Prep track: Mt. Spokane boys sweep Ferris, CV

The chase for the Greater Spokane League boys track and field championship became clearer Thursday.

In a dual featuring three of the top four teams, Mt. Spokane improved to 5-0, sweeping Central Valley and Ferris, plus host Gonzaga Prep.

That sets up a showdown in two weeks between Mead and Mt. Spokane for the league title.

Going into this week, Mt. Spokane boys coach Pat Kostecka thought his team was still behind CV and Ferris in terms of training. His Wildcats proved they’ve caught up and passed those teams.

Fresh off a big win Saturday at the prestigious Pasco Invite, Mt. Spokane wasn’t about to have a letdown. With typical chilly, windy weather with threatening skies, the Wildcats were focused – even if times and marks were unimpressive.

And the Wildcats’ focus impressed Kostecka.

“I knew we wouldn’t be flat,” Kostecka said. “Everybody was all in. We’ve talked about just being a team a lot lately and all the kids were coming up and asking me ‘How are the (team) points doing?’ They were just focused on what they were doing.”

Kostecka has seen a maturation in his team this season.

“That’s been the coolest transition of our team this year since March when we got really scattered being indoors (for practice) and never being together,” he said. “Now they’ve really jelled. That piece of it is pretty cool.”

Mt. Spokane will be out to match the league title it won three years ago in a showdown at home against Mead.

“We’ve talked to the kids about what it’s like to be a champion, what it’s like to aspire to greatness,” Kostecka said. “That’s our CATS – c, be a champion; a, aspire to greatness; t, teammate; and s, be a self-starter. We’ve really been talking a lot about that.”

Mt. Spokane came into the season with a plan.

“We’ve had this whole season mapped out,” Kostecka said. “They know where we’re going and what we’re doing and who we’re going against. They’re pretty focused. Even though it’s been kind of a short season if you will, part of that isn’t so bad because you know state is coming fast and you know the end of the season is coming fast. You don’t have time not to be focused. There’s very much a sense of urgency.”

Mt. Spokane’s 1,600-meter relay took second at Pasco and won Thursday. Jacob White anchored and teamed with Spencer Barrera, Hayden Dressel and Jacob Adams.

“The competition definitely surprised us (Thursday),” White said. “It was a good race.”

White said things are coming together for the Wildcats.

“(Bad weather) definitely set us back but it just made us work harder,” White said. “It’s paying off. We’ve all just bought in.”

White is looking forward to the final dual against Mead.

“That’s going to be something to watch,” White said.