Ferris triple jumpers finish 1-2 at Pasco, take aim at state
A pair of Ferris jumpers pulled off a first at the 53rd annual Pasco Invite last Saturday.
Isaiah Troutt, a senior, and Jalen Hicks, a junior, took first and second, respectively, in the triple jump. No teammates had ever finished 1-2 in the event.
Troutt scratched on his first attempt in the prelims but popped off what would be the winning jump when he vaulted 45 feet, 1 inch, a season best.
Hicks responded in the finals on his last jump, leaping 45-¼. Troutt said he was concerned Hicks had beaten him. It was also a season best for Hicks.
“I saw him hit that jump and my heart stopped because I thought he beat me,” Troutt said. “It was my third year at Pasco. Last year I was second, so I wanted to win this year.”
“I hadn’t had very good jumps before my last one,” Hicks said.
Both Hicks and Troutt qualified for state a year ago. Hicks took fifth while Troutt scratched on his three attempts in the prelims. Both left state intent on getting back and making a mark this year.
“I feel like I should have done a lot better (at state),” Hicks said. “I was nowhere near my (personal best). I didn’t live up to my standard.”
Troutt was much more frustrated with his showing.
“I don’t think I was really ready for state,” Troutt said. “I didn’t have the proper preparation or mindset. I know what to be ready for this year.”
Hicks wants to reach the 46-foot mark and Troutt hopes to stretch as far as 47. That would allow him to break the school record (46-9½).
Troutt ranks fifth and Hicks seventh among 4A jumpers. The state-leading mark is 46-9½.
Hicks believes he has another foot improvement in him.
“It’s just little things,” Hicks said of detailing where he can improve. “It’s speed coming to the board and extension into the pit. Things like that.”
Troutt is looking to play football at either a junior college in California or walking on at Eastern Washington University. He’s coming off a sprained ankle that happened in a pickup basketball game before the season began.
So his effort at Pasco was encouraging.
“The ankle isn’t 100 percent yet,” Troutt said. “It’s probably not going to be 100 percent in the season, but it’s at the point I can deal with it. I’m sort of two weeks behind.”
Troutt believes the best is yet to come.
“I have more than just one more big jump,” he said. “I hope I have a couple more before the end of the season.”
Hicks, who also sprints and is part of relays, is using the spring to get ready for football. He’ll be the Saxons’ featured running back next fall and also play quite a bit at cornerback.
“Track is a lot of cross training for football,” Hicks said. “I’m just getting my lower body stronger. The jumping and the speed work help.”
Good things abound
Many times an athlete who doesn’t finish first at Pasco goes unnoticed.
To that end, here are some of the other outstanding feats: Sabrina Keys of North Central (second, shot put, 43-1); Ashlee Pedersen of Mt. Spokane (third, 400, 58.87); Mikhaela Woodward of Sandpoint (third, 1,600, 5:17.43); Rebecca Mildes of Riverside (second, 3,200, 11:22.70); Deja Svastisalee of North Central (second, 300 hurdles, 45.60); NC’s Svastisalee, Megan Dean, Megan Murphy and Sierra Everman in the 1,600 relay (4:06.88); Logan Feasline of St. Maries (second, discus, 162-4); Sam Johnson of Mead (second, 110 hurdles, 14.58); Carrie Jacka of Mead (second, pole vault, 11-6); and J.T. Konrad of Mt. Spokane (second, pv, 14-6).
• There were other notable times/marks elsewhere last week: Elisha Allred of East Valley, (discus, 135-7, a 13-foot improvement); Ryan Coffman of Lakeside/Nine Mile (3,200, 9:35.95); Bailey Mackleit of Colfax (100 hurdles, 16.04); Preston Rhodes of Timberlake (pv, 14-0); Katie Emerson of Almira/Coulee-Hartline (300h, 48.61); Nicole Sheer of Colfax (shot, 35-2); Katie Collins of Lakeside (300h, 47.78); Carter Napierala of Kootenai (pv, 13-6); Kaitlin Krouse of Chewelah (shot, 37-9); and Jack Ammon of Northwest Christian (800, 1:59.23).