CCS hammers out NWAACC men’s lead

What track and field calls a hammer – 16 pounds of iron and not quite four feet of wire – is something a little different at the Community Colleges of Spokane.

It’s opportunity. And Jacob Shanklin and Jon Smith are exhibits A and B.

The long and the short of CCS hammer throwing led teammates in a 1-2-3-4-8 finish in the event Monday, worth a whopping 30 points – which more or less accounts for the Sasquatch’s first-day men’s lead in the NWAACC championships at Spokane Falls.

For the 6-foot-4, 250-pound Shanklin, his second NWAACC title didn’t come without some anxiety. The school record holder and conference leader by some 30 feet with a best of 194-10, Shanklin fouled his first two throws and managed to get into the finals in third place with a safety of 162-3. He squeezed ahead of Smith’s leading toss of 168-11 in the fourth round before he finally relaxed, producing the day’s best on his last attempt – 188-6.

“I was under-rotating, so each step I’d have to go more and more distance,” he said. “You can’t do that in the hammer. So the last two throws, I sped up my winds and the ball carried me a little farther.”

Shanklin was a modestly successful shot and discus thrower at Ellensburg who “had never even touched a hammer” until he got to Spokane. But he’ll attend the University of Wyoming next year on a full scholarship thanks to the skills developed at CCS – something that isn’t lost on Smith.

“There’s a lot of opportunity in this event,” agreed the freshman from Connell.

Even for someone 5-8 (“and a half,” he advised) and 167 pounds. That isn’t going to cut in the shot and discus, but Smith threw for a small hammer club in his hometown and arrived at CCS with better speed and footwork than the average beginner. Then he set about building himself to 190 pounds in the weight room.

“Plus I work for a pizza place – Papa Murphy’s – and that helps out a little bit,” he laughed.

The Sasquatch men also got a big long jump – 23-10 – from Elvie Williams and wins from Kyle Anderson in the steeplechase and Seth Dawson in the discus in piling up 108 points, 24 ahead of Lane. The spread is slightly less – 103-87 – on the women’s side, where the Sasquatch also won three golds Monday: Amber Nash in the high jump, Katie Compogno in the 10,000 and Afton Reynolds in the pole vault.

A sweeping rain threw a half-hour delay into the vault, but Reynolds still managed to outlast teammate Jessica Fuller with a last-jump clearance of 11-9 3/4 and take away the school record they’ve shared and traded for two seasons. Next year, the rivalry fans out – Reynolds to Eastern Washington, Fuller to Washington State.

“It’s been so nice having her to train with,” said Reynolds. “You get it every practice. You don’t have to worry about who’s coming from the next school, because your toughest competition will come from her. You know she’ll be right there.”