West Valley Is Loaded For State

Four years ago, West Valley track coach Jim McLachlan expressed high hopes for his large freshman turnout.

They didn’t disappoint. Eighteen seniors, a dozen of whom have been in the program all four years, helped the Eagles win four straight Frontier League and two successive regional championships.

Seven are participating this weekend in the State 3A meet in Tacoma.

“We knew when they were freshmen they would be an exceptional group, ” said McLachlan. “We had kids scattered throughout the events. The only thing we didn’t have was a class sprinter.”

What they have are state qualifying hurdler-triple jumper Brad Groh, pole vaulters Rick Collins and TJay Frampton, 800-meter runner Sean McLachlan and 400 runner Brent Krous.

And if the Eagles bring home a trophy, discus throwers Ryan Spivey and Chris Sorensen could be instrumental in their success.

“They would really give us a boost if we get both in the finals,” said McLachlan. “They did it at regionals and did it at Snohomish in a pretty good field. Both compete well when they have to.”

Regional champion Spivey set the school freshman record at 123-4 and has since improved to 156-5. Third-year trackster Sorensen has qualified for state on his last throw the last two years. He upped his best from 110-feet as a Mead freshman to 152-1 this year.

Their competitiveness was evident in other sports. The linemen-linebackers helped WV to a winning football season. They were key post players who helped get WV’s basketball team to state last March.

“We tried to make it a family because four of us could all play,” said Spivey. “Everybody had to play good because there was not tons of playing time.”

They, along with another senior, Jamie Brown, gave WV its first trio of 145-plus discus throwers in the same year.

“Chris was a real nice surprise,” said McLachlan. “Jamie came on like gangbusters. He threw 117-feet last year.”

Sean McLachlan was a multiple state cross country qualifier for his dad and is headed to state track in his third event.

“We still don’t know what event he’s best in,” said his father.

Collins, a two-time 16-foot pole vaulter, was second last year. He and Frampton are in a field that includes four others who also have cleared 16-feet.

The saving grace, said their vault coach Herm Caviness, is they competed against them earlier in Snohomish in what at the time was the best field in state history. It’s gotten even better.

Collins took to the event quicker than Frampton. This year, said McLachlan, he dedicated himself and improved 16 inches to 14-9.

“We always felt he had everything he needed to be a good vaulter,” said McLachlan. “We had no clue they’d both be as good as they are.”

Groh is a two-event top-four state placer who went for points in a third Friday night. He is one of just two Eagles ever to go under 15 seconds in the high hurdles.

The other, 1980 grad Jeff Smith, is Krous’s father. Krous, however, didn’t take to the hurdles and left the team for a year after his freshman season. He made rapid strides in the 400 this year.

“That’s what I like about track,” said McLachlan. “Guys like Krous figure things out and get better as they get older.”

Guys like that include, said McLachlan, non-state seniors Brown, Kevin Lybarger and Wes Hood, who made huge improvement in the distances and hurdles.

“This group in track has really done a nice job of staying with it,” said McLachlan.

Four league and two regional championships and a state trophy pursuit, with help from a pair of discus throwers, is the result.

QUALIFIERS On to state These Valley high school athletes have qualified for this weekend’s state track and field championships:

Central Valley Joel Gordon, long jump, high jump; Brandon Hunt, shot put, discus; Brandon Bonewell, 800; Tye Scott, javelin; Leslie Merideth, 800 and 1,600 relays; Stephanie Crace, 800 and 1,600 relays; Heather Harding, shot put, discus; Emily Roberts, pole vault; Amy Nickerson, 800 relay; Rebecca Kochendorfer, 800 relay; Wendy Wagar, 1,600 relay; Corinne Gannon, 1,600 relay.

East Valley Jesse Nicholson, 100, 200; Andrew Gillespie, 200; Ryan Coordes, 3,200; Andrew Burgess, high jump; Blake Horgan, shot put; Mike Mertens, shot put; Jason Paul, high jump; Rachelle Schultz, shot put; Brittany Hauser, javelin; Chris Bartlett, 100, 200, 400 relay; Korinda Godwin 1,600, 1,600 relay; Melanie Frostad 3,200; Gretchen Moore 400, 1,600 relays; Amanda Kline 400 relay; Heather Lock, 400 relay; Melissa Frostad 1,600 relay; Crystal Gerky, high jump, 1,600 relay; Alicia Tonani, high jump.

Freeman John Russell, 1,600, 3,200, 1,600 relay; Andy Miller, long jump, 400 relay; Bill DePell 100, 200, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Brandon Pratt, 400, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Reid Carrell, 3,200; Jeff Wigen, 300 hurdles, pole vault; Jeff Hyndman high jump, 1,600 relay; Tom Ward 1,600 relay; Jake DePell 400 relay; Todd Reed 1,600 relay; Sara Pratt, 400, three relays; Laura Halverson, 1,600, 3,200, 1,600 relay; Jami Harless, 300 hurdles, three relays; Sadie Kalstad 800 and 1,600 relays; Tracie Duncan, pole vault; Kim Davey, discus. Lindsey Floch 800 relay; Krista Freeman 400 relay; Anna, Lisa Foster 400 relay; Heather Wilkerson 1,600 relay.

Liberty Jeremy Engle 100, 200, triple jump, 400 relay; Brad Wiman 100, triple jump, pole vault, 400 relay; Jason German 200, 400, 400 relay; Ben Holling long jump, triple jump, pole vault; Mike Brumley shot put.

University Kris Martin, 800, 1,600; Anthony Buchanan, 100, 200; Jake Roberts, high, intermediate hurdles; Ian Johnson, 1,600, 3,200; Brad Walker, pole vault; Jeff Wineinger, pole vault; Chris Carvo, triple jump; Julie Schroeder, long jump; Ali Russell and Casey Lektorich, javelin; Katie Morton, 400; Marci Hulbert, pole vault.

Valley Christian Jeremy Hopson 100, 400, 1,600 relay; Jared Evans 200, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 1,600 relay; Jayvan Eberle 110, 300 hurdles, 1,600 relay; Shane King 1,600, 3,200, 1,600 relay; Misha Fomenko, 1,600 relay; Jon Brecto, 300 hurdles; Amy Evans, 100, 100 hurdles, 400 relay, 800 relay; Carli Smith, 400, 400 relay, 1,600 relay; Katie Rosholt, 800, 1,600 relay; Kristen Lanker, 300 hurdles, 400 relay, 800, relay, 1,600 relay; Allison West, 400 relay, 800 relay; Andrea Hayes 800 relay; Nicole Peterson, 1,600 relay; Sarah Teterud, 300 hurdles; Tina Terry, 3,200; Tiffany Drozdov, high jump, long jump. Stephanie Meyer, discus; Crystal Robertson, 800 relay.

West Valley Brent Krous, 400; Sean McLachlan 800; Brad Groh, 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, triple jump; Rick Collins, pole vault; TJay Frampton, pole vault; Ryan Spivey, discus; Chris Sorensen, discus; Corde Kurtz, javelin; Shannon Groh, discus; Kelly Cole, long jump. Jenny Gregorak, pole vault