North Side Athletes, Run, Jump, Hurl Way To State Track And Field Competition

Next up for 37 North Side tracksters is state competition.

Mead’s boys will try to challenge for a state championship on the legs of distance runners Jason Fayant, Morgan Thompson, Ryan Wiser and long-jumper Chris McCullough.

But they need the strong-armed support of discus throwers Joe Collier, Jason DeJong and javelin thrower Chris Callahan to get it done.

The most notable loss came in the shot put where Scott McGlocklin fouled on three attempts and was lost, even though he had the best mark this year by 3 feet.

In his absence, North Central’s Brett Jordan and David Sandberg will hold sway.

Oliver Cook, who earlier said his goal was to throw the javelin beyond 200 feet, did so, and also qualified with teammate, Sam Glanzer, in the triple jump.

Riverside’s Jon Ashcraft spent a busy week in the Frontier League, qualifying for state in the 1,600 on Tuesday, the high jump and the 1,600 relay on Friday.

“Last year I fell on my head,” said Ashcraft, after making the high jump standard. “I did the minimum today.”

Ashcraft, who won the district cross country race last fall, said that although he loves the distances, the high jump is his major love.

Joining teammates Cory Ramsey, Joe Lenz and Tim Hart to state in the long relay, was icing on the cake.

Lakeside boys won the Northeast A League championship and qualified half a dozen athletes to state.

Girls teams on to state

A quartet of Mead field-event athletes and Gonzaga Prep hurdler Lisa Bradley head the GSL state contingent.

Riverside’s Abbey Wood was a one-woman machine in the Frontier League, qualifying in four events herself.

In addition, Deer Park’s Jaime Stone, a cross country standout who switched from softball to track this year, won both 1,600 and 3,200 runs in the Northeast A meet.

Mead ball teams fall short

Mead’s baseball and softball teams fell one game short of qualifying for state.

The Panther boys lost in the Region IV finals and the girls finished fourth in their eight-team playoff.

They were 2-2 in the tournament, beating Rogers 15-2, including three hits apiece by Natalie Kehl, Holly Turner and Janessa Karstens.

Karstens pitched a 2-0 win over Eisenhower in another survivors game. For the tournament, she went 9 for 12 with a home run and seven RBIs.

White Sox defend title

Woodard Construction White Sox won the Pony Baseball Slugfest Tournament for the third straight year.

The tournament, for 11- and 12-year-olds, consisted of 16 Spokane-area teams.

Winning pitcher Greg Smith hit two home runs and had six RBIs during an 8-3 win over O’Dougherty’s in the title game.

Other team members are Kyle Henry, Dan Bowman, Rich Nelson, Brandon Zimmerman, Brandon Bowker, Peter Sowards, Garrett Schultz, Steve Morse, Chelsea Clinton and Josh Burkhart.

Coaches are Dean Sowards, Matt Bowman and Greg Schultz.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: TRACK AND FIELD Boys state qualifiers Mead- Ryan Wiser, 800; Jason Fayant, 1,600, 3,200; Morgan Thompson, 1,600, 3,200; Joe Collier, discus; Jason DeJong, discus; Chris Callahan, javelin, and Chris McCullough, long jump. North Central- Brett Jordan, shot put, and David Sandberg, shot put. Shadle Park-Oliver Cook, javelin, triple jump, and Sam Glanzer, triple jump. Riverside- Jon Ashcraft, 1,600, high jump, 1,600 relay; Cory Ramsey, 1,600 relay; Joe Lenz, 1,600 relay, and Tim Hart, 1,600 relay. Lakeside- David Guyette, javelin; Guy Phillips, shot put; Mark Smith, 400; Brady Murray, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles; Jason Cummings, discus, and Craig Downey, shot put, discus. Deer Park- Gene Webb, high jump.

Girls state qualifiers Mead- Allie Bailey, triple jump; Jen Bennett, shot put; April Gallagher, discus, and Jamie Wakefield, long jump. Shadle Park- Carolyn Nelson, 100. Riverside- Abbey Wood, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump, 1,600 relay; Laurie Faraschuk, javelin; Ryan Alderson, 1,600 relay; Nicole Lamarche, 1,600 relay; Brook Dornquast, 1,600 relay. Lakeside- Cory Nightingale, 200; Lindsay McElroy, 1,600, and Amber Reardon, discus. Deer Park- Jaime Stone, 1,600, 3,200, and Amanda Oswalt, long jump. 400 relay.