Regional Berth A Nice Surprise

District 8 track and field

It wasn’t exactly an enjoyable evening, but Denise Kirstein had fun.

Overcoming what has been a trying, if not completely frustrating, spring, the Ferris High senior surprised herself Thursday by earning a trip to the 4A Eastern Regional track meet in the triple jump.

“I didn’t think I had a chance,” said Kirstein, who entered the District 8 meet as the 12th-ranked triple jumper. “I was just out here having fun. I think that helped.”

There were 10 finals in the Greater Spokane League meet at Central Valley with the top eight placers advancing to the regional in Pasco next weekend. The remaining 25 finals will be held tonight, with field events beginning at 5 p.m. and running events at 6.

Kirstein, a sprinter-long jumper, tried the triple jump this year and went 33 feet in her first meet at Clarkston in March. She didn’t go that far again until Thursday, when she jumped 33 feet, one-half inch, placing seventh.

In between, she battled her insecurities with the sprints and saw her house almost burn down.

“I’d like to think (that didn’t bother me),” she said. “It’s terrible. It’s hard to make it reality. You wake up every morning and expect it to be back to normal.”

Kirsten’s father was deep frying halibut and forgot to turn off the burner on April 22. The family lived in a downtown motel for two weeks before moving into a duplex.

“We lost everything in the garage and had smoke damage in the entire house,” she said. “My room is above the garage but I didn’t lose everything. I lost some of my awards. That’s disappointing.”

The good news is her prom dress was salvaged.

As for track, the failure to improve in the triple jump was frustrating and, she said, “I’m slower than I was as a freshman.”

Still, she also made the finals in the 100, finishing third in her heat.

The Saxons’ two sprint relay teams have been good again this year but Kirstein said: “That’s a different mentality. That’s a team thing. I wouldn’t let my personal frustrations affect that.”

Another bright spot was when the 3.82 student was accepted to Whitman College in Walla Walla, where she will also play basketball and, she hopes, volleyball while majoring in chemistry.

“I’m just happy the opportunity (for strong academics and athletics) came in one package for me,” she said.

Another South Hill athlete was able to erase some frustrations on Thursday.

Lewis and Clark senior John McKinnon had season bests in both the 110-meter high hurdles (15 seconds) and 300 intermediates (38.7).

“I had a really good day,” he said. “I’ve been having a bad year and the competition (passed) me. I would go home and wonder why. I kept visualizing myself running a race and winning. That helped.”

McKinnon went to state in both events last year and placed sixth in the 300s. It wasn’t until last week that he began to lower his time in that event and his new personal record puts him among the best in the state. He also hadn’t hit 15 seconds in the 110s until Thursday, exactly a year since he ran 14.5, his career best.

“When you run hurdles, you have to have rhythm,” he said. “I lost my rhythm. I don’t know how. I’m just starting to get it back.”

There were a couple of other impressive marks despite the cold, wet and windy conditions.

University freshman Heide Bunkowske lowered the area best in the girls 300 hurdles to 45.6, an improvement of 1-1/2 seconds… . Matt Blaine of Gonzaga Prep, who took up the 800 just last week after a season of hurdling, cut almost 5 seconds off his time with a 1:52.2. He took the area lead from Lerrin Hatch of Rogers, even though Hatch improved his time 2-1/2 seconds to 1:54.4. They ran in different heats but will meet tonight… . Even with eight advancing to regional, Michael Kiter of Shadle Park ran the 1,600 in a state best 4:13.9 and runner-up Cameron Schwehr of Mt. Spokane also had a PR at 4:15.7. … Demetrius Scott of Shadle Park was just a half-inch short of a PR in the long jump at 22-6-1/2 despite the wet sand… . Shadle’s Justin Garrett (50-10-1/4) and CV’s Kyle Osborn (50-6) joined the 50-foot club in the shot… . Running alone in the 3,200, Laura Hodgson knocked a second off her area best in the 3,200, going 11:30.5.