Mead Puts On Shining Performance At Pasco Invitational
Track and field’s national popularity at the highest levels is in decline. It’s difficult to understand why after seeing the quality of effort by area high school performers.
Last Thursday’s Greater Spokane League debut in frigid conditions and the Pasco Invitational on an ideal day produced state-placing-caliber efforts worthy of attention.
Of note was the stunning 9:14.52 3,200 victory by Mead junior Jason Fayant over state cross country champion Isaac Hawkins of Ferris.
Their times would have placed them fourth and fifth at state last year and there’s still more than a month left in the season.
Mead won the Pasco Invitational easily with 70 points, including two firsts and two seconds.
“Like I told you,” said coach Gary Baskett. “I think we’re kind of on track right now.”
Another stout performance came from returning state-placing javelin thrower Beau Chandler with a personal best 192-0 toss.
“With perfect weather like this you’ve got to take advantage of it,” said Chandler of his throw. “You kind of feel it when your hair tingles.”
The Panther girls were also victorious over Ferris 51-1/2-40 with Autumn Wood winning the 300 hurdles in 45.41, just .1 second behind her state runnerup effort last year. She was also third in the 100-meter hurdles in 16.07.
“I was hoping for a better time (in the 300s),” said Wood. “I’m really happy with my 100 hurdles. This is really my first year of doing them.”
Mead athletes placed in 20 of 35 events in the two meets. Included was Katie Pollock’s third-place 1,600 in 5:13.06, a time which would have placed in state last year.
Rogers discus thrower Karen Hughes was second at 130-1, another state-quality distance.
Riverside high jumper Jon Ashcraft took fifth at 6-4. The Ram distance relay team placed fourth behind three AAA schools, including the victorious Panthers.
Returning Shadle Park javelin state placer, junior Oliver Cook, reached 180-9 for sixth.
Taut race? This must be GSL
Greater Spokane League baseball teams approached the mid-point of the season in typical league fashion.
Five teams were virtually tied for first place which shouldn’t come as a surprise considering the nature of the GSL in recent years.
Gonzaga Prep reached the turn at 6-2 with four teams, including Shadle Park and Mead, right behind at 5-2.
Rained out Tuesday, the Highlanders were to have met another of the leaders, University, on Wednesday, weather permitting. Ferris is the fifth contender.
So far this year Shadle has beaten Gonzaga but lost to Mead and Ferris. Mead has lost to Ferris and University but beaten Gonzaga and Shadle.
Barring upset, it all begins again next Tuesday with the Shadle-Gonzaga rematch.
The Highlanders are at Rogers on Friday as part of a week which can make or break the Pirates playoff chances.
Uncharted waters for NC softball
North Central softball is enjoying its fastest start in years, with uncharted adventure still ahead.
The third-place Indians are 5-2 and will find out how serious their challenge is with home games against 5-3 Gonzaga Prep on Friday and unbeaten Mead next Tuesday.
NC qualified for and won a game in regionals last year with a 9-7 fourth-place league finish and has bolstered its pitching this year.
Mead scored four unearned runs and held off University 4-3 last week to take over undisputed first place. Holly Vanwert pitched the win and had three hits.
, DataTimes