Wright’s PRs guide Mead’s win over NC

Sam Wright wasn’t too worried about doing his part for the Mead track team Thursday afternoon.

Wright had little competition in the presumed Greater Spokane League showdown between the reigning State 4A champions and 3A champ North Central.

“It’s a lot harder to get up for a meet,” the senior said. “The good thing about track is you can compete against yourself and try to get a personal record.”

That’s exactly what he did, twice, setting the tone for the Panthers’ 99-46 romp past the host Indians.

Wright won the shot put by 10 feet with a 2-foot PR of 56 feet, ¼ inch, and followed that up with a 30-foot win in the discus with a 6½-foot PR of 165-1.

“I was just trying to PR, get ready for Saturday,” he said, looking ahead to the Pasco Invitational. “If feels pretty good.”

It was a perfect day for track, with times tumbling and distances increasing at every venue. The double by Wright at NC was among the best, although he didn’t really expect it.

“Once you PR in one (event) you get kind of happy, then you don’t focus as much,” he said. “You’ve got to keep focus and have fun when both events are done.”

Discus was the point of emphasis for the week, but because he had a PR in the less-than-ideal conditions last week he thought he could also have a good day in the shot put.

“I’ll focus on both, but one I’ll focus on a little more and expect to do better in that event,” he said, adding the decision is up to the coach. “I’m on track. I’m happy. I still have a ways to get where I want to be.”

Pasco will be a good test.

“I’m expecting to PR, but I want to compete the best I can,” he said. “Saturday meets are bigger, better competition. If you’re not up for the competition, if you’re just going to show up, there’s no reason to be there.

“Pasco, there will be tons of guys … I’ll have to be good.”

Eventually he would like to hit 185 feet with the disc, 60-plus with the shot.

“I’ll hit the weights hard the next couple of weeks, focus on technique and listen to Coach,” he said.

After that it’s on to Whitworth, where the second-team All-GSL lineman will play football and continue in track.

“I’m a track guy that does football,” he said. “It’s going to be hard, but it’s going to be fun. There are a lot of big guys, I have to get bigger. I’m looking forward to it.”

The Panthers also had an impressive performance on the track, led by sophomore Wes Bailey and senior Casey Monahan. Bailey had a sprint double (10.8 seconds, 22.3) and Monahan won the 110 hurdles (14.9) before helping the Panthers post a league-best in the 400 relay (43.3).

Mead’s girls also won easily, 108-42. Notable for the Panthers: a league-leading 57.5 in the 400 by Baylee Mires, just shy of the state lead, and Tasha Clark improving her state best in the pole vault to 12-2, breaking her school record by 1 inch. Clark was 12-7 but knocked the bar off on her decent.

•In other GSL meets:

At Ferris, the Saxons boys and Mt. Spokane girls went 2-0 in a meet that also included University. Sprinters stole a lot of the attention. Chase Naccarato of Mt. Spokane edged Brendon Olson of Ferris in a photo finish of the 100 (both 10.7). Olson got him back in the 200 (21.8). Joel Zimmerman won the 400 (50.8) for the Saxons, Scott Davis took the 800 (1:57) and Adam Thorne the 1,600 (4:17.5) and 3,200 (9:36.6). Gage Orosco also doubled for Ferris in the high jump (6-2) and javelin (182-6). The Ferris girls were without sprint star Kelsey Lin, out with a quad injury, and Mt. Spokane’s Afton McKinlay took advantage by winning the 100 (12.65), 200 (27.0) and 400 (1:02.4). The Wildcats also beat Ferris in all three relays in the 15-point win.

At Gonzaga Prep, the Central Valley boys and girls swept the host Bullpups and East Valley. The boys got three wins from Ryan Nungester in the 100 (11.2), 200 (22.9) and long jump (20-1½), and Dylan Seitz swept the hurdles (15.4, 41.5). Michelle Nemeth also won the sprints for the CV girls (13.0, 26.3) and Kendra Szoke doubled in the horizontal jumps (17-½, 34-7½). Paul Jennings became the league’s second 40-foot shot putter (40-8½).

At SFCC, Lewis and Clark’s boys and girls swept host Shadle Park and Rogers. Levi Taylor was a triple winner for LC in the horizontal jumps (20-11, 43-8½) plus the javelin (194-0). Co’rde Bailey had a sprint double for Rogers (10.5, 22.3). There were no doubles among the girls, but an interesting situation is developing in the hurdles between Shadle teammates Tiara Pajimola and Shayle Dezellum. Pajimola won the 100s (15.4 to 15.7) and Dezellum won the 300s (47.5 to 47.9) and took turns handing off to each on the winning 800 and 1,600 relays.

Great Northern

At Cheney, the host Blackhawks ran away from Colville and Clarkston. Deangelo Jones led the boys with league bests in the high jump (6-2), long jump (22-¾) and triple jump (45-9½). Diondre Moore-Young did the same in the hurdles (14.8, 39.7) plus the 100 (10.94).

At Medical Lake, Deer Park’s boys and Pullman girls were double winners. DP’s boys got a distance double from Reggie Peone (4:49.8, 10:48.9). Pullman’s girls got doubles from Chelsea James in the shot put and discus, freshman Anna Guo in the horizontal jumps (17-9, 36-4½), sophomore Jennifer Nakata in the 100 hurdles (16.7) and high jump (5-4), and Nina Al-Hassan in the 300 hurdles (47.5) and javelin (119-2).

At Riverside, the host boys edged West Valley 79-70 while the WV girls won 83-61.