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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Davenport’s Austin Zeller tries his hand at multiple track and field events

Gregl@Spokesman.Com (509) 844-8168

When it comes to track, Austin Zeller is a jack of many events and master of some.

In three years at Davenport – he was a part-time starter in baseball on varsity his freshman year – Zeller has tried nine events. His best are javelin and pole vault, and long jump is close. He also runs the anchor leg on the 400-meter relay.

And, yes, he’s been told he should think about being a decathlete in college.

Zeller will be out to qualify in all four events for state Friday at the 2B regional at Central Valley.

His older brother, Ryan, encouraged him to try track during his sophomore year. That year he sampled the hurdles, high jump and 1,600 relay along with the javelin and pole vault.

Last spring, Zeller continued with the pole vault and javelin, adding the long jump and trading the 1,600 relay for the 400 relay.

He had immediate success in the javelin and pole vault. As a sophomore, he took third at state in the javelin and seventh in the pole vault. Last spring, Zeller placed second in the pole vault, third in the javelin and sixth in the long jump.

He expects to medal in all four events at state next week and challenge for state titles in the three field events.

“He’s a good study,” said Davenport coach Brian Telford, a Lincoln County sheriff’s deputy. “We teach him something, he listens, applies it and breaks it down. He knows exactly what he needs to do.”

Zeller doesn’t think doing multiple field events takes away from his ability to be successful in any one.

“I think it helps overall,” he said. “I practice certain ones on certain days – or stay later after practice and work on all of them. I can’t give any of them full-time attention.”

He’s the typical small-town, multiple-sport athlete, but in four sports instead of three.

As a freshman and junior, he doubled up and played football and ran cross country.

“I didn’t run cross country last fall because I wanted to concentrate on football,” the 6-foot-1, 165-pound Zeller said.

He had more responsibilities last fall. He started for a third year at free safety and took over starting duties at quarterback. The Gorillas (9-3) advanced to the quarterfinals, where they lost 55-18 to eventual state champion Okanogan.

A two-year starter in basketball, Zeller was named to the Northeast 2B all-league first team. He averaged 16 points per game.

Track has become his favorite sport, and he hopes it will pay for part of his college education.

Zeller owns the school record in the javelin at 184 feet, 1 inch, which he threw at a meet in late April. He also has the record in the pole vault at 13-6, which he jumped three weeks ago.

He’s ranked No. 1 in 2B in both events.

Telford expects Zeller to extend those records.

“He’s got more left in the javelin,” Telford said. “And at the last league meet, he had three attempts at 14 and he was right there. He gave it three good shots. We know he’s capable.”

Telford said Zeller has improved markedly.

“It’s all come together this year,” Telford said. “Last year he had the talent but didn’t have the strength. He’s gotten stronger.”

Zeller said the javelin came to him naturally. As for the pole vault, he likes getting upside down in the air.

“I’m more of an adrenaline-type guy,” he said.

Zeller typically finishes the year with personal bests. He’d like to throw 190 in the javelin and reach 14-6 in the pole vault.

“I’d like him to challenge for three state titles, but we know what state is like,” Telford said. “He’ll go out and give it his all.”