Ferris boys win last race, win by point

In a track showdown cut from Hollywood, the Ferris Saxons, trailing by a point entering the final event, edged Central Valley in the 4x400 relay to nip the Bears by a point and capture the District 8 4A championship at Spokane Falls Community College.

The Saxons took the early lead in the relay and Liam Cossette held it as he handed the baton to Sam Bloom for the final leg. On the third turn, Central Valley’s Collin Nelson caught Bloom, but the 400- and 800-meter champion put on a kick to win and give the Saxons the title by a score of 167-166.

Ferris was timed in 3:24.29 to CV’s 3:26.00.

“It was tough,” Bloom said. “Central Valley “is a great program. They have so much depth. They are solid across the board.”

“Ferris is one fantastic big-meet team,” Bears coach Chuck Bowden said. “What else could you ask for? With all the things they went through with Coach James (Fisher) and heart surgery. It’s awesome. It’s like a last-second shot to win.”

CV girls champions

While the Saxons took the boys title, the Central Valley girls simply ran away from the competition for its fourth consecutive district championship. The Bears scored 257 points and Mead finished second with 126.

“A lot of people say our success is because of our numbers. But you have to have good kids,” CV girls coach Geoff Arte said. “The top end of this league is the best I’ve seen in the (Greater Spokane League) in about 10 years.”

As an example, the Bears on Thursday upset favorite Lewis and Clark in the 4x100 relay and set a meet record. On Friday, the Bears shaved a second off the school record in the 4x200 relay (1:41.9) and still finished second to the Tigers (1:41.6).

“Those are the first- and second-best times in the state right now,” Arte said.

CV’s Madison Hovren finished second Friday in the 100 hurdles to Mead freshman Zella Conley. But Hovren later rebounded to win the 300 hurdles.

“The team is more important than individual races,” Hovren said. “Winning the meet just shows how deep we are and how passionate we are. I’m so proud of all the girls.”

Wildcats wins both 3A titles

The Mt. Spokane boys and girls teams left their 3A competition in the dust.

The Mt. Spokane girls outpaced Shadle Park 289-181 and the Wildcat boys beat next-closest North Central 268-197½.

Boys coach Pat Kostecka said winning the district championship is nice, but he actually kept some of his best sprinters out of some races to keep them fresh.

“Ultimately, the most important thing is to get kids off to regionals and to try to keep them healthy,” he said.

Wildcats Arizona Davis, Deja Sanders and Bayley Welk all had personal bests in the girls triple jump and they finished 1-2-3.

Mt. Spokane’s Cheyenne Konrad had wins in the 200 (25.85) and 400 (58.54) and anchored the winning 4x200 relay team. “I was happy to get personal records in both races, but I wasn’t sure I would win,” said Konrad, who won both races easily.

Feet flying

In one of the signature events of the meet, Ferris’ Jalen Hicks took an early lead and had to hold off a late challenge by Mead’s Samson Brown to win the 4A 100 in a photo finish in 11.06.

“It was a really competitive race today,” Hicks said. “I could have been a little bit better, but it’s good enough to win.”

Brown thought he caught Hicks. “But I guess he had too much of a lead.”

In the 3A boys race, Khalil Winfrey tied the meet record by running a blistering 10.77 in the 100 meters.

“I think my start could have been better,” said Winfrey, who also edged Rogers’ JJ Curry to win the 200 (22.19). “But I just stayed relaxed and stayed patient.”

District 7 2A

West Valley’s Mac Baxter won both hurdles events and the Eagles boys claimed the District 7 2A team title on their home track.

Baxter claimed the 110 hurdles in 14.48 seconds and won the 300 hurdles in 38.84.

Other WV winners were Zach Herford (100, 10.94), Taylor Morton (400, 52.05), Brendon Algeier (pole vault, 13-6) and Alex Dyfort (discus, 143-1).

East Valley was second, followed by Pullman, Cheney and Clarkston.

Pullman claimed the girls team title. The Greyhounds’ Angel Nkwonta won the 100 (12.24), 200 (25.97) and shot put (44-10 1/4).

The Cheney girls were second, followed by East Valley, West Valley and Clarkston.