Gsl Gymnasts Leave Their Marks Meyers, Cossette, Linerud Produce Top-10 State Placings

The reward for three young Spokane gymnasts for a season well-done was their moment inside the Tacoma Dome.

The trio - University High School junior Kim Meyers and sophomore Kalie Cossette, and Central Valley freshman Lindsey Linerud - finished among the top 10 during individual events competition Saturday on the main floor between sessions of the state wrestling tournament.

Saturday’s scores were combined with their first-day efforts to determine the outcome.

It was one of the best showings for Greater Spokane League schools, which seldom have advanced more than one or two gymnasts to the individual finals.

“I don’t remember when the East Side has had this many in the finals,” said CV coach Kim Brunelle.

All three expressed surprise at being among the state’s best individuals after the two schools had earned their highest team finishes the day before.

“It’s so overwhelming, I don’t know what to do,” said Cosette.

Linerud said competing in the vastness of the Tacoma Dome after performing in gymnasiums and the Dome’s exhibition hall made her “feel small.”

Meyers, the season-long GSL allaround leader, had placed seventh during Friday’s team competition. “She got off the beam too soon or would have finished first,” said coach Stacey Heaton. By

dismounting 2 seconds early, she had .2 points deducted from her score of 8.9.

She didn’t climb as high the next day and tied for eighth, but was happy nonetheless.

“I wobbled once, but for it being my first time in the finals I was happy I stuck it,” she said. “I’m just happy I was here.”

Her teammate, Cossette, qualified for the finals in two events, finishing tied for eighth in floor exercise at 18.6 and 10th in vault at 17.575.

“I’m satisfied, considering I didn’t think I’d even be in it,” Cossette said.

Linerud, who turned in a solid performance to earn a 9.375 during her final floor-exercise routine Saturday, moved up to seventh place with an 18.725 total.

“I had a lot of fun. I can see now what I have to work on for next year,” the CV freshman said.

She has been competing for 12 years, since age 3, and was unusually poised against her older opponents at the state event.

“I didn’t expect the quality because it was my first year (in high school gymnastics),” said Linerud. “It was fun.”

University and Central Valley finished one-two in the Greater Spokane League, in district and at the regional meet before scoring statemeet bests of 168.675 and 162.475.

“I really thought we did well,” said Heaton. Her counterpart at CV concurred. “I thought they had an awesome meet,” said Brunelle. Farrah Fabian of Newport (Belle vue) won the vault and floor-exercise competitions. Tracy Lyne of Decature was beam champ, and bars went to Jen-Ai DeCano, also of Newport.

Swimming

Gabe Brannan, a Colfax High student swimming for Pullman, won the 100 butterfly and took second in the 200 freestyle Saturday at the State AA-A swim championships at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.