Chase’s Races Put Republic Close To Title

State B track

The Chase is on for the team title.

If the Morgan Chase of today resembles the one from Friday, that title could belong to Republic.

The Tigers junior won three of his four heats as the State A/B high school track and field championships began at Eisenhower High’s Zaepfel Stadium.

The only race Chase “lost,” the 200 meters, was a dead heat with Raymond’s Jesse Buchanan. Both ran 23.13 seconds, but officials deciphered the photo finish in Buchanan’s favor.

“It doesn’t bother me at all,” said Chase, who clocked day bests in the 100 (11.32), 110 hurdles (14.75) and 300 hurdles (39.2). “I made it.”

A similar performance today would net Republic 38 points, which could be enough to win the team title. Tiger Carson Lutz should also score in the discus.

“There’s a lot of pressure on me,” Chase said. “I sure hope I can do it. I’ve worked as hard as I can.”

Lopez Island took an early lead for team honors with 22 points. Lopez, however, will have just one more scoring opportunity.

Valley Christian, led by senior Travis Harken’s win in the high jump, is tied for third place with 11 points. One point back are Springdale and St. John-Endicott, which received its 10 points when senior Heath Barnes-Bailey aced out defending champion Aaron Williams of South Bend in the javelin.

Harken, coached by his father, exWashington State great Brent Harken, cleared 6-foot-7 on his first attempt. Klickitat’s Paul Bryan, the state leader heading in, missed his three tries at the height.

In other finals, Christian Laugen of St. George’s took second in the 1,600 (4:29.45), Davenport’s Josh FitzPatrick was third in the shot put (47-3), and Cliff Matherly of Springdale went 42-11 for third in the triple jump.

In prelims, Springdale’s Jeff Carr won his 400 heat (51.4) and Sprague-Harrington won its 400 relay heat (45.6).

Girls

Defending team champ SJE leads the way with 17 points, but all is not well with the Eagles. Translated, that means “Watch out for Ritzville.”

The day started poorly for SJE when defending 3,200 champ Karen Kile, whose spring training was slowed by bronchitis, struggled to finish eighth.

Matters improved when Tricia Lamb and Andee Schmick repeated their second- and third-place performances in the triple jump (Lamb in a runner-up 35-5). Both also qualified in the 100 hurdles, including Lamb’s heat-best 15.70, but even then Ritzville was giving notice.

Robin Phipps of the Broncos won her 100 hurdles heat in a meet-record 15.42. Later, it took a meet-record 41-3 by Lake Quinault’s Kathleen Cooper to keep Phipps from winning the shot put. She settled for second at 38-6.

The other half of the Phipps duo, Katie, won her heat in the 200 (25.98) and finished a shade behind defending state champ Melissa Simmons of Dayton (12.80) in the 100 heat.

Ritzville also won its 800 relay heat (1:50.30), but didn’t qualify in the 400 it won last year.