Athletes Weather Wind

GSL track

The javelin didn’t go where it was supposed to go, the runners struggled and Adrienne Wilson didn’t get her car, but the Greater Spokane League track season got underway in fine fashion Thursday afternoon despite the protests of Mother Nature.

A cold wind kept most performances in check but, the majority said, “at least it isn’t raining,” and the favorites came through unscathed in the first of four league triple-dual meets, establishing 16 season bests.

And it seemed everyone stayed healthy for Saturday’s Pasco Invitational, the first statewide test for the best.

Wilson’s potential as a long jumper was exposed, though she was disappointed by an 18-foot, 1/2-inch leap. It’s been a few years since the GSL produced an 18-foot jumper and Wilson was beginning to wonder if she’d get there. Then the University junior broke the barrier three times in Yakima last week, capped by an 18-7 effort.

“It felt sweet,” she said. “And I felt relief.”

And she came back to show consecutive jumps of 18-1, 18-6, 18-7 weren’t accidental.

“The coach will be surprised I’m upset at 18-1,” Wilson said. “I thought I was going to get 18 last year. I’m aiming for 19 now.”

If she gets to 20 feet she will get a car from her parents, though she was negotiating for wheels at 19.

“There’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “A lot of people think I can go for 19. It’s probably more concentration. Last year I’d get on the runway and jump. This year I’m visualizing 18-, 19-foot jumps and that has helped.”

Wilson helped University to a sweep of Ferris and Shadle Park at Ferris, setting up a good second-week matchup against Mead - which swept Lewis and Clark and Rogers at Hart Field - next week at North Central. Central Valley also swept NC and Gonzaga Prep at CV.

On the boys side, Ferris, CV and Mead swept. Ferris and CV are at Rogers next Thursday.

Wilson ran a leg on U-Hi’s winning 400-meter relay team (49.8) and finished second behind teammate Katherine Hough in the 100 and 200. Hough’s winning times were 12.2 seconds and 26.0 and she ran anchor for the 400 relay and leadoff for the winning 800 relay (1:48.4). The 400 relay was a state best, the 800 a GSL season best.

For Ferris, Kristen Parrish became the first league 400 runner to dip under a minute this year, running 59.8, and anchored the 1,600 relay team that went 4:08.7, the league best this year.

Zack Ventress, who recently signed a letter of intent with Providence, sparked the Ferris boys, winning the 1,600 (4:25.4) and 800 (1:59.3).

Ventress was already looking ahead to meeting Mead’s Micah Davis in the 1,600 at Pasco since Davis ran a 9:01 3,200 in California last weekend but went an unchallenged 9:43.2 in Thursday’s wind.

“It (Arcadia) is a fast meet. They’ve (Mead) done well down there,” Ventress said. “They might be ready too soon. We try to point toward a peak. That’s worked well for us. They’ve done (Arcadia) before and it seems to work for them.”

Overall, however, Ventress’ goals are simple.

“I just want to run fast to make Providence feel glad about recruiting me, make Ferris look good and be happy with myself,” he said. “I definitely feel I’m capable, along with several guys in the league, of going under 9 minutes,” he said. “We could all go together. If there’s anywhere anyone’s capable of doing that in the U.S., it’s here.”

Ventress chose Providence after visiting Washington State, Washington and Arkansas, picking the Rhode Island school for its size (about 3,500 students), international business curriculum and internationally experienced coaching staff.

Teammate Ryan Howe was well short of his 200-foot goal for the javelin but his 164-2 won easily.

“The javelin doesn’t really go where you want it to go,” he said.

The numbers that came in Thursday, including a Class AAA leading 176-foot throw by Jeremy Strand of Gonzaga Prep, will help Howe replace Mead graduate Ryan Eddington in his sites. Eddington, a 200-footer, took his skills to the University of Texas.

“I’d rather have him around one more year so I can watch him,” Howe said. “I think it drives you a little more if you have someone throwing 30 feet more than you are.”

Dana Harper also gave Ferris a boost by winning the 100 (11.0) and 200 (23.0) and helping the Saxons to a season best 44.3 in the 400 relay. Teammate Tim Benton ran leadoff on the 400 relay and then went 21-8 in the long jump to lead the league.

University hurdler Terry Coy set a pair of league season bests, going 15.2 in the 110 highs and 40.7 in the 300 lows. With Coy’s help, the Titans’ 1,600 relay team posted a league best 3:33.6.

At Central Valley, NC’s Paul Riley was a triple winner, taking the 100 (10.9), 200 (22.6) and shot put (46-3 1/4). He is the first GSL sprinter to dip under 11 seconds this year.

Gonzaga Prep’s Jennica Strand swept the weight events, winning the discus (104-3), javelin (108-0) and shot put (33-11).

However, the meet at Hart Field produced a couple of season bests. Mead junior Shannon Roberts threw the javelin 122 feet, a Class AAA state best, and Rogers sophomore Kelley Hughes went 128-3 in the discus.

Rogers’ Anthony Gardner was a triple winner at Hart Field, taking the long jump (19-11), triple jump (41-5 1/2) and 300 hurdles (42.5).