Shadle Boys’ Track Team Dominates Gsl Competitors

Thu., May 11, 2000

By Dave Trimmer davetrimmer@yahoo.com

Not every mark was their farthest or every time their fastest, but each time a Shadle Park Highlander stepped up, not many stayed with them.

The Highlanders boys’ track team dominated the Greater Spokane League final four last week, whipping University, Mt. Spokane and Mead in a quadrangular meet scored as seven separate dual meets.

Shadle Park’s first track championship since 1975 was a dream come true for coach Ivan Corley and left him struggling for words.

“To have a meet of this magnitude at Shadle, for this team, this school, this community, for our students to come out …

“To have kids who have stuck with me, coaches who have stayed with me, bring a GSL title to Shadle Park. …”

Hey dreams are hard to explain, especially when they are preceded by nightmares.

“Eight years ago when I became head coach, I was happy to have 30 to 40 boys out and I was begging them to stay out,” Corley said. “I believe there is not only a big value to having kids stick it out, but all our coaches have been together from 3 to 8 years. It couldn’t happen without a great supporting cast.”

Check out the results.

Shadle 101, Mt. Spokane 44.

Shadle 105, University 40.

Shadle 116, Mead 30.

Score the Highlanders against the other three combined and it was Shadle Park 80, Them Guys 60.

Any fears Corley had going in were unfounded.

“I was concerned they were maybe over-emphasizing the meet,” he said. “I just wanted them to go out and try to improve their marks. I can live with that. If they do that, everything takes care of itself. … No one wanted to let the team down.”

The Highlanders were third at state last year. It will be hard to do any better than that this year. There is a big difference between a great dual meet team and a good big meet team.

But, if the Highlanders compete for the next three meets - starting with the District 8 meet today and Friday at Central Valley - the way they did last Thursday, a trophy is possible.

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