Area trio make U.S. track team

Three athletes with local ties were officially named to the U.S. men’s track and field team that will compete at the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki, Finland.

Pole vaulter Brad Walker (University of Washington/University High), discus thrower Ian Waltz (Washington State University/Post Falls) and high hurdler Dominique Arnold (WSU) will compete Aug. 6-14 at the world championships.

All three qualified for worlds during the June 23-26 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Carson, Calif., but the team wasn’t official until Wednesday’s announcement from Indianapolis.

At the national meet, Walker won the pole vault at 18 feet, 10 1/4 inches; Waltz won the discus at 211-9; and Arnold placed second in the 110-meter hurdles with a lifetime-best 13.01 seconds.

“West Valley triple jumper Rashad Toussaint and Rogers middle-distance runner Becca Noble have accrued more national honors.

Both were named to USA Today newspaper’s All-USA high school track and field team.

They are preparing to compete in the Pan American Junior Athletic Championships in Windsor, Ontario.

The All-USA team was selected by Jack Shepard, high school editor of Track and Field News. Criteria included national rankings and the number of top performances in head-to-head competition during regular-season and major postseason meets.