Colville Boasts Another Title

2A

Alison McGrane admits she talks to herself - frequently within ear-shot of others.

The Colville High sprinter proved a good listener during a tense moment Saturday at the State 2A track and field championships at Eastern Washington University’s Woodward Stadium in Cheney.

Colville’s girls went into the next-to-last event - the 800-meter relay - needing to finish no worse than second to secure a second consecutive state championship.

As McGrane took the baton for the final 200 meters, Colville was fourth, well behind eventual winner Pullman. Most pressing, though, was overtaking Medical Lake and Steilacoom, both about 10 meters ahead.

“I was saying outloud, `Come on Alison you’ve got to get second,”’ McGrane said.

McGrane did, catching Medical Lake’s Alison Biggs with 10 meters to go as the Indians defended their title with 79 points. Omak was second with 73.

Pullman, the defending boys champ, didn’t have enough to make it a Great Northern League sweep. The Greyhounds scored about what they expected (42 points), finishing fifth and two points shy of a trophy.

Omak claimed the title with 54 points, topping Quincy (48), Cascade (46) and Ephrata (44).

Girls

Colville coach Bill Carpenter was elated that McGrane had the honor of securing the team repeat.

“If there’s one girl that I would want in that spot it’s her,” Carpenter said. “She hates to lose.”

And that’s the way McGrane would have scripted it, too.

“Not to sound conceited or anything, but if there was one person that I would have wanted to run the last leg it would have been me,” said McGrane, a senior who teamed with Deyna Tripp, Shannon McGrane and Nicole Welfel on the relay. “I knew I could get whatever our team needed. I told the girls, `Just give me the baton and I’ll do it.’ It was a big thing for me because they trusted me.”

She also defended her title in the 400 (58.66 seconds) and was second to Omak’s four-gold winner, junior Ann Sullivan in the 200.

McGrane had plenty of support. Junior Crystal Evans, who defended her title in the 3,200 on Friday, did likewise in the 1,600 (5:17.2) and scored two valuable team points by finishing seventh in the 800.

Indians junior Christina Dickinson repeated in the javelin (139-8) with a personal best by nearly 10 feet.

Colville won’t three-peat. The Indians move up to 3A next year.

Other area girls winners were Katie Prichard of Riverside in the 800 (2:19.74); Pullman’s 800 (1:47.04) and 1,600 (4:10.57) relays; and Medical Lake’s Jessica Stewart in the shot put (36-4-1/2).

Omak’s Sullivan took gold in the 100 (12.21), 200 (25.34), 100 hurdles (14.19) and 300 hurdles (43.8).

Boys

Pullman standout sprinter Cole Sheridan went out on top after falling short of defending his 100 title.

Sheridan overcame a poor handoff to anchor a repeat in the 400 relay (43.44) before coming from behind to defend in the 200 (22.32).

Elma’s Scott Freymond nipped Sheridan in a wind-aided 100, finishing in 10.8, .05 ahead of Sheridan. Freymond, who added a third title in the long jump (22-7), finished third behind Sheridan in the 200.

Sheridan trailed Freymond by a half stride in the 200 before pulling even with about 20 meters to go.

“I really wanted it after the 100,” Sheridan said. “I wanted to go out a champion. I found another gear and pulled it off.”

Sheridan’s relay teammates - J.D. Morscheck, Seth Burkett and Jacob Petz - all wore warmup shirts with this statement: “No, I’m not Cole Sheridan.” Sheridan’s shirt said: “Yes, I am!”

Other area boys winners were Ezra Gordon of Colville in the high jump (6-8) and Jason Cummings of Lakeside in the discus (164-10).