After Sitting Out Season, Ferguson Jumps Up, Gets Counted

Injured East Valley horizontal jumper Pat Ferguson had to sit out most of this track season - but he wasn’t going to let the season end without a fight.

“It was my senior year,” he said. “I wasn’t going to sit on the back burner and watch everyone else go (to state). If I had to compete in pain, I was going to do it.”

Even Ferguson, who last week qualified for Saturday’s State AA Track Meet in two events, was surprised by his accomplishments.

“I feel extremely lucky,” he said. “I don’t see how you can take a month off and be able to compete and do well.”

Last year, Ferguson had qualified in the long jump and was the league’s best high jumper. This spring he tore cartilege in his right knee and missed all but one Frontier League meet.

He participated in order to qualify for last week’s district meet. On Tuesday Ferguson met the qualifying standard at 21-10-1/2 to return in the long jump and on Friday won the high jump at 6-4-1/2.

“My main goal was to make it (to district) in all three after the injury,” he said, “and I was hoping to make it in anything.”

Distance teammate Chris Henderson, eased out of the 1,600 meters on Tuesday by West Valley’s Clayton Holmes, came back on Friday to outrun him in the 3,200.

“I’m a longer distance runner,” said Henderson. “I don’t have enough speed to stay with Clayton.”

After a slow first mile in the longer race, Henderson took command and will run in Tacoma.

“After finishing second in both races last year and second in the mile, I didn’t want it to happen again,” Henderson said.

Many happy returns

Central Valley senior Carrie Sanders was the district javelin champion as a freshmen.

She played softball last year, but returned to track this year with a flair.

Last week Sanders uncorked a 139-foot, 8-inch throw to break a 17-year-old school record.

The old mark of 134-4 was set in 1979 by the late Pam Thompson.

“I like softball. It’s a fun sport and I had a good time,” Sanders said. “But I wonder if I would have made state last year if I would have stayed with track.”

Basketball has always been her favorite sport, she said. She looked at track more for fun.

“I wanted to have fun and not worry about every little stupid thing. That’s what I did,” she said.

A state track berth and school record were the result.

CV senior teammate Ryon Triplett was one of three pole vaulters to clear 13-6 Friday night when a storm postponed the finish. On Saturday, Triplett set a regional record, clearing 14-3. The old record was 14-1 by former teammate Joel Gehrett.

“I wasn’t worried about the vaulters trying to qualify,” Triplett said. “I was going over 14-1 and whoever came with me, fine.”

Valley Who’s Who at state

Other Valley athletes who qualified for a variety of state track meets this week include:

From Central Valley Ryan Strickland, 400, Robby Warnock, 800, Whitney Schmaljohn, 200 and 400, the boys 400 and 1,600 relay teams and girls 1,600 relay team.

From East Valley, Jerry Claridge and Star Olson in the long and triple jumps, Jesse Ewell, shot put, Brandon Blize, 300 hurdles and Albert Ruperd, pole vault.

From Freeman, Marc Reed, triple jump, Sarah Pratt, 100 and 200, Sarah Kalstad, 400.

From University, Craig Allen, high jump, Adrienne Wilson long jump and triple jump, Jason Wilson discus, Syd Perno and Jeff Hollenbach, shot put.

From Valley Christian School, Mike Dahl, 800, Aaron Asbury, high hurdles and triple jump, Jeremy Hayek, high jump, Matt Wright, long jump, Jay King and J.J. Gass, discus, Haley Bryan, 800, Carmen Evans 100 hurdles, Teresa Dixon, 300 hurdles, Danielle Swift, discus and javelin, girls 400 relay, girls and boys 1,600 relay.

From West Valley, Joe Bonner, javelin, Vinnie Pecht, discus, Aimee Aldendorf, shot put and discus, Ryan Schroder, high jump, Devion Tensley, long jump, Staci Adams, 100 and 300 hurdles, Heather Harmon, 800 and 1,600. Cindy Simpson, 200, girls 400 and 1,600 relays.

One-two-three punch

Rivals University and Central Valley earned their first state fast pitch tournament berths in tandem by finishing one-two in last week’s regional tournament.

With sophomore Cheryl Andrizzi playing a major role, the Titans won their first championship and Greater Spokane League school proved they’ve more than caught up with their Big Nine softball counterparts.

Andrizzi blanked Pasco on two hits, outpitched Mead and gained revenge for last week’s district loss by beating CV 5-2.

The Bears continued their late-season magic, reaching the finals with a four-run sixth-inning rally to beat Walla Walla 5-4, and three-run seventh-inning rally to beat North Central 4-3.

They join West Valley which is making its fourth state AA fastpitch trip in the last five years.

, DataTimes