Little Difference On Track Between State And Bust Gsl, Big Nine Regional Championships Produce Close Outcomes On First Day

There isn’t a better time to do your best than when a trip to the championship is on the line.

Sometimes, even that isn’t enough.

But that’s how close the competition is between the best track and field athletes from the Greater Spokane League and Big Nine Conference.

The leagues met at Spokane Falls Community College on a perfect Friday evening to determine qualifiers in nine events for next weekend’s state meet and set up finals for today’s wrapup at the AAA regionals.

As expected, the difference between a trip to Star Track XIV in Tacoma and a trip home couldn’t be cut any thinner.

In the boys javelin, Evan Edwards of Kennewick threw 179 feet, 3 inches. He’s going to Tacoma. Ryan Howe of Ferris threw 179-2. He’s staying home.

In the boys 110-meter high hurdles, Dirk Bernd of Eisenhower ran 15.89 seconds. He’s in today’s finals. Allen Faulkner of Mead ran 15.90. His season’s over.

The top three in each final advance to state, along with any competitor who meets a minimum qualification in a final.

In the girls long jump, five are going. Four are going in the boys long jump and 3,200.

Today’s finals begin at 10 a.m. with field events. Running events start at 11.

Boys

Headed to state is Shadle Park sophomore Olive Cook, who improved his personal record by more than 10 feet to win the javelin with a throw of 183-5.

“I can’t describe what it feels like right now,” Cook said after the awards ceremony. “I never thought I’d be ending up here.”

He notched his winner on his third throw, when he was in danger of not making the top eight for three more throws.

“I stayed relaxed and stayed loose by stretching,” Cook said. “Even if I didn’t make the finals, I was happy to be at regionals. It was great. What I thought I’d do today was compete hard and see how it came out at the end. I was aiming for state.”

It was a lofty goal for someone who had to be talked into turning out for track and had never thrown the javelin.

“I didn’t want to run and it just looked interesting to me,” Cook said.

The boys’ 3,200 was the hard-driving run everyone expected, thanks to Cameron Copher. The Ferris senior, the surprise winner last year when six runners qualified, was unhappy with a slow pace and took off. That took a toll on him, as he fell back, but it spurred the other runners into a strong pace. Mead’s Micah Davis led a charge of four less than the 9:18.82 state standard.

Davis, who led when the first 1,600 went by in 4:36, finished in 9:04.88, less than a second in front of teammate Skiy DeTray. Third was Zack Ventress of Ferris in 9:09.65, with Richland’s John Hedengren next at 9:12.78. Copher rallied to finish fifth in 9:25.12.

Anthony Gardner of Rogers was the surprise fourth qualifier in the long jump, going 22-4 1/4, more than a foot beyond his previous best. Richland’s Tony Lechelt won at 22-7 1/4.

In the pole vault, Central Valley senior Joel Gehrett won at 14-1, a career best by an inch.

Girls

Lewis and Clark junior Sarah Hiss knew she would have to have her best long jump to get to state. Barring complete disaster, two spots were locked up by Fran Green of Kamiakin and Adrienne Wilson of University. They dominated their leagues and were the only 18-foot jumpers coming in. They came through, going 19-5 and 18-5 1/2, respectively.

That left a host of equal jumpers battling for one spot or facing career jumps of 17-9, the state standard.

“My goal was to PR by state,” she said. “I just wanted to keep improving until then.”

She couldn’t wait much longer. Her best this year was 17-7 and her career best was 17-8. So she went out and jump 17-10 1/2. That only placed her fifth but it put her in state.

“I knew it was a good jumping day … it was ideal conditions,” she said. “I knew this would be my chance all year.”

State cross country champion Aleah Thome of Eisenhower blasted past Jennifer Smith of Ferris on the last lap to win the 3,200 with Emily Thompson of Mead running a gutty race - she spent Thursday night with the flu - for third.