teammates.

"What I love the most about Evergreen men's track and field is how we can all come together and support one another even outside of practice and competition," Wright noted.

In addition to participating in track and field, Wright is also active academically. He is focusing on Education and Psychology classes this year. "I plan to be a teacher after graduating," Wright explained.

Wright finds time for other interests as well.

"In my spare time I like to work at the Childcare Center (daycare) on campus, play basketball, hang out with friends, and just be outside and not stuck inside all day," Wright said.