Boys track teams prepare
The questions started almost immediately.
East Valley had just won the state Class 3A boys track and field title in Pasco, and coach Dave McCarty was already besieged.
“They kept coming up to me, the kids, the parents, everyone,” the coach recalled. “They kept asking me ‘What about next year?’ I kept saying, ‘Let me savor this one for a few minutes before I start thinking about next year.’ “
There was much to savor last year.
The Knights won the school’s second state title and first since 1979 with six individuals and a pair of relay teams, bringing home the team title without the benefit of a single individual state champion – a testament to an overall team effort.
Fittingly, it was the 1,600-meter relay team runner-up finish in the final event of the meet that brought home the title.
East Valley scored points in nine out of 11 total state events, capping a season that saw the team win the Greater Spokane League title, the District 8 3A title, and the Eastern Regional crown en route to the state championship.
And now, next year is here.
Central Valley Bears
The most impressive sight at a Central Valley practice is the sheer size of the school’s track and field contingent. Between the boys squad, which currently is 132-athletes strong, and the girls, there are almost 250 athletes out. That’s big enough to be a good-sized Class B school.
“It’s been big the past few years and this year it’s huge,” head coach Chuck Bowden said. “The thing is, we’re still adding athletes. Most years you lose a few along the way the first few weeks. This year, if we lost two kids, four more come out.”
With big numbers will come depth.
The Bears will be strong in the distance races thanks to runners who led CV to a third-place finish at the state cross country meet, earning a national ranking along the way.
Seniors Sean Coyle and Tylor Thatcher each will be strong.
Sophomore Brad Whitley is ready to blossom in the sprints. Senior Shon Davis, a 1,000-yard rusher during football, is a standout hurdler while his junior brother, William, is a leader in the jumps.
Junior Tyler Cochran should be strong in the throws.
“With the exception of Sean, Shon, Tylor and Brad, we really won’t have to rely on a few athletes doing multiple events,” Bowden said. “We may not have a superstar standout in one event, but we should be able to score well in every event.”
The Bears placed sixth in the 1,600 relay at last year’s state meet. Davis and Whitley return from the All-GSL squad.
East Valley Knights
East Valley graduated some big guns off last year’s team.
“We don’t have the great thrower that we’ve had in the past – no one to replace Tyler Jolley,” McCarty said. “We have some kids who can be pretty good, but not like a Jolley or a Roof.
“I think we’re going to be just fine on the track.”
Sprinter Anthony Laborin graduated, but seniors Scott Bunkelman and McKay Clarkson return from the state 400 relay team, as do seniors Sam Hale, Case Parker and Clarkson off the state 1,600 relay squad.
The sprint relay squad turned in a 45.96 in first effort in Clarkston, while the mile relay turned in a 3:36.
Senior Tim Armstrong is off to an eye-opening start.
The senior turned in a state-best 14.54-second time in the 110-meter high hurdles at the Banana Belt meet at Clarkston Saturday, then followed that effort up with a state-best 39,97 300 hurdles. Senior teammate Kyle Bowers right on his heels, with a 15.41.
Bunkelman, a senior who placed fifth at last year’s state meet with a personal-best jump of 21-feet, 11 1/2-inches, turned in a 20-feet, 3/4-inch jump to win at Clarkston.
Bunkelman was the biggest surprise of last year’s state meet. Then a first-year track athlete, he was the No. 3 seed in the long jump going into the district meet. At the regional, he was the No. 6 seed in a meet that sends just three to state and came up with a personal-best jump of 21-1 to advance to state, where he was the 11th seed.
At state, he needed another personal best to reach the finals and earned his trophy by adding 10 inches to his previous best mark.
And as a prelude to things to come this season, Bunkelman bested that mark on his final attempt, only to fall on his landing to wipe out the effort – leaving him pondering the one that got away.
The Bears start the season with what Bowden hopes will become an annual meet: The Cross State Challenge.
Class 4A power Snohomish and Class A Seattle Academy will combine to take on Central Valley and Freeman.
“This should be a fun meet,” Bowden said. “We went over to Snohomish last year and had a great time. Our kids got to know their kids, and it was a great meet. Combining the two schools is a bit of a twist, but it should be fun. Snohomish is a strong program. Freeman is a top program year in and year out, and Seattle Academy is one of their rivals.
“This is the kind of meet that we want to see every year, even if the teams involved change from year to year.”
University Titans
Abby Hornstein, who took over as head coach of the girls team last year, takes over both boys and girls programs this year.
The Titans return the state javelin champion in junior Wes Nolen, who threw 190-7 at Edger Brown Stadium to win the state final.
University has a strong turnout of its own. The Titans open the GSL season Wednesday against East Valley.
West Valley Eagles
There is a buzz around Ward Mauer field these days.
The Eagles are a team two seasons removed from a Class 3A state boys title and about to embark on their first season in the Class 2A Great Northern League, where they will finally be able to pick on teams their own size.
First-year head coach Vic Wallace is widely considered one of the top sprint coaches in the Pacific Northwest and two of his assistant coaches, former head coaches Jim McLachlan and Howard Dolphin, both are Hall of Famers.
Central Valley coach Chuck Bowman was blunt: “I fully expect West Valley to be a Class 2A state power,” he predicted.
The Eagles will be strong in the distance races thanks to McLachlan’s strong cross country program. Juniors Richard Keroack, Joey Hartmeier and Alex Hanson and sophomores Michael White and Justin Degenhardt all will be strong.
Junior Glenn Akers will be strong in the jumps and sprints, as will sophomore Tyson Van Dinter.
Junior Tim Pring, a baseball player his first two seasons at West Valley, turned out for track and should leave his mark in the sprints.
Nikko Guzman and Manny Pacheco return in the throws.
The Eagles opened their season Wednesday, hosting Eastmont from East Wenatchee and East Valley.
“We’re excited to see how we’ll do in our first full meet,” Wallace said. “We’ve had two jamborees now, but this will be our first full meet where we can see kids in all four of their events.
“The past week we’ve had kids come up and ask about doing more events to help the team. That makes me excited.”