District Stars Give Best

High school track and field

Most of the competitors in Friday night’s District 8 4A track meet already knew they were headed for regionals.

Only two races, the girls 1,600 and boys 3,200 meters, and five field events had not determined the eight regional qualifiers.

That didn’t keep athletes from putting their best foot or arm forward.

Stirring races and personal bests abounded during the conclusion of the twoday meet at Central Valley High School.

In the girls 1,600, University’s Jaime Miller led wire-to-wire in an area- and personal-record 5:04.6

The night before she had finished just fourth in the 3,200, opting for the longer run over the 800, where she was the area leader.

Her coach, Bob Barbero, said she went to the lead too early and paid the price.

“She just pulled those girls to a great time (Thursday) night,” he said. “She’ll be OK.”

Miller wasn’t disappointed and said she figured she’d rebound, which she did.

“I went into the race confident in myself,” she said. “Maybe I was a little nervous.”

Rogers junior Ryan Craig, who missed last cross country season because of a stress fracture, has suddenly become the league’s latest long-distance sensation.

“I don’t know why, I’m just glad I’ve got it,” he said.

Craig broke away from Dan Schruth and Jim Rucker to win the 3,200 in 9:15.7.

“Track is so repetitive, I like cross country more,” he said. “But I think the leg made me focus on track”

The meet also included a solid 200-400 double by Lewis and Clark’s Teresa Brooks, although she was feeling subpar.

“I have the flu and shouldn’t even be here,” she said.

The 800 meter duo of University’s Kris Martin and Seth Mott equaled or bettered personal records to obliterate the field. Martin ran 1:54.9, Mott 1:55.6.

Central Valley’s girls 400 and 1,600 relay teams, with Leslie Meredith back in the lineup from an ankle injury, recorded seasonal bests, as did Shadle Park’s boys.

“The injury happened last Monday,” said Meredith. “I don’t know what happened, but it felt worse and worse.”

Following a week’s layoff, she was back, and so were the Bears.

Joe Zelinski of Mead and Anthony Buchanan of U-Hi continued their sprint rivalry, splitting two races. Zelinski also helped Mead nip Ferris in a taut 400 relay.

Busy Tyrone Asterino won two hurdles races for Ferris and ran on a pair of runnerup relay teams.

There was a 49.6-second photo-finish in the 400 meters between CV’s Josh Hemenway and Shadle’s Anthony Walters, who knocked a second off his previous best time.

“I’ve been improving all season,” said Walters. “I believed.”

Other boys winners were Ty Williams of Ferris in the triple jump and Ryan Metcalf of University in the discus.

Girls winners included: Shayla Bush, Ferris, 100; Allie Bailey, Mead, 100 hurdles and triple jump; Amy Ridings, Shadle, 300 hurdles; and Ferris’ 800 relay team.

Shadle Park freshman Kendra Caprye high-jumped 5-1 and Mead continued its dominance of the throws.

Panther Leah Merrell had a 2-foot personal best, reaching 40-2-3/4.

“I was just waiting for this,” she said. “I’ve put 40 in practice from the beginning. I had to prove to myself I could do it.”

District 7 3A

East Valley took care of the track and West Valley the field during the meet that qualified athletes to next weekend’s regional in Prosser.

Led by hurdler Brandon Blize, EV won six running events and eight overall. The Knights advanced 25 athletes to regionals.

Blize ran searing 14.0 and 37.9 hurdles times, lowering his week-old school records and moving him to the head of state.

He was also part of two relay victories.

WV won four field events, got a distance double victory from Sean McLachlan and advanced 21 to regionals.

In a stirring high jump, Knights sophomore Andrew Burgess cleared 6-8 to win by 2 inches over the Eagles’ Eric Deno and Ryan Schroder.

Clarkston’s girls won eight events, Katie Moat and Heather Tucker winning two apiece.

West Valley’s Staci Adams was a three-event winner, both sprints and the 300 hurdles.

East Valley’s AnnMarie Adams won both the 800 and 1,600. The Knights girls advance 23 to regionals.

He’s good, but not that good

North Central shot putter David Sandberg had seasonal bests, including a meet-winning 56-9-1/2, but he didn’t put the shot 59 feet as was reported in Friday’s editions.

Sandberg started out at 55-10, hit his winner, threw 55-4-1/2, 56-2 and 54-5 before scratching on his final attempt.