Cv, U-Hi On Separate Gsl Tracks

GSL boys

A new Greater Spokane League track format means that district rivals Central Valley and University will not meet until the end of the season, if at all.

The GSL has split into divisions and begins dual meet competition today, nearly three weeks earlier than in past years.

The Titans are in Division A along with Rogers, Ferris, Shadle Park and Gonzaga Prep.

The Bears are in Division B with North Central, Mead, Lewis and Clark and Mt. Spokane.

They will not meet if they don’t finish among the divisions’ top two teams or in the same place, third through fifth, following the dual season.

“I like it better,” said CV coach Chuck Bowden of the new format. “The kids are already talking about qualifying for the league championship.”

First- and second-place divisional teams will be part of a four-team championship meet on May 8 and history is on the side of the Valley schools.

The Titans and Bears have annually been top four finishers, along with perennial champion Mead and Ferris.

And the divisional splits, despite being a random draw, favor a season finale among the quartet.

“This year’s team is better than last year,” said Titan coach Keven Frandsen.

University’s major obstacle to a finals appearance would be the Highlanders and CV’s is the Tigers.

“I feel confident about our chances,” said Bowden.

Distance runners lead Titans

Last year University had sprinters to burn, with three of the league’s fastest four individuals and a state championship short relay team.

While the team still is sprint strong, it is distance runners from last fall’s state cross country championship who lead this year’s track challenge.

“They’ll score points at state,” said Frandsen.

Seniors Seth Mott, Dan Chavez and junior Kris Martin, 1:57.8 already for 800 meters, lead the charge. Remainder of U-Hi’s distance horde, including cross country veterans Bill Williams, Mark Davis, Jeff Rees, Matt Pierce and Mike Visintainer, make U-Hi tough to touch in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs.

Sophomore Anthony Buchanan, who ran 10.7 last year in the 100, will be among the league’s best sprinters.

He’s joined by junior 400 veteran Jake Roberts, senior Damon Foreman, sophomore newcomer Mike Alade, freshman Ryan Lightfoot and returnees sophomore Craig Weaver, juniors Matt Miller, Mike Lukes, Jeff Wineinger and Brad Walker in the dashes and hurdles.

Frandsen figures his team’s improvement in the field will make for overall improvement as a dual meet team.

“We’ll be tough in the jumps, I think,” he said.

High jumpers include Walker and sophomores Karson Neal and Matt Mairer.

Juniors Dave Jones, Kyle Cossette and Chris Carvo, senior Chris Harris, plus Buchanan, Alade are the horizontal jumpers.

Pole vaulters are 14-footer Walker, Wineinger, senior Ryan Conrad and sophomore Ben Osborn.

Senior Ryan Metcalf is already past 143-feet in the discus, and joined by Kendrick Chane and sophomore Gordon Moore. Junior Reggie Lee, senior Chane, sophomores Chris Kreutzer and Adam Vawter are in the shotput.

Javelin throwers are senior Harris and juniors Jared Silvey and Chris Wilkinson.

Bears loaded in field events

Central Valley’s victory at the Lewiston Invitational last weekend proved one thing.

The senior football champion weights throwers and jumpers are going to go out with a bang.

Brandon Bouge had a career best 153-2-1/2 discus throw to beat veteran teammate Wil Beck. Preston Crossman put the shot 50-1/2. Add 52-footer Garret Graham into the mix and the throws are deep.

Additionally, Marc Hinckley began the season with a 6-5 high jump. Meanwhile, junior Tyree Clowe topped 20 feet in the long jump.

“Football did a lot for all of them,” said Bowden. “You always depend on seniors, but these kids have demonstrated confidence in their ability to compete.”

Hinckley, Clowe, Joel Gordon and sophomore Cameron Summers ably man the jumps. Summers was the state’s number two ranked freshman triple jumper last spring.

Norm Tollefson and Ty Pottratz are back in the pole vault joined by sophomore Josh Sonsalla.

Javelin throwers are senior Derek Davenport, juniors Brian Depew and Patrick Libey, sophomore Ryan Collins and freshman Ty Scott.

On the track, Graham heads a group of sprinters that include Zac Scott, Josh Hemenway, Summers and freshman twins Jeff and Dan Hayward.

“We look better in the 200 and 400 than in the 100, although we have decent speed,” said Bowden.

Distances are a CV question mark, although Brandon Bonewell is ahead of last year already, Richie Lentz and Wiley Erickson provide depth.

Junior Chris Smith and one of the Haywards will hurdle.

Distance runners pace Prep

Gonzaga has but nine seniors on its team and seven of them are distance runners.

“We’ll count on running depth from the 400 on up to get points for us this year,” said Maucione.

Veterans Jim Rucker and Rick White are among the league’s best in the long runs.

They’ll be joined by 400 runner Chris Shogan and longer distance athletes Brian Walker, Jim Falkner and Adam Leskis in pacing the Bullpups.

Kelvin Bacon is Prep’s veteran sprinter-long jumper, backed by Tony Valentine, John Saraceno, Nick Agostinelli and Matt Blaine.

Hurdlers are Nick Shrope and Seth Stoner.

Finding field events people is Maucione’s priority. Blaine, Brian Daley, Matt Turner, brother of graduated state champion Ryan, and James Diedesch are pole vaulters.

Blaine, Bacon and Stoner are vertical and horizontal jumpers.

Throwers include Valentine and veteran Ian Brown in the discus.

“We lost numbers in terms of sprints and jumps,” said coach Tony Maucione. “People will have to learn the field events and it will take time.”

, DataTimes