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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

North Central star cruises in district track meet at SFCC

Katie Knight loves running at Spokane Falls Community College’s track – especially under the lights.

Even if she’s usually running by herself.

The North Central senior broke her District 8 3A record Thursday in the 3,200 meters a week after claiming the same record in her final Greater Spokane League dual.

Knight, who opened a 60-meter lead after the first lap, coasted to victory in a time of 10 minutes, 45.08 seconds to win by more than a minute.

“It’s one of my favorite places to run,” Knight said. “It was a good tempo. The weather’s perfect for running right now.”

Perhaps in the twilight. Thursday’s sun-filled skies will be followed by similar weather today, and it’s supposed to be 4 degrees warmer when the District 8 4A and 3A meets conclude at SFCC.

There were a handful of finals in field events and just two running finals – the 3,200 and 400 relay. Prelims were held in the other races, and the balance of the other field events will be held today beginning at 5.

The top eight in each event and top four relay teams advance to regionals next week against the Mid-Columbia Conference at SFCC.

4A: Damon Unland of Ferris continues to be bothered by a groin injury suffered during spring break.

For the longest time, though, Unland thought it was nothing more than a cramp in his buttocks. So he will finally do physical therapy next week. He hopes it’s not too late to recover so he can challenge for state titles in the discus and shot put.

He took it easy in the discus Thursday, throwing just four times. He scaled a throw of 156 feet, 7 inches – about 34 shy of his season best – to win.

Unland hasen’t been able to put any “umph” behind his throws for two weeks.

“I’m taking district a little easier,” he said. “I want to win, but I mainly want to qualify for regionals. I don’t want to go too hard.”

Courtney Hutchinson of Mead continued her record-breaking ways. A week after shattering the GSL record in the shot put, she pushed the shot 46-7 to break the record (46-5½) set by Dory Reeves of Lewis and Clark in 1989.

She got it on her last throw.

“I felt really good,” Hutchinson said. “I was ready to hit a big one. I know it’s in me and I’m going to get it soon.”

Sumner Goodwin of LC cruised in the 3,200 (9:19.88). He has his eyes on state titles in the distances.

He knows he’ll have to go through double defending state champ Andrew Gardner of Mead.

“I knew he was going to go easy; he usually does that at district,” Goodwin said. “It was an easy pace. My coach told me not to push it.”

Mariah Cunningham of CV won titles in the high jump (5-2) and long jump (17-1). She also ran a leg on the winning 400 relay (50.19).

Mead’s boys, the defending champs, opened a big lead thanks to wins by the 400 relay and Blasé Neumann in the pole vault (14-0).

Alexandria Moore of CV and Gracie Ledwith of LC were side by side going into the final lap of the 3,200 before Moore (11:24.37) pulled away.

3A: Amanda Konyenbelt of Shadle Park won the long jump with a season-best leap of 17-3½ to defend a district title.

She’ll seek a win in the triple jump today.

John Dressel of Mt. Spokane pulled away in the final 100 meters to capture the 3,200 (9:25.04), edging Isaac Kitzan of NC.

Rogers got a pair of titles from Tierra White in the high jump (5-2) and Sydney Roberts in the javelin (118-7).

District 7 2A

Darbi Dobson (113-11), Elisha Allred (113-6) and Sierra Nalder (97- 3/4) went 1-2-3 in the discus as East Valley tallied 52 points and took the lead after the first day of competition at West Valley.

Erin Clark cleared 11 feet in the pole vault for second-place Cheney (37 points), Joelle Buckner won the javelin at 131-4 for third-place Colville (32), and Anna Guo won the long jump at 18-0 for fourth-place Pullman (27).

In boys competitions, Daniel Amann won the 1,600-meter run in 4:22.97 and Aaron Obert (50-11 1/2) and Andrew Buynak (50-1) finished first and second, respectively, in the shot put to power Deer Park to the Day One lead with 52 points.

Roger Benegar won the high jump (6-0) and finished second in the long jump (21-5 3/4) for East Valley, which is second with 40.5 points entering today’s final day.

West Valley’s Terrynce Duke won the long jump with a leap of 21-10 for the third-place Eagles (37.5).