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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Prep track roundup: Winfrey, teammates race to relay victory for Rogers

Greg Lee

So how did the Rogers High boys 400-meter relay, ranked 34th among 3A schools, win a regional championship Friday?

In a name, Khalil Winfrey.

A healthy Winfrey returned last week at the district meet and he picked up where he left off by anchoring the Pirates’ relay in the first day of the 3A Regional track meet at Richland’s Fran Risch Stadium.

Winfrey, JJ Curry, Shelton Teasley and Eli Richardson team to ran a season-best 43.51 seconds.

“That was the most nervous I had been since last year,” Rogers coach Chris Dunn said.

For good reason. It was in the same event last year at regionals that saw Winfrey’s season end with a torn hamstring.

“They showed up in a big way,” Dunn said.

Winfrey said the foursome took it easy last week at district when finishing third.

“This was only the third time that group had run together this year,” Dunn said.

Winfrey didn’t hesitate to point out why the Pirates won.

“I have to give a shout out to Shelton Teasley, our third leg,” Winfrey said. “He deserves a lot of credit for that race. He ate up that third leg. He used to start but I can see why we changed it.”

Greater Spokane League athletes fared well in the handful of field events and running finals.

The top two in each event qualify for state.

Dillon Lionello of Mt. Spokane overcame four scratches to win the discus with a throw of 164 feet, 7 inches.

He scratched on his first and final throws in the prelims.

“So I just went about 70 percent on the second throw just to make sure I got one in,” Lionello said.

In the finals, Lionello scratched his first two throws before getting the winner on his last attempt.

“There was a slick spot in the back (of the ring),” Lionello said. “I shifted over to my left a little bit to avoid it. It worked out well in the end.”

Cade Neumann of Mt. Spokane won the pole vault, tying his personal best from last week (14-6).

Raymond Volk of Rogers and Docker Davis of Kamiakin tied for second. Officials later determined that since neither hit the state-qualifying standard (13-6) they must return Saturday morning for a jump-off to decide the second berth to state.

4A Regional: Lewis and Clark’s Anna Rodgers hasn’t been able to practice the long jump because of Plantar fasciitis.

Rodgers isn’t 100 percent but she got within eyesight of her overall best (19-1) of a year ago.

On her final jump, Rodgers leaped 18-5¼, vaulting past Lacie Hull of Central Valley. Moments earlier, Hull jumped a season-best 17-4¼.

Rodgers probably would have eclipsed her best had she not taken off a couple inches in front of the 8-inch wide board.

“It was definitely nice to jump somewhere close to where I want to be,” said Rodgers, who took second at state last year as a freshman. “I have a few more things to work on. Now I’m feeling more confident in myself.”

Rodgers combined with Isabella Millsap, Emily Greene and Grace Ellis to win the 400 relay in a season-best 48.39.

The top three in each event advance to state.

Tia Clemenson of University won the shot put with throw of 39-1½ – nearly 14 inches farther than her previous best.

A senior, Clemenson is headed to state for the first time.

“This whole season I’ve been trying to get back up to my (personal best) I had my sophomore year (37-1),” Clemenson said. “Last year I fell off a little bit. My goal was to make it to state and throw 40.”

2A Regional: Sprinters propelled the West Valley boys to victories in the one-day, state-qualifying meet at Prosser.

Zechariah Herford won the 100 (10.93) and he teamed with Jake Jordan, Caleb Simpson and Tevin Duke to win in the 400 relay (42.60).

Jordan, Simpson, Duke and Allen Edens combined to win the 1,600 relay (3:25.73).

Angel Nkwonta of Pullman and Brittany Aquino of East Valley were double winners.

Nkwonta won the 100 (12.40) and shot (42-1 1/2) and Aquino won the 1,600 (5:19.13) and 3,200 (11:27.63).

The top four in each event qualify for state.

Northeast A: Zach Annanie of Lakeside won the javelin in the first of the two-day meet at Newport.

Annanie threw 172-8.

In the girls, Maggie Cobb of Chewelah won the long jump (17-0).

The top two in each event advance to state.