Format Change Means Early Start To Season

GSL girl’s track

A new format means an earlier start this year for Greater Spokane League track teams.

The league has been split into two divisions and teams will have four dual meets and a season-ending cross-over rather than competing against each GSL school, as in season’s past.

Top two finishers in each division compete for the overall league title on May 7.

“It’s a pretty radical change, but I think it will be for the good,” said Gonzaga Prep coach Terry Kelly.

Last year’s girls runnerup Shadle Park hosts Gonzaga Prep and Rogers hosts University in Division A duals beginning today.

Defending champion Mead, under new coach Tiffany Degenhart, has a bye in Division B, while North Central travels to Central Valley and Mt. Spokane debuts at home against Lewis and Clark.

Homecoming for Mead coach

Tiffany (Olson) Degenhart started on Mead’s state championship basketball team in 1992 and competed in track for coach Annette Pedersen.

Pedersen has moved to Mt. Spokane and Degenhart is the Panther first-year coach.

“I’m trying to put my foot in her huge footsteps,” said Degenhart. “Annette did such a great job with the program.”

The transition will be easier with the return of several standout athletes. Abby Hornstein and Juli Miller lead the sprints, backed by Jennifer Jensen, Maggie Temte, Sara Morrison and freshmen Sara Toguchi and Carly Sartz.

Mead’s strong distance runners Kelly Mattingly, Annie McCabe, Rachae Probst, Sarah Bohman and freshman Amy Toliver keep the longer races in good hands.

Throwers April Gallagher, Leah Merrell and Janelle Edington head a crew that includes Beth Prehn and Elysia Hanna.

State third-place triple jumper Allie Bailey leads the Panther hurdlers and horizontal jumpers, joined by the sprinters and Sara Morrison.

High jumpers include returnee Sara Clements and sophomores Amy Bailey and Courtney Ferguson.

Shadle up to challenge

Even with graduation hitting his standout relay teams, Highlander coach Ivan Corley is encouraged by early-season results.

In a jamboree, the team won 15 of 17 events and went one-two in 13.

“It’s a scary thing, but exciting,” said Corley.

The hurdles are particularly strong events, he said, with regional veterans Lisa Hansen and Amy Ridings. Others are Rachel Rush, Jackie Pfister and Sabrina Schobot.

Sprints are solid behind Katie Schurra and Kerri Laddish. Joining them are Chrissy Foray, Rachel Hayes and Rachel Jones.

All but Rush and Pfister are juniors or younger.

Distance runners from a strong cross country program include Christa Eide, Lanae Jones, Erin Krogel, Julie Sawatsky, Frankie Stone, Heidi Sawatsky and track newcomers Chelsea Latendess and Lynette Palmer.

Shadle did lose a couple youngsters in the field who would have been helpful, but does return throwers Holly Fay, Missy Alake, Angela Hoard, Rachel Garnett and Angela Tate and has added freshmen Alicia Walters and Kendra Caprye.

Sprinters Foray, Jones and Julie Sawatsky are in the jumps along with newcomer Michelle Etter, a volleyball-basketball standout.

“I’ve been trying to recruit her since she was a frosh,” said Corley. “She will help us where ever the team needs her.”

Distances, throws carry Prep

Gonzaga Prep’s distance runners and weights throwers will be the strength of this year’s team.

Beyond them, newcomers will be asked to replace a crew of graduated four-year sprint and hurdles stars.

“We’ll take our lumps early in the season,” said coach Terry Kelly, “but I think we’ll be OK.”

State cross country veteran Jill Larson heads a distance crew that includes Sara McLaughlin and newcomer Karly Barnes. Katie Mayer moves from sprints to middle distances.

New to the team are Robin Bell, Candace Olmsted, Lisa Struss and Cynthia Bouge.

Among the veteran throwers are Melissa Conrad, currently recovering from knee surgery, Rose Weiber, Kathleen Davey, Elisabeth Schumacher, Roz Kitt and Cassandra Hill. New is Stephanie Heuston.

“Outstanding freshmen will carry the sprinters and jumpers this year,” said Kelly.

Haley Cooper has jump experience and is joined by first-timer Michelle Caputo in the long and triple jumps. Liz Pitts will be their high jumper.

Jo Rusca is the lone hurdler, Shaynie Leonard and newcomer Sarah O’Brien are sprinters.

Freshman prospects include Keva Sonderen, Janelle Hood, Laura Oliva and Lucinda Mack.

Pirates have more experience

Rogers had few district qualifiers last year, but coach Chuck Dravland, in his first full year heading the program, does have some experienced returnees.

“We’re a young team, with only four seniors,” he said.

Sophomore sprinter Julie Lehman transferred from North Central and joins seniors Amber Conrath and Latoya Bennett in the dashes.

Sandra Kanan, who with Conrath competed in the district hurdles, heads that event. Conrath was also a district-qualifying triple jumper so will be kept busy.

Others on the team are 400 runner Paula Zammit, distance veterans Shelly Zahrowski, Amanda Lopez, Trisha Cumpton, Jill Hatch, Orilia Pajimola and Esther Gaines.

Throwers include April Fairbanks, Lallah Marston, Sarah Bayne, Janelle Heaman, Kristy Martin and freshman Eve Helton.

Nicole Cooper and freshman Amber Harris are in the jumps.

“April and Amber just missed regionals last year,” said Dravland, “and Sandra ran well.”

NC lacks track bodies

North Central was extremely young last year and is so again. Only, said coach Matt Wakabayashi, the faces have changed.

“It’s really disappointing,” said Wakabayashi. “In most cases they didn’t turn out. That part bothers me the most.”

Distance runners Lisa Forsyth and Denee Wolberg cover the long events.

Sprinter-jumpers include Marie Winters, Sara Holdren, Lelanie Wills and freshmen Nicole Brown, Julie Sherrick, Annie Davis, Jennifer Kennedy, Jenny Sawyer and Kristin Walters.

Freshman Jodi McDonald is the team’s best thrower.

Hurdler joins coach at Mt. Spokane

Track is one sport where Mt. Spokane got help from Mead.

Michele Gemmell, a hurdler and state participant last season at Mead heads the roster of former Panther coach Annette Pedersen.

“I was a little nervous leaving something so successful,” said Pedersen, “but it’s been great.”

Gemmell heads a group of sprinter-hurdlers that include freshmen Kim and Rachel Bertholf, Gina Wheeler, Missy Becker, Jadie Pike and junior Ashley Anderson.

Distance runners include Nichelle Pomeroy, Rae Swenson, Ashley Anderson, Jolene Keller, Summer Gibbs and Elizabeth Wood.

In the field, freshmen Sabrina Miller and Britta Olson lead the throwers.

Jumpers include Wendy Rickel, Swenson and Olson.

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