Grohs Go Very Well For Eagles

3A track and field

West Valley’s Brad Groh ran and leaped to three state berths during the 3A regional track meet at Eastern Washington University’s Woodward Stadium.

He still had enough energy to sprint across the football field and envelope his younger sister, Shannon, in a hug.

She was readying herself to receive her first-place ribbon in the discus. He was completing his third victory of the evening. Together, they had accounted for two-thirds of the Eagles’ triumphs during the qualifying meet for Star Track XVII in Tacoma.

“She’s a sophomore trying to live up to brother’s expectations,” said Brad. “She deserves that.”

Shannon had watched Brad’s 300 intermediate hurdles race in between throws during her discus triumph.

“We cheer each other on so much,” she said. “I’m happy he’s going to state since he’s a senior.”

She also noted she had gone one up on her brother.

“He said he wished he’d gone to state as a sophomore,” said Shannon. “I get to.”

The Grohs are among Frontier League athletes who secured 40 berths from regionals to next weekend’s State 3A meet.

West Valley’s boys and East Valley’s girls were meet team winners. But Mid-Valley athletes earned 62 of 101 state berths.

Boys

After motoring to victories in two hurdles races, with an accidental appearance in the 400 relay in between, Brad Groh bounded 44 feet, 4 inches on his final triple jump to complete his trifecta.

“The coaches said just to get through it, but I wanted to prove a point when I get to state,” he said.

Joining him in the winners’ circle for WV were discus thrower Ryan Spivey, whose 156-4 throw was a personal best, and Rick Collins, who won the pole vault at 15 feet, narrowly missing a meet-record 16-1.

They are among eight Eagles to qualify for state.

East Valley advanced seven, including double sprint qualifier Jesse Nicholson, the 200 victor in 22.81 seconds.

Cheney’s Jason Miller advanced in the high hurdles.

Girls

Shannon Groh’s 121-11 discus throw was one of four wins by Frontier League girls on the meet’s final day.

“I’m satisfied,” she said. “I still have state to go.”

So, too, do a pair of Cheney winners, senior Sheri Wilske at 100 meters and sophomore Alicia McAllister in the 100 hurdles.

McAllister overcame a hamstring pull that had sidelined her for three weeks.

“I was nervous, but I kind of thought I’d do well,” she said. “I didn’t think I’d get first.”

Last year, when she finished third in regionals, only two qualified for first. Her victory took any doubt out of the race.

East Valley had the other win, a 4:02.88 in the 1,600 relay, but it has a total of eight events covered.

Freshman sprinter Chris Bartlett was second in the 100, third in the 200 and anchored the state-qualifying 400 relay.

Korinda Godwin, sore quadriceps and all, and Crystal Gerky advanced in two events each, including the long relay victory.

Clarkston and Cheney have four qualifiers each. WV has two.