Bonner Executes Great Javelin
Taking flight on the wings of a favoring wind, Frontier League athletes got the Millwood Albertson’s/ District 7 AA track meet off to a capital start.
The meet, at Eastern Washington University’s Woodward Stadium, featured a spectacular series of long jumps and culminated with a spectacular javelin throw.
On his last attempt, West Valley’s Joe Bonner launched the spear 190 feet, 6 inches - his personal best by more than 13 feet - to dethrone teammate, defending district champion and two-time state placer Mike Schroder.
“I knew it was far, but didn’t think it went 190 feet,” Bonner said. “I was thinking, just throw as hard as I could and make sure it was up high.”
Bonner’s feat means Schroder - who was seventh in state as a freshman, third last year and had a state-placing quality 185-9 toss to finish second on Tuesday - must stay home. Only one Frontier League athlete per event qualifies for state, and Schroder was 3 feet short of the state standard.
“It’s disappointing, sure,” Schroder said. “But there’s only one other person I’d rather see go: him.”
The league’s four best long jumpers reached the standard and will participate in Star Track May 24-25.
Returning state placer Pat Ferguson of East Valley, who suffered a knee injury and competed in only one league meet this year, started things by jumping 21-10-1/2, 2 inches better than the standard.
Junior teammate Jerry Claridge followed, electrifying spectators by reaching 23-1, more than a foot farther than he had done before.
He was followed by league record-holder Ricardo Colon of Pullman, who added an inch to his mark at 23-4-1/2.
Finally, sophomore Devion Tensley of WV leaped 21-11-1/4 to complete the four-bagger.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Claridge of his leap. “When I jumped that, I thought someone moved the marker.”
The fact that Claridge’s lead lasted just a few minutes didn’t surprise Colon. “I knew it was a big one because everybody yelled,” he said. “I didn’t know it was 23 feet. I didn’t let it get to me, though.”
Not long before, Star Olson of EV was facing the prospect of missing out on state for the first time in three years.
Perhaps surprisingly, it wasn’t Pullman’s Michelle Wahl who led her into the finals. Instead, it was unheralded teammate Jessica Conard, whose 16-7-1/2 leap was nearly a foot farther than she had done before. Olson, however, dismissed it and went 16-9-3/4 to avoid the upset.
“I was scared for a while, but you have to put on a good front,” said Olson. “I just said, ‘I’ve got to believe in myself and try my best.’ It’s all anyone can do.”
Champions were decided in the boys and girls shot put, girls javelin and boys and girls 1,600 meters.
WV’s Clayton Holmes and Heather Harmon forced the pace in both distance races to win in 4 minutes, 26.3 seconds and 5:17.2, respectively. Harmon didn’t dwell on last year’s near-misses. “It’s a new year and you just go out and try to do your best,” she said.
WV’s Aimee Aldendorf, always at her best come districts, won the girls shot and is going to state a third straight year.
“I just get psyched up,” she said. “State’s coming and I’m there.”
Recording the best series of throws of his career, EV’s Jesse Ewell won the shot at 51-7, a personal best by 3 feet.
Clarkston sophomore Angela Fazzari won the girls javelin at 128-4.
Boys and girls also conducted preliminaries in 10 events to determine finalists when the meet concludes Friday beginning at 2 p.m.
, DataTimes