Pasco Gains Opportunity To Host Star Track In ‘01
Pasco, which puts on the largest track meet in the Northwest each spring, gets a chance to show off for the state.
Star Track, the combined 4A/3A state track meet, will move to Pasco in the spring of 2001.
The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association made the decision at its fall representative assembly.
Star Track has been in Tacoma since 1982 and will be there this spring. It will also return to Tacoma for 2002 and 2003.
“I’ve worked the meet at Tacoma for many years and they’ve done a great job,” said Pasco Invitational director John Crawford, who spearheaded Pasco’s efforts to land Star Track. “But it’s been 30-something years since we’ve had this meet over here and we think it’s a good idea to rotate the championships.”
Pasco has several advantages over Lincoln Bowl in Tacoma. The biggest is that all events can be viewed from the grandstands. Also, Edgar Brown Stadium has been remodeled and has a capacity of 8,000, which may be increased.
At the Lincoln Bowl, the throwing events are held away from the stadium.
Cross country
Earlier rumors of separate 1A and B state cross country meets this year turned out to be just that.
Not that local B coaches weren’t hoping for a split.
St. George’s girls and boys teams finished first and second at last year’s A/B state meet, but coach Ross Thomas held out little hope his boys could duplicate that finish without a split.
“To tell you the truth, I’d rather race A/B, fighting in the heavyweight division with the girls and B, in the middleweights, with the boys,” he said.
Instead, the Dragons will be competing for four boys state berths to the 16-team meet along with other A and B schools from Districts 7-9.
St. George’s girls return five runners from last year’s state champions, including former state champ Samantha Clarke, who will chase last year’s winner, Laura Halverson of Freeman.
Two girls teams qualify for the eight-team state meet.
Traditionally run on a Wednesday, this year’s District 5-8 cross country meet at Hangman Valley Golf course for 4A and 3A schools moves to Saturday, Oct 30.
Schools from the Greater Spokane League and Big Nine will still race for four boys and four girls 4A team berths.
Frontier and Mid-Valley League 3A schools are again awarded two berths each for boys and girls.
The 2A and A/B districts will be Oct. 29.
Great Northern League 2A schools compete for two boys spots and one girls berth.
Soccer
In the Border League, fourth-place Cheney (7-3 overall, 5-2 league) plays an important match at undefeated Coeur d’Alene (12-0, 8-0) at 11:30 a.m. Saturday. Great Northern League-leading Riverside (5-0) plays at much-improved Lakeside (3-2) at 5 p.m. today.
Tube time
The WIAA has signed a four-year agreement with Fox Sports Northwest to televise the 4A and 3A football championships and boys and girls basketball championships. FSN also has launched a weekly magazine show - Inside High School Sports - each Wednesday at 5 p.m.