Highlanders Make Grade Vs. Wildcats

Prep track and field

It doesn’t always happen but Alex Moon had all his assignments done on time Thursday.

That was in the classroom.

It was the same on the track as Moon helped Shadle Park defeat Mt. Spokane 83-62 in a battle of unbeaten Greater Spokane League teams Thursday afternoon at the Highlanders’ track.

“It was a good day,” said Moon after winning the hurdles and doing his part on the relays. “I didn’t feel very good but I ran pretty good. I guess when I have a good day in school I have a good day in track.

“I felt good this morning. Everything went smooth. I had all my assignments done; normally I don’t.”

The Shadle Park girls waited until the last possible moment to finish their work. The Highlanders won the 1,600 relay to edge Mt. Spokane 75-1/2-74-1/2.

“I knew what we had to do,” sophomore second leg Carrie Clemens said after the 4-second win. “It made it fun and competitive. I can get competitive. That’s why I love it so much … it’s so exciting.”

The Highlanders also had to sweep the 3,200 to catch the Wildcats. Erin Krogel, the state cross country champion, led the way in her first competition of the season because of an injury. Then she went to the hospital after a severe asthma attack.

Boys

There were a number of big performances at Shadle, with Demetrius Scott winning the 100, 200 and long jump as well as anchoring the 400 relay.

But the Wildcats were stubborn.

Cameron Schwehr knocked off state leader Michael Kiter in the 1,600 with a strong final lap and doubled back to win the 800 in an area-best time of 1:57.4. Teammate Cameron Stewart won the shot put and discus.

Mt. Spokane also got a good 1-2 from Jon Bruce and Brandon Gallagher in the javelin and a final-jump win by Pat Ray in the triple jump.

But Shadle’s depth was too much.

“They proved they could hang with us,” Moon said. “You’ve got to keep the intensity up. There’s always competition.”

Moon lowered his season best in the 110 high hurdles to 15.6 and then took the area lead in the 300 intermediate hurdles, with a 39.7.

The meet also featured three 14-foot pole vaulters in Shadle’s Jarel Lee and Mt. Spokane’s Pat McMahon and Joel Sherman.

Anthony Buchanan swept the three sprints and Max Schmidt doubled in the distances as University swept Mead and East Valley at EV. The Titans won 82-63 over Mead, for the Panthers’ first loss, and 107-38 over EV. Mead defeated EV 111-34 as Billy Reamer won the javelin and 110 hurdles… . At Ferris, the Saxons swept NC and Prep. Ben Campbell won the 100 and 200 as Ferris beat NC 81-64 and Prep 98-46. NC’s Charles Degnan won the 800 and 1,600 as the Indians topped Prep 80-1/2-63-1/2… . Cameron Summers high-jumped 6-6 and won the triple jump as Central Valley beat LC 85-60 and Rogers 108-37 at Hart Field. Erik Coleman won the long jump and 100 to help LC beat Rogers 89-48.

Girls

Clemens didn’t limit her big day to the grand finale.

She started by finishing second in the 100 hurdles and followed with a 17-foot, 2-inch long jump she quickly upped another 4 inches.

“I don’t know, I just busted one,” she said. “I finally got what I’m capable of. It’s all mental. It’s all about having fun. I get nervous sometimes but the fun kicks in. My dad always reminds me it’s about having fun.”

The 17-2, a personal best by 2 inches, opened the door.

“I was really pumped,” Clemens said. “It kind of boosted my confidence. Then it wasn’t about having fun, it was about going longer.

“My goal has always been 18. That’s what I did last year in practice. I have to get on the board. Today I was behind it most of the time or barely on.”

Mt. Spokane had the double winners in the individual events. Nicole Hallman won the 100 and 200 and Leanna Peterson won the shot and discus.

At East Valley, Ali Russell and Katie Morton won two events as University handed the Knights their first loss 96-54. The Titans also beat Mead 97-53. EV defeated Mead 88-1/2-61-1/2. Russell won the long jump and 100 hurdles and Morton took the sprints. Three races matched or beat area bests… . North Central kept its hopes alive for making the final four by edging Gonzaga Prep and beating Ferris at NC. The Indians won the 1,600 relay by 3-1/2 seconds to top Prep 74-72. Katie Graesser and Jennifer Kennedy were double winners for NC, which beat Ferris 85-61. Carly Barnes won the 400, 800 and 1,600 as Prep beat Ferris 81-67… . Central Valley remained upbeaten to set up a showdown with 6-0 U-Hi by sweeping Lewis and Clark and Rogers at Hart Field. The Bears won every event but the 100, 1,600 and 3,200. Melissa Loss won the high and triple jumps, Amy Nickerson won the 200 and long jump and Heather Harding won the shot and discus as CV beat LC 96-54 and Rogers 129-21. LC defeated Rogers 108-41.

Border League

Cheney won the 1,600 relay by 5 seconds to edge Clarkston 75-74 in girls track at Clarkston. Rhett Humphrey won both hurdles and the 200 as the Cheney boys beat the Bantams 79-58. … At Colville, the Indians beat West Valley 88-62 on the girls side but the WV boys defeated Colville 77-68. Sprinter Deyna Tripp, distance ace Crystal Evans and hurdler Shannon McGrane were double winners for Colville. Shannon Groh won the discus and javelin for WV. Justin Drake won the 100 and 200, plus the long jump, as Colville’s boys won all the running events except the 3,200. West Valley’s depth made the difference and Dan Ferguson won the high jump and triple jump.

Medical Lake swept a Great Northern League dual at Deer Park. The Cardinals girls won 100-25. Ashley McKinnon swept the hurdles, Jackie McCall won the 400 and 800 and Adrianne Traylor won the shot put and discus… . Jonny Varona took the shot and discus, Robbie Miller swept the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and Davin Perry won the hurdles as the Medical Lake boys won 82-61. Deer Park’s Willie Soelter was a double winner in the sprints… . At Lakeside, Newport won the 1,600 relay to edge the Eagles 85-74 in the girls meet. The Grizzlies swept the meet as the boys won 78-67. J.J. Jordan won the hurdles plus the high jump.