Track stars begin quest

The three-week chase for gold in Pasco or Cheney begins this week with league track meets for most area schools.

Most casual fans will focus on the District 8 4A and 3A meets at University, where a couple of the best athletes in the nation and state history start their quest. Action today and Friday begins at 3:30 p.m. with field events and 4:30 for running events.

Highlighting the meet is Rogers’ powerful girls speedster, Becca Noble, and West Valley boys jumper Rashad Toussaint.

Noble is going to run the 400 and 800 meters in the postseason. The fastest female in three events in Spokane history is gunning for her third state title in the 400 and a much-anticipated final showdown with defending 800 champion Brie Felnagle of Bellarmine Prep in the 800.

Noble, who won’t defend her state title in the 200 despite a state-best electronic time of 24.62 seconds from the Pasco Invite, beat Felnagle two weeks ago at Lake Washington. Her time of 2:06.75 is second in the nation and third in state history. Without being pushed, the second-fastest 400 runner in state history is at 53.8, which is top 10 nationally.

Toussaint soared 50 feet, 8¾ inches in the triple jump in early April, which is the best in state history. He surpassed that by a quarter-inch in Pasco – and was beaten, but both jumps were wind-aided. Toussaint’s legal mark is the best in the nation and his state-best 23-11 long jump puts him in the top 25.

Two other names are among the nation’s best. Mead’s Laef Barnes is fourth in the 3,200 (8:59.98) and Ferris’ Ben Poffenroth is in the top 25 in the 800 (1:53.5).

Among the other standouts worth the price of admission include:

“Lewis and Clark sophomore sprinter Andre Jennings, who set the state freshman record in the 200 (22.13) last year. He placed in the 100 and 200 at state and helped the sprint relay finish second.

“Shadle Park senior Bryan Braman, tied for the state lead in high jump (6-8), third in the javelin (198-4, which is top 10 nationally, if submitted) and a long jump threat.

“East Valley’s dominant throwers, lead by javelin thrower – and 6-6 high jumper - Chris Scherer and three 50-foot shot putters.

“Shadle senior Catie Schuetzle, state champ in the long jump, league triple jump record holder (38-1¾) and top-end sprinter.

“Mt. Spokane junior Megan O’Reilly, two-time defending state in the 3,200 and third twice in the 1,600.

“LC senior Brianne January, defending state high jump champ who has cleared 5-7 this spring, tied for the city’s all-time best..

“LC’s 800 relay team of Ula Tuala, Brittney Kennedy, Ren Mallory and Hilary Love set the GSL record and has the state best (1:43.3).

Only the 2A Great Northern League, which doesn’t hook up with another league for a district or regional meet, waits until next week to start the postseason.

The Bi-County at Spokane Falls Community College, Whitman County at Colfax and Blue Mountain in Walla Walla all go on Friday. The Northeast A at CV and Panorama at Colville are Saturday.