U-Hi Win Sets Up Clash With Cv

The track meet between unbeaten girls teams from University and East Valley high schools served its purpose for both teams.

By winning on Thursday, the youthful Titans matched Central Valley’s 6-0 record and set up a showdown next Thursday among Greater Spokane League unbeatens.

East Valley, by earning a split of the three-way dual that included Mead, has neared a berth in the end-of-season GSL championship meet.

“I had crossed my fingers for a split,” said EV coach Glenn Gunderson. “I knew U-Hi was tough because we didn’t have the big meet points. When we did the paper stuff I actually thought Mead was tougher against us.”

The way the league is set up, the top four finishers in league compete at season’s end for the league title.

Defending champion CV and the Titans are in the title match. EV virtually assured a clean sweep for Valley teams into the title meet.

U-Hi got huge points from its throwers and long jumpers during Thursday’s victories over the Knights and Panthers.

“The long jumpers went nuts, the discus throwers went nuts, the shot putters went nuts and the javelin throwers went nuts,” said coach Bob Barbero.

Additionally, high jumper Teagan McDonald cleared 5-foot-2 to lead an one-three Titan upset.

EV held its own against the Titans on the track, except for the sprints.

But the team sorely missed injured state throws veteran Brittany Hauser, as the Titans took a 38-7 points advantage during its 96-54 win.

Heather Thomason won the shot put in 36 feet-3-1/2 inches, Elly Johnson won the discus at 114-11 and Crystal Kawamoto, who until this year had been a Titan tennis player, threw 118-8, the league’s third-best javelin throw this year.

Sophomore Tara Grigsby hit 16-1-1/2 in the long jump for second behind junior teammate Ali Russell.

U-Hi’s emergence as a league power after finishing fifth last year, didn’t really surprise Barbero. Freshmen have joined sophomores to make a huge difference.

“Bring in someone like Heidi Bunkowske and Karly Martin,” said Barbero of two impact frosh, “there are a lot of good girls out there.”

Bunkowske equaled teammate Kati Morton’s area best 400 and is also an accomplished intermediate hurdler. Karly Martin has provided distance depth.

East Valley, meanwhile, was satisfied with its effort against Mead that included an upset sweep of the pole vault and one-two finishes in the 400, 1,600, 200 and high jump.

Gretchen Moore was busy in the sprints and relays and Katie Douglas reached 34-6-1/4 in the triple jump to help with the split.

It meant the Valley teams should get to face each other again in two weeks.

At stake on the boys side when Central Valley and University meet on Thursday at CV is a berth in the championship quad meet.

Both teams are tied for fourth following U-Hi’s victory over Mead. One team won’t advance.

Coach Keven Frandsen gave full credit to sophomore Don Turner who high jumped a personal best 6-4, won the long jump and triple jump in just his second outing. Turner also anchored a 400 relay victory.

An earlier three-point loss by CV to Mead put the Bears and Titans in the do-or-die situation next week.

It was a case of nasty weather hurting CV’s jumpers and Tye Scott not competing in the javelin and discus.

Scott, a state runnerup javelin thrower, had hurt a knee earlier and Bowden didn’t want to win if it meant a risk of preventing Scott from returning to state.