Wheelchair athletes shine

When seven wheelchair athletes made history at the Riverside Invitational on Saturday they took it with aplomb.

But don’t think they weren’t excited that for the first time in a high school track meet in the United States their effort contributed to the team scores.

“It’s so awesome,” Tekoa-Oakesdale-Rosalia sophomore Susannah Scaroni said. “It’s really cool. Finally.”

“It’s great,” Rogers senior Cody Mace added. “It really does matter. Before it was just an exhibition.”

Wheelchair racing can be complicated, with various categories related to disabilities, but in the end it comes down to one thing, competition.

Scaroni and Mace swept the 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-meter races but despite being veteran racers who have competed internationally and a steady wind, the historic day helped propel them to personal records in several events.

As Riverside junior Bobby Hunt said, “It gives me more encouragement to do more than I’ve ever done.”

With Kasey Andrews and David Watts also contributing to Riverside’s scoring, the Rams finished second with 85 points, 30 behind Shadle Park’s varsity but 1 1/2 points ahead of the Central Valley JV.

“The team likes it,” Andrews said. “I get to travel with them, be part of the team. It’s awesome.”

Jordan Clyburn of North Central was the other girls competitor.

In January, Washington became the second state, after Louisiana, to allow wheelchair athletes to score team points. Pennsylvania and Alabama have followed. But this was the first meet to put it together, although this year was the first time the Pasco Invitational had wheelchair races.

“I like racing new people,” Scaroni said, “but I like racing people I know to cheer them on.”

Mace, who will compete for Arizona next year, is proud of the recognition he provides for Rogers.

“It’s big,” said the future University of Arizona scholarship athlete. “We haven’t really had anybody since Becca (Noble).”

Of course they weren’t the only standout athletes. In other highlights:

Girls

Colville senior Brittney Williams and Northwest Christian freshman Lisa Vandenburg hooked up in a pair of stirring distance races.

Williams tucked behind Vandenburg in the 3,200 then out-leaned her at the wire.

“I kind of feel bad,” Williams said after winning by a hundredth of a second. “I like to draft, what can I say?”

In the mile, Vandenburg wouldn’t let her get by and “pulled away” to win by a half-second.

“I wasn’t going to let her out-kick me,” she said. “I’ve never been out-kicked before.”

Lauren Mellor of Colfax was the only double winner, edging Ashley Stabl of Tekoa-Oakesdale-Rosalia in both hurdle races. She managed to set a school record of 46.3 seconds in the 300 hurdles despite running the shorter race as well placing fourth in the 100 and helping the 400 relay team to a season best before hand.

“It was a long day but I like the competition,” the future Auburn University volleyball player said.

And there was good competition. East Valley’s varsity won with 120 points, one ahead of Cheney. T-O-R was seventh with 46 points.

The Riverside girls were third with Stephanie Dye providing the only individual win for the hosts, taking the 800.

Boys

On the boys’ side, a couple of stars won handily, even if they didn’t match their top performances.

Just two days after throwing the javelin 211 feet, 2 inches, one inch short of the state record, Colville junior David Musson went 199-5, hampered by the severe crosswind. There was no wind when he made his big throw at West Valley.

“That was far but I have potential for more,” he said. “The jump to 200 is training. I’ve been training since the beginning of the school year. This is my only event, my only sport. It’s God’s gift to me so I’m going to put my energy into it. I love it.”

Senior Kris Widman of T-O-R only cleared 6-4 in the high jump, 2 inches short of his season best and 4 short of his personal record, but enough to win by 4 inches.

“I’m on track,” he said.

His results are impressive because he didn’t turn out for track until his sophomore year, to stay in shape for football and basketball.

“I always figured I could jump pretty high,” he said. “I told the coach I would like to try it.”