Harmon, Rea Make Biggest Splash

High school track

Seniors and speedsters were served at Eastern Washington University’s soggy Woodward Field during the completion of the Millwood Albertson’s/Frontier League District 7-AA track meet Friday.

In the girls distance events, a succession of young prodigies has taken turns winning at state. Seniors Jennifer Rea of Clarkston and Heather Harmon of West Valley, however, made their final district meet a memorable one.

Five Pullman sprinters, including a football lineman, either won races or beat the qualifying standard to advance to Star Track next weekend.

Rea, who has qualified for state in cross country the last three years, finishing as high as third as a sophomore, has been upstaged by a series of younger runners the last three years. She never had qualified for the state track meet until Friday.

She powered through the worst part of a rainstorm that hit as the running events began to win the 3,200 meters going away.

“I think I worked hard enough for it for a long time, but I’m used to coming and settling for personal records,” she said. “All the others get to try again. Plus, I ate spaghetti for breakfast, so I deserve it.”

Harmon added a wire-to-wire 800 victory over last year’s record-setter Ann Marie Adams of East Valley to go with her state-qualifying 1,600 win over Rea Tuesday.

Pullman sprinters were duly impressive, including Serign Marong, who finished third behind teammate Ricardo Colon and Cheney’s Chad Randall. Marong’s 11.0 time earned him a trip to state. Not bad for someone who played on the line for the football team.

He had come out for track originally for the weight events.

“I think I just developed last year,” Marong said. “Also, we’re not very big at Pullman.”

Pullman easily won the 400 relay, which included 200 winner Keith Davison and freshman Dub Dorvil.

And Leah Pollastro of Pullman met the standard in the girls 100 in finishing second to West Valley freshman Staci Adams.

Adams was spectacular - not only in the sprint and a 400 relay win, but in the 300 hurdles.

She never got her steps at the race’s start and nearly stopped after clearing the third hurdle. An incredible finish helped her outlean and unseat the defending district champ and this year’s 100 hurdles winner, Jennifer Herbert of Clarkston.

“I totally lost it, but on the straight stretch I wanted to go to state,” Adams said. “And I’m only a freshman, so it’s pretty darn good.”

East Valley junior Jerry Claridge, who extended his personal best in the long jump by 2-1/2 feet Tuesday in qualifying for state, added 3 feet to his triple-jump best with a winning mark of 45-1-1/2.

Senior teammate Pat Ferguson, who missed most of the year with injury, won the high jump to qualify for state in a second event.

East Valley qualified eight spots to state, including 3,200 champion Chris Henderson, pole vault winner Albert Ruperd and 300 hurdle winner Brandon Blize.

WV discus winner Vinnie Pecht and high jumper Ryan Schroder also won. Randall won the 400 and Trace Dotson the 800, and they were part of Cheney’s 1,600 relay win.

Clarkston’s Darrin Larson won the high hurdles.

West Valley’s girls qualified in 10 events, with Cindy Simpson winning the 200 and Jill Nihoul the high jump. Aimee Aldendorf added the discus to her shot put title and the school won two of the three relays. Clarkston won the third.

Star Olson of East Valley went 35-11-1/2 in the triple jump to back her long-jump victory. Colville freshman Alison McGrane won the 400.

Republic’s Morgan Chase and St. George’s Christian Laugen dominated in the Northeast District 7 Championships at Whitworth College.

Chase won the 100 meters in 11.0 seconds, the 200 in 22.5, the 110 hurdles in 14.1 and the 300 intermediate hurdles in 37.4 Laugen won the 800 in 1 minute, 58.60 seconds, the 1,600 in 4:30.0 and the 3,200 in 10:17.1.

For the girls, Melissa Harvill of St. George’s won the 1,600 in 5:50.6 and the 3,200 in 12:37.1. Also, Ritzville’s Megan Wellsandt won the 100 in 12.9 and the long jump with a mark of 16 feet, 4 inches.

At the District 9 Championships at Washington State, most events were rained out. However, St. John-Endicott’s Andee Schmick overcame the weather to set a meet record in the long jump at 16-10.

For the boys, Kelen McKiernan of Pomeroy won the 1,600 in 4:53.

, DataTimes