Ups, Downs At Cougar Invite

Prep track and field

Carly Barnes wasn’t the least bit unhappy with her new watch, signifying her 1,600-meters championship in the Cougar Invitational track meet at Mooberry Track on Saturday.

But, she said, “That was a strange race.”

But, that’s kind of the way the first Washington State University meet for high school athletes went.

There were a lot of strong performances, but there weren’t a lot of deep fields as many schools were unable to fit the new meet into their schedules.

That didn’t keep a number of athletes from setting personal records, small-school entrants from challenging and beating big-school rivals, a sparse Greater Spokane League lineup from having its usual strong showing and a couple of Big Nine stars from stealing the show.

“I’m very happy,” WSU head coach Rick Sloan said. “Everybody worked really hard to pull this off. This is the weekend we’re going to have it. They need to put it on their schedule… . I haven’t heard any complaints. Coaches appreciate a well-run meet where they know what to expect and it helps the kids prepare for (the protocol) at state.”

Girls

The pace for the 1,600 was anything but steady. The first lap was 83 seconds, the second 76. The runners slowed to 79 before Gonzaga Prep’s Barnes took off.

“I don’t like doing it that way,” said Barnes, who gained control in the final 200 meters. “I like to start out fast and keep it fast. I think I run better if we go at an even pace… . My usual move is the last 200 but this race was so uneven I started to kick at the bell (signifying one more lap).”

Danielle Ayers-Stamper of LaCrosse-Washtucna was the first champion of the day with a leap of 17 feet, 10 inches in the long jump.

“It was a pretty good day,” said the sophomore, who was third in the 100-meter hurdles. “My first jump was 17-9 and the next girl went 17-8. I’m happy there were girls around me.”

And, for a rare race, she saw runners in front of her.

“That does make a difference,” she said. “I can do better. I want to do them again now and see if I can do better. Those two seniors beat me,” the defending State B said, referring to defending 4A champion Lindsey Johnson and defending 2A champ Ann Sullivan. “It doesn’t make me feel bad losing to seniors.”

Alana Hagrey of Lewis and Clark clipped 3 seconds off her best in winning the 3,200 in 11:37.74.

“I’ve been having a lot of PRs lately,” she said. “I think it has a lot to do with confidence and our training program is working for me. I’ve been a lot more focused, I think because I’ve been enjoying it a lot more. I’m getting to know more people. I think there is more pressure that comes with PR’s but I’m actually having a lot more fun.”

Bree Skinner of Pasco had a big day, winning the 200, 400 and anchoring the first 1,600 relay team to go under 4 minutes this year.

Boys

Blake Horgan is finding that high expectations are sometimes counterproductive.

The East Valley senior won the shot put with a heave of 55-3/4 but that’s well short his best and way below his goal to 60 feet.

“I know I can throw better than that,” he said. “It was one of those days. Man, track is a weird sport. Every day something will change, you do something wrong. I threw a good throw at Rogers (on Thursday, a 61-plus in practice) and it’s been messing with my head. I think I’m pressing too hard… . I’ve been preparing for this meet since Pasco and I didn’t have it.”

Teammate Andrew Burgess also picked up a title as the only high jumper to clear 6-6. But he was frustrated by just missing at 6-8.

“I got 6-8 as a sophomore and haven’t got it since,” he said. “I think I gained weight since then. I was a little, skinny guy as a sophomore. It’s frustrating. It seems like I’m stuck on 6-6… . I’m getting there. It feels like I’ve got to work on my steps. I’ve got to get further out. I’m jumping into the bar.”

The Valley Christian hurdlers, Jared Evans and Jayvan Eberle went 2-3 and 3-4 in the 110 and 300 hurdles, respectively. Another B athlete, Jesse Dean of Glenwood, won the pole vault at 14-6.

JaQua Anderson of Davis won the 200 and 400. Teammate Taylor Stubblefield won the long and triple jumps. Both were on the winning 400 relay.

Boys, Shoreline Invitational

At Everett, the Shadle Park boys won the 1,600 relay to tie Lake Washington for the title with 75 points. Mt. Spokane was third at 69.

Michael Kiter of Shadle Park was track athlete of the meet after winning the 3,200 in a state-best 9:11.36. Demetrius Scott of Shadle won the 200 in 22.21 and was second in the long jump.

Cameron Stewart won the discus at 169-4 and Cameron Schwehr won the 1,600 in 4:16 for Mt. Spokane. The top finish for Rogers was a second by Loren Hatch in the 800.

Girls, Lake Washington Invitational

In Kirkland, Sarah Bayne of Rogers had a pair of fourth-place finishes in the shot put and discus.

Mt. Spokane, Ferris and Mead also competed in the meet, won by Eisenhower with 75 points.