Big Things Come In Small Packages At Strandberg

It was dark and getting cold but Jared Evans had a smile to light up the night.

The hurdler from Valley Christian was named Male Track Athlete of the Meet at Central Valley’s Strandberg Invitational on Saturday.

“I thought it would be a 4A guy,” said Evans, who won both hurdles and capped his day helping the Panthers finish third in the 1,600 relay with a school record (3 minutes, 29.4 seconds). “I’m just me, a kid from nowhere. It was a good day.”

Yes, a big school had its way, with the Central Valley boys and girls, rolling up 123 and 110.8 points, respectively, but it was a great meet for small schools to test themselves.

“It’s so good to run against teams like that,” Evans said. “It pushes your times down.”

Evans won the 110-meter high hurdles in 14.8 seconds and the 300 intermediates in 40.1.

The Panthers finished fourth at 57 points. Eastmont had 87 and West Valley, with four of the top six pole vaulters, scored 63.

Joining Evans as Male Field Athlete of the Meet was Seth Perrins of Tekoa-Oakesdale, who cleared 15 feet, 3 inches in the pole vault, the highest ever by a B school vaulter.

A pole vaulter also earned the Female Field Athlete of the Meet as CV’s Emily Roberts bettered her state record by 2 inches, clearing 11-6. (Official state records can only be set in a state meet.)

The Female Track Athlete of the Meet was Omak’s Ann Sullivan, who won the 100 and 300 hurdles (14.5 and 44.6) and anchored the winning 400 and 800 relays.

Omak was second in the girls standings with 83 points, one ahead of Colville.

In the featured Twilight Mile, Larry Thomas and Crystal Evans of Colville coasted to big wins in 4:32.8 and 5:12.1, respectively.

Boys

Evans and Chris Franklin of 4A Moses Lake were the only double winners, Franklin taking the 200 (22.8) and 400 (50.9).

“I feel good,” Evans said after running right at his personal records. “I feel real strong. I’m starting to get that end-of-the-season feel.”

Since clearing 14-6, Perrins had been pressing for 15. His brother Jason went 14-9 in 1987.

“It’s a big relief,” Perrins said. “I was such a head case. That’s been a barrier for me. This is even the first chance I’ve had to go for it.”

After clearing 15 and taking a run at 15-3, meet officials delayed the start of the 400 relay so Perrins, the Nighthawks’ anchor, could keep vaulting. He missed a second time and Ben Clifford of West Valley, who also cleared 15, allowed Perrins to try again so he could go race.

With everyone waiting and the crowd clapping, Perrins soared over 15-3.

“That was so great,” Perrins said. “It’s the biggest rush I’ve ever had.”

Girls

The meet started great for the home team when Melissa Loss bounded 36-2 in the triple jump, setting school and meet records. Her personal record was 34-6 but the best this year for the junior was 33-9.

“I was just thinking be aggressive,” she said after a 35-7, 34-9 series. “That helped. I wasn’t thinking about every little thing, I was just attacking each phase.”

Joining Sullivan as a double winner was Colville sophomore Deyna Tripp in the 100 (12.4) and 200 (26.3), both personal records.

“This has been my best meet of the year, definitely,” she said. “When I got here, I felt good warming up. The weather was good.”

Laura Halverson of Freeman also had a strong PR in the 800 at 2:17.9, an area-best and 1A state-leading time.

Two B girls had big days. Danielle Ayers-Stamper of LaCrosse-Washtucna won the long jump by 19 inches at 17-10, finished second in the 100 hurdles, third in the 200 and fourth in the 100. Katie Coles of Garfield-Palouse was second in the triple jump and third in the long jump.