Several qualify for upcoming regional meets

Thursday’s first day of Greater Spokane League 4A and 3A district track and field was about qualifying for next weekend’s regional meets.

Numerous athletes at Spokane Valley schools qualified, one of them an early event champion.

Central Valley senior Pat Leuluai, who won just one regular season GSL meet, threw nearly 10 feet better than in any of them for his winning 151-foot, 2-inch 4A discus throw.

He was one of three Valley discus throwers to advance, including teammate C.E. Kaiser and University’s Nate Thompson.

Bear Sean Coyle was one of just two non-Mead regional qualifiers at 3,200 meters, finishing fourth. The Bears advanced their 400-relay team and two long jumpers on Thursday.

Two Titan boys pole vaulters qualified, including third-place Dan Turner at 14-feet.

In girls, CV’s Hailey Ficklin in the high jump and Anna Layman in the long jump each placed second. The Bears qualified two 3,200 runners and U-Hi one.

Titan Dana McClendon finished third in the shot put, one of three Valley qualifiers.

During 3A competition, three West Valley athletes showed the way for the Eagles. Maurice Swan won the long jump in 21-2 1/4, while Alyssa Wold high-jumped 5-4 to beat teammate Melissa Mauro by two inches. Larsen Agee finished second at 3,200 meters and WV qualified a long jumper and shot putter in girls competition.

East Valley’s Eleaya Schuerch continued her long-jump dominance with a 17-3 win. Tyler Jolley threw 161-11 for second, one of three Knight boys discus throwers to move on.

Knights Brian Munns and Bryce Fisher went two-three in the pole vault and EV’s Lyndzie Johnson was second in the shot put.

The girls also qualified veteran Jo E. Mayer at 3,200 and two others in the field.

The majority of the finals were conducted Friday.

Bears move on

Central Valley’s softball team qualified on Thursday for the eastern regional tournament next weekend at Franklin Park.

The Bears defeated Mead 8-4, scoring all eight runs in the second inning. Rian Stiles doubled twice in the decisive inning, leading it off and finishing with a three-run blow. She finished with three hits.

Victory moved CV against rival University in Friday’s District 8 4A semifinals, and the two teams play in seeding games on Tuesday at Whitworth College.

East Valley plays Cheney today at North Central, seeking a berth in the 3A regional next weekend in Spokane.

Let’s play two

East Valley’s baseball team needs two wins in order to join West Valley and North Central and return to the State 3A tournament.

The Knights (9-10) play West Valley-Yakima (17-4) at 1 p.m. at Spokane Falls Community College in a loser-out game. Winner plays either Hanford or Selah for the third state berth, 6 p.m. at Shadle Park.

University concludes District 8 4A competition today at Avista Stadium. The Titans play at 11 a.m. for a state berth if they beat Mead on Friday or 2 p.m. if they lost.

Loser and winner of those two games play for a regional date at 5 p.m. and chance at the third eastern Washington allotted state berth.

Painted Hills play

Jeanne Allemand continued her strong golfing during Painted Hills Ladies League play.

She shot low gross for the week, a 44 in A flight. B flight winner was Carol Frost with 53. Vivian Zagelow had 56 in C, including a chip-in on the 10th hole.

Penny Lancaster shot 61 in D and Denise Adam shot 52 in no-handicap.

Net winners were Karen Goyins with 40 in A, Marian Decker with 36 in B, Lynn Markeson with 40 in C and Kathryn Cooney with 34 in D.

Other chip-ins were by Joyce Jacobs and Melody Chesnut.

Medal play at Liberty

Liberty Lake Women’s 18-Hole Club golfers conducted medal play last week.

Best scores were a 98 by Caryn McComas in A flight, 101 by Debbie West in B, and 104 by Connie Hatfield in C.

Maggie Steffy won D flight low gross honors. Net winners were Carol Blume with 79 in A, Raouleen Grimes with 77 in B, Jodie Cantrell in C and Sue Meyer in D.

Trailhead golfers compete

Weekly competition among Trailhead Ladies Golf Club members produced some solid winning scores.

Joyce Jacobs recorded low gross of the field to win A flight with a 46 and shared net honors at 31 with Marcia Rowley.

Bev Johnson shot 48 to win B flight. Patty Haskins netted 23.

New member Lori Olander shot 50 to win no-handicap honors.

In C flight, Eileen Couper won with 65 and netted 32. Joy Russell had a chip-in.