U-Hi Tracksters Impressive In Prelims

University’s boys track team steamed full speed ahead into next week’s regional meet at Central Valley High School.

Regionals qualify three athletes per event to the State AAA meet in Tacoma the last weekend in May.

Four sprinters and three hurdlers turned in impressive efforts during Thursday’s GSL district meet preliminaries, led by Jason Berger’s record-setting 200-meter run and personal bests in the high hurdles by Paul Salcido and Tim Buchanan.

Impressive in the way they performed, sprinters Berger, Mike Turner and Buchanan swept the first three spots in their 100-meter heat, all under 11 seconds. Freshman Anthony Buchanan matched Berger’s 10.7 to win the second heat.

“We just started our speed work this week,” said Titan coach Keven Frandsen.

It showed. Berger set a district record 21.6 in the 200. Turner ran 10.8 in the 100. Tim Buchanan turned in a sizzling 38.5 300 hurdles time despite hitting four barriers. Salcido ran 15.0 to win his heat of the 110 high hurdles.

They led a horde of Titan and Bear boys and girls into the top eight of several events, all of them qualifying for regionals.

Among them were CV high jump champion Marc Hinckley at 6-4, and Titan girls winners Casey Lektorich in the javelin (117-4) and Kalie Cossette in the long jump. She beat teammate Julie Schroeder 17-feet to 16-11.

“We saved it all for district,” said Titan coach Steve Llewellyn. “We’ve been abused enough all season.”

Other finals placers were javelin runner-up Keith Carpenter, whose 179-0 javelin throw was below his season best.

“I kind of psyched myself out,” he said. “I had a goal and didn’t do what I was supposed to.”

Bear boys Tyree Clowe(long jump), Cameron Summers and Joel Gordon (high jump), and Preston Crossman and Garrett Graham (shot put) all placed in the top eight. So, too, did Titan 3,200 runner James Berry, fifth in 9:24.8. Six of eight pole vault regional qualifiers were from the Valley, including Titans Cody Hirschi, Brad Walker, Jeff Wineinger and Bears Josh Kruse, Ty Dempsey and Norm Tollefson.

Girls regional qualifiers included Titans Darcy Jones (discus) and Sara Streufert (javelin) and Bears Annie Moseanko (second in the javelin), Jill Nepean and Loni Knigge (long jump).

There were more to come in Friday’s finals as U-Hi’s speedsters and CV 200 sprinter Whitney Schmaljohn, who set a record 24.7, showed.

State qualifying next for champs

Beginning Tuesday, Frontier League track athletes from West Valley and East Valley qualify for state at Eastern Washington University.

The Eagles won their second straight boys championship and the Knights won the girls title. Each school was runner-up to the other in the respective leagues.

With two state berths available in each event, both schools are expected to garner their share.

The hex holds

Never in this decade has the Frontier League soccer champion won the district playoff.

The hex held when fourth place West Valley upset unbeaten and twice-tied East Valley 1-0 last week.

Thus, the Eagles and not the Knights play this weekend in the first round of the State AA playoffs.

“We wanted to play EV again,” said coach Dirk Linton of a team that twice won 2-0 over the Eagles. “We worked hard at defense against their set plays.”

WV plays at West Valley-Yakima in Marquette Stadium at 7 p.m., the Frontier League’s second seed following a 2-1 overtime loss to Cheney. The Eagles led Cheney 1-0 until the 78 minute mark of regulation.

“In the last two minutes I think we let down,” said Linton.

But he lauded the keeper play of Ryan Kuntz in preserving a 0-0 halftime tie against the taller Blackhawks.

His earlier shutout also kept a league champion out of the state playoffs for the eighth straight year.

Club gymnasts to state

During Eastern Washington levels 5 and 6 USA Gymnastics sectional competition, 56 Spokane-area gymnasts qualified for state.

Spokane Elite Gymnastics won both the Level 6 and 5 team competition, with Lilac City Gymnastics and Northwest Gymnastics Academy finishing second and third.

In Level 5, SEG’s Keena Watkins, Elise Kuhar-Pitters and Kayla Wagner were top three all-around in the 6-8 age group.

SEG’s Nouel Cason and Lindsey Haney and Lilac City’s Kendall Mays were top three finishers in age 9.

In age 11, SEG’s Kati Bezdicek, Heather Blair and Brittany Ames swept all-around top three. And in age 12 and older, Adriana Demakas took third.

During Level 6, Northwest Gymnastics’ Jenny Smith won 7-10 competition and Lilac City’s Amanda Morrow was third.

All-around winner in 11-12 was Heather Malott of Lilac City with SEG’s Bailey Scholze third.

SEG’s Amy Keppler, Amy Snyder and Theresa Gorka were top three in age 13 and older.

Deckard on top of her game

Last week, at Painted Hills Golf Course, ladies club golfer Danice Deckard turned in a sizzling round.

She shot 41 to lead the A flight, while in the no-handicap division, Linda Garves finished at 47.

In B flight Patty Spencer shot 53, in C flight Pat Reiter had 56 and in D flight Joyce Thompson shot 67.

Net leaders were Sheryl VanDinter with 31 in A, Sandee Bickelhaupt with 35 in B, Pam Baynes with 35 in C and Tavi Wolf with 37 in D.

Cheryl McCarthy and Caryl Marcus had chip-ins.

Good round for Meyers

During weekly medal play for the Valley View Ladies Nine Hole club, Anne Meyers shot a fine 41 to lead the field.

No-handicap golfer Vi Mutch had 48, while in B flight Genevra Barrett shot 52 and in C, Donna Festerson shot 51.

Net winners included Edith Rains in A with 26 and Mary Ann Warren in B with 27. In a tie, Emma Long and Loriene Rankin shot 28 in C.

Pick six and play

Liberty Lake Ladies 9-Holers had to name the six holes they were going to score (including all par 5s and 3s) during last week’s round of competition.

The results produced Elaine Tai’s A flight low score of 29, 36s by B golfers Ilene Ackerman and Ruth Jenkins and no-handicapper Nancy Whitman and a 41 by C golfer Helen Inman.

Putting counts at Hangman

Best putters came up winners during last week’s Hangman Valley Ladies Club outing.

Freda Beckman needed just 28 en route to a low gross 90 score. Barbara Buteux took 30 putts.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo