Area athletes medal in wheelchair events

Eight wheelchair athletes, four of them from the Greater Spokane League, participated in the State 4A/3A track meet in Pasco last week – and made history.

All four GSL athletes entered multiple events and earned at least one gold medal, which, for the first time, also resulted in team awards.

Washington is only the second state to score wheelchair athletes and award team trophies.

Team trophies were presented in two categories: one for wheelchair results and a second for team scores based on the combined score of wheelchair athletes and able athletes from a school.

North Central High School won both 3A girls team trophies.

Kristen Nelson, a freshman, won the 1,600 meters and finished second behind junior teammate Jordan Clyburn in the 100.

In 4A girls, Krystle Horton, a senior at Central Valley High School, won the 100, 200, 1,600 and discus. That gave the Bears the wheelchair team trophy, but Snohomish edged CV for the combined trophy.

Cody Mace, a senior from Rogers High School, won the 400 and discus and was second in the 100. The Pirates and South Kitsap tied for the 4A wheelchair team title, but South Kitsap won the combined crown.

Columbia River won the 3A boys wheelchair team title with Everett winning the combined.