No records, but more gold for pair at small-schools track

Two of Washington’s most dominant small-school athletes weren’t any less so Friday afternoon at Roos Field in Cheney.

Still, Grant Marchant and Macen McLean didn’t quite get everything they wanted.

Winners of 16 previous gold medals between them, the pair added Nos. 17 and 18 in relatively easy fashion during the opening session of the State 1A/2B/1B track and field championships.

It’s just the records that eluded them.

For Marchant, that extended a year-old frustration in the 1B boys 1,600 meters.

“Last year, I didn’t even really know what the record was,” said the Valley Christian senior, “and the guy at the podium said, ‘I hate to break it to you, man, but you were just one/one-hundredth of a second off the (1B) record.’ ”

That’s the 4:30.94 run by Odessa’s Matt Cronrath back in 2008. With a 4:26.37 best this season, Marchant figured both the meet record and Jeff Pope’s school record of 4:25.66 were within reach. But a slowish first half-mile and the lack of a push – he was 100 meters clear of the field with a lap to go – conspired to bring him home in 4:31.07.

“But another goal was taking first in all my events,” Marchant said, “so this is a step in the right direction.”

For McLean, record-breaking is a habit. The Mansfield senior has never lost a 1B high, long or triple jump competition, and has set state standards six times. But while any of his four marked attempts would have won Friday’s triple jump, his best of 43 feet, 3 inches was 19 inches off his own 1B record.

“During basketball, I sprained my right ankle really bad; it’s basically ruined everything for this year,” said McLean. “I’ve just been working to get the strength back in my legs. I’m getting there, but I’m not where I want to be.”

Not a single boys record fell in the spectacular weather, so they concocted other kinds of drama.

Like the 22-5 leap Austin Watson of first-day leader Liberty Bell uncorked to stun the field in the 2B long jump, which he entered with the season’s fifth-best mark.

Lakeside’s Micah Humann sent an early message in the 1A discus with a 154-foot throw and then reached 162-0, a 6-foot bump to his lifetime best, to upset state leader Zach Jacobson of King’s, who settled for fourth.

That was half of a strong early start for the Eagles, who trail Meridian in the team standings 30-22. Humann’s teammate Ryan Coffman kicked past state leader Kyle Degraaff of La Center and state cross country champ Graham Peet of Northwest in the final 50 meters to win the 1,600.

Pomeroy took a 22-20 edge over Crescent in the 1B thanks to a 1-2 pole vault finish by juniors Memo Morfin and Cole Mayfield.

There was one other repeat champion Friday – Darcy Stamper of St. John-Endicott/Lacrosse-Washtucna clearing 6-4 on his third try to take the 2B high jump after a third-place finish in the long jump.