Mead Girls’ Victory Worth The Wait For Beatty Panthers Victorious At Pasco Invite; Beatty Wins Javelin On Last Attempt
Allison Beatty figured if she could wait until the last throw to win the javelin, she could wait a little longer to celebrate.
Two hours later, she had plenty to cheer about as the Mead girls won the 34th annual Pasco Invitational, the first time since 1979 the Panthers won the largest track meet in Washington.
Beatty helped spark the Panthers, winning the javelin by 11 inches with a final throw of 139 feet, improving on her third-throw personal record by more than four feet.
“One thing that really bothers me (is wild celebrations),” she said while sitting on the grass changing shoes. “I guess I would (be more excited) but there’s no one around to celebrate with. But I’m pretty happy.”
There would be soon enough.
Mead entered the last event in third place, trailing University by 1 1/2 points and Kamiakin by one-half point, but neither of those teams have strong 1,600-meter relay teams. The Panthers are the defending state 4x4 champion and ran like champions, winning in a state-best 4 minutes, 5.88 seconds for 10 points to finish with 54 1/2 points while U-Hi and Kamiakin were shut out. Ferris, second in the 1,600 relay in 4:07.05 to finish fifth with 35 points, four behind Lake Washington, and West Valley was seventh with 24.
Beatty knows that, when she has a good throw, her elbow doesn’t hurt. On Saturday, she was pain free twice, on her third throw that put her in second ahead of defending state champion Shelly Massingale of Kennewick (130-8), and her sixth, which put her in front of state leader Molly Monroe of Ellensburg (138-1).
“A pretty strong wind behind me sure helped,” Beatty said. “My arm was in the right place. Usually I don’t have very good form.”
Beatty’s final throw came after an aborted run-up that made her feel “kind of stupid,” and using a borrowed javelin. With Beatty and teammate Shannon Roberts throwing better than 120 feet, the Panthers bought a new javelin, which Beatty had never thrown but had given a nice paint job. At the weighin Saturday morning, however, the new spear came up 2 inches short of being acceptable - forcing Beatty to borrow one from basketball rival Carmel Lampson of Kamiakin.
Mead also got individual championships from Emily Thompson in the 1,600 (5:11.22) and Autumn Wood in the 300 hurdles (44.84). Annaka Gustafson was third behind state champion Kristen Parrish of Ferris in the 800. Emily Williams was sixth in the high jump (5-3), Lynde Johnson was seventh in the 3,200 (11:48.61) and Megan Troy, who anchored the relay team, tied for eighth in the 400. The 4x100 relay team finished seventh and the 4x200 quartet was eighth.
“We had high hopes,” Mead coach Annette Pedersen said. “We thought we would place in the top three. Before the 4x4, I told them they had to win to win (the team title). They get so mad at me when I do that.”
“That’s one of the factors (the team title),” Wood said, “but if we PR it doesn’t matter what place we got. In the 300, I was pleased with my time, but this race was especially fun. I ran my best split this year.”
The defending-champion Mead boys were third with 43 points. Richland won with 69 points, 20 points ahead of Kent-Meridian, despite winning no events. Ferris finished sixth with 26 points and Central Valley was seventh with 19.
The day at Edgar Brown Memorial Stadium was sun-kissed as promised, drawing smiles from Spokane-area athletes even though there was a biting breeze.
Along with the Mead winners and Parrish in the 800 (2:20.16), Katharine Hough of University won the 200 (25.35) and finished second in the 100 (12.31) after a reported 11.9 in the preliminaries. She also anchored the Titans’ winning 400 relay team (49.89).
“I’m kind of tight, a little sore. I’ll sleep well tonight,” Hough said after winning the 200, her fifth race of the day. “Being a senior totally motivates me. If you don’t do it now, when?”
Kaci Stansbury of West Valley was the other local winner with a 131-2 throw in the discus, though it was more than 4 feet short of the mark she was shooting for.
“I was just hoping for a PR, and if I didn’t win, I’d be happy,” she said. “Winning without a PR is just as good.”
Fran Green of Kamiakin, who signed to attend Washington State, won the 100 (12.23) and the long jump (18-6) and was third in the high jump. She was named Most Outstanding Athlete.For the boys, the MOA was Lynwood junior Ben Lindsey, who won the shot put (59-2) and discus (185-5).
Mead had the only individual champions from the Greater Spokane League with Micah Davis taking the 1,600 (4:17.49), 2 seconds ahead of Zack Ventress of Ferris, and Skiy DeTray the 3,200 (9:17.11). The Panthers also won the 3,200 medley relay.
Chad Schwendiman of Pullman won the long jump (21-8 1/2).
xxxx Mead girls champions Individual champions from Mead that helped the Panthers win their first Pasco title in 16 years: Emily Thompson, 1,600 (5:11.22) Allison Beatty, javelin (139-0) Autumn Wood, 300 hurdles (44.84)