U-Hi, Bears Ready To Challenge Mead
GSL girls track
Three teams considered to be likely challengers to defending champion Mead will jockey for advantage in the first girls track meet of the Greater Spokane League season.
The meet is two weeks away, but already the participants are anticipating its impact.
University hosts the double-dual with Central Valley and Ferris and will dedicate its new track at the time.
“I think it will be a great meet and am excited to have it on our site,” said Titan coach Steve Llewellyn.
Getting a handle on this year’s league is more difficult than in years past because as many as six schools could contend.
“It’s kind of a tossup,” said Llewellyn. “This year it will be a little bit of a wild scramble.”
Each team has its unique areas of strength and vulnerability. None has overwhelming dominance, except in the obvious instances of Ferris’ state champion distance runners.
University has annually been a first or second place GSL finisher, averaging just one loss per year for a a little over a decade.
The team’s sinew comes from sheer numbers, who fill most events with better than average athletes.
The Bears hope their wealth of speed, perhaps the league’s best, will enable them to overhaul four teams which finished above them last year.
Even an average year good at U-Hi
Even without superstars, things are never bad in the University track program.
“In fairness, we’re either real good, or good good,” said Llewellyn.
The Titans are strong in the distances and jumps, solid in the sprints and relays and adequate in the throws.
On top of it they have unbelievable depth from a turnout of 83 girls.
Last year’s district third-place sprinter and fourth-place long jumper, senior Kalie Cossette, leads a bevy of horizontal jumpers and sprinters, including sophomore triple jumper Julie Schroeder, who missed state last year by three inches.
Other jumper-runners are sophomore Jenni Hanna, Valley Christian transfer Teresa Dixon, senior Nicole Valentine and junior Kaely McDonald.
Five high jumpers hover within three inches of each other, including senior Tonya Walker and junior Courtney Red, who have each cleared 5-foot-1.
Sophomore Becca Adams and freshmen Katie Blaine and Dorothy Buchanan are close.
Sophomore Casey Lektorich is approaching state-placing territory in the javelin with her 126-0 toss and senior Sara Streufert isn’t far behind.
Darcie Jones, who threw 106 feet in the discus as a freshman, has returned to track following two years in softball. She’s challenging sophomore Kami Fox and freshmen Elly Johnson and Teresa Valkenaar.
They along with junior Kim Claridge are also shot putters.
Cossette and Schroeder are among 13 sprint prospects, including senior Betsy Walter, sophomore Megan Black and freshmen Vanessa Shelton, Amy Smith, Kelly Roberts and Kacie Walter.
Distances are two-dozen runners deep, including seniors Taraka Campbell, Kelly Kearsley, juniors Jaime Miller and sophomores Michelle Cesal and Devon Van Dyne.
Dixon is a welcome addition to the hurdles events that include juniors Coleen Pierce and Breanne Spunich plus freshmen Buchanan, Erica Hattenburg and Karen Chavez.
Freshman add speed to Bears
The dilemma facing CV coach Dennis McGuire is where to run senior Whitney Schmaljohn.
“She can do 15 events,” said McGuire. “In college she’ll be a great heptathlete, I think.”
Schmaljohn has been Central Valley’s leading sprinter for three years, a state 200 placer and strong 400 meter runner. Already this year she’s run the 300 hurdles and a 12.4 100.
This year she’s finding herself in good company, to McGuire’s delight. Sprint depth means CV can field strong relays and utilize Schmaljohn’s versatility.
“We’ve struggled with one sprinter for years,” said McGuire. “It’s wonderful to have some others. They are no Whitneys, but a good group of kids.”
Sophomore teammates Stephanie Crace and Leslie Merideth are improved. Several freshmen, including Adrienne Nowaski, Rebbecca Kochendorfer, Amanda Moore, Angel Wilson and Wendy Wagar, and senior Karrie VanDinter show promise.
Now if only senior multi-purpose athlete Marcy MacPhee, still rehabilitating last fall’s soccer injury, gets back on track.
The Bears also appear solid in the throws, led by junior Mary Caruso, freshman Heather Harding, plus juniors Annie Moseanko, Kim Jordin, Jenny Coyle, sophomores Peggy Coyle, Darah Poffenroth, and freshman Kendra Ferguson.
Junior high jumpers Marie Cox and Megan Woehrle return, joined by freshman Natalie Hinckley. Horizontal jumpers are senior Jill Nepean, Sabrina Page, juniors Loni Knigge, Melissa Murphy and sophomores Kris Oberhelman and Natasha Opsal.
CV hurdlers include senior Sarah Fox, sophomore Jaren Tichy and freshman Amanda Nickerson.
Distance runners include juniors Anne Peterson, Beth Williams, freshman Jill Mittmann, senior Natasha Usai, sophomore Robin Pederson and freshmen Tiffany Pottratz and Christine Rosier.
“I think we match up better with teams than we have in years,” said McGuire. “We have no glaring holes, which is nice.”
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