Stress fracture knocks out Barnes

The first day of District 8 track and field was as conspicuous for who was not in an event as much as for who was.

Laef Barnes, the state’s leading 800 and 1,600 meter runner stood on the University High track, armpits leaning on crutches, his season ended.

Barnes learned earlier in the day that he had suffered a stress fracture just outside and below his right knee. The injury has cost Mead a possible 20 state meet points.

“It crimps us,” said Panthers coach John Mires. “You don’t replace Laef.”

Mires said he hoped someone else on the team would step in to replace the points and, with refreshing candor, put the loss of Barnes into perspective by saying it was unimportant in the broader world sense.

For his part, Barnes remained decidedly upbeat despite the obvious disappointment of being denied his chance at state glory. He said he’ll take some time off and ready for next fall.

“I was looking to win state,” he said. “Lo and behold it’s over.”

The pain, he said, began after the Centennial meet in Oregon. The initial diagnosis was bursitis, but X-rays proved that wrong.

One of those who will be called upon to fill the void is Evan Garber who outlegged a talented GSL field in the 3,200. In one of just four boys and girls track finals, he held off Ferris talents Justin Houck (9:11.38) and Mike Quackenbush (9:15.67) while timing 9:09.58

“That was the easiest 9:09 I’ve ever run,” he said. “Last year I ran 9:07, but Justin Hoffstee went out in 4:32 and it was a lot tougher.”

He said the loss of Barnes puts no added pressure on him

“That’s for other guys,” said the defending state 3,200 champion. “The pressure for me to win is the same, though it will be a little more difficult without Laef.”

In another stirring 3,200, defending champion Megan O’Reilly from Mt. Spokane defeated University’s Amie Dahnke in the state’s two fastest times this year. Lewis and Clark boys and Ferris girls won the 400 relay.

In the field, U-Hi’s Michael Kelley had a huge shot put PR of 54-1 ½ to tie Andy Roof. During the girls discus competition, Mead’s Corissa Hutchinson prevailed.

The shot put has been her strength until this year — she won state two years ago. The discus supplanted it.

“I’ve had issues with the shot,” she said explaining that timing difficulties that have kept her below 40 feet much of this year. “In the discus I’ve changed my style from linear to rotary and I think I’ve improved a lot.”

Other field events winners were Shadle’s Bryan Braman, high jump and Keegan Millican, long jump; NC’s Mike Uhlenkott, pole vault; EV’s Chris Shearer, javelin and EV’s Eleaya Schuerch, girls long jump.

The rest of the meet was devoted to preliminary races that qualified the league’s eight runners per event to next week’s regional meet in Yakima.

3A

West Valley’s season-long strength has been the field events and Thursday was no exception.

The Eagles earned 13 of 21 berths to next week’s regionals. They also added four 3,200 runners and both 400 relay teams in the day’s four track races.

One of WV’s champions was Rashad Toussaint, hoping to add a long jump state title to the triple jump championship he won as a sophomore last year.

But of late, said coach Jim McLachlan, his jumping has been hindered by step problems on the runway, something Toussaint blamed on his improved speed.

The Eagles added his brother Arton in the long jump, swept all three regional berths in the shot put, got two pole vaulters, two javelin throwers and qualifiers to Yakima in the girls long jump and discus.

Cody Tylock was an comfortable winner in the 3,200, Cheney’s Bob Wilske won the high jump, Josh Quisenberry the pole vault, Nadia Risk the girls 3,200 and Krista Leistiko, the girls discus.