Pasco Invite portent of things to come

PASCO – To be continued – again, and again, and again.

That seemed to be the perfect theme for area athletes at Saturday’s cool and breezy Pasco Invitational Track Meet.

It started with the boys javelin, where Greater Spokane League friends and rivals Joe Zimmerman of Lewis and Clark, Wes Nolen of University and Justin Graff of Mead went 1-2-3.

“It was great fun,” Nolen said after Zimmerman got him on the final throw of the competition. “It’s not like cutthroat competition. You go out and do your best, you hope they do well and whoever wins you say, ‘See you at state.’ “

The same could be said of the girls’ 1,600 meters plus the shot put and discus.

On the track, precocious Mead freshman Bailee Mires edged Shadle Park sophomore Andrea Nelson. In the throwing rings, West Valley’s Ashley Kenney beat Great Northern League rival Anna Albrecht of Pullman handily in the discus, only to see the future Washington State teammates switch places in the shot put.

Even the high jump qualifies, just to see if Spokane’s best jumper ever, Ferris senior Kelly McNamee, can clear the 6-foot barrier.

“I’m happy but I wish my 6-foot attempts had been a little better,” she said after getting 5-10 for the third time. “I’m glad I got another look at 6 feet. I know there are good things to come. I’m close. It’s good to know I can get my hips up there. I really want to get it this year.”

Overall, area athletes won 11 events, capping the day with the Shadle Park girls (4 minutes, 1.89 seconds) and Central Valley boys (3:23.16) winning the 1,600 relay – which just happened to give the Bears the team title.

“That is fantastic,” obviously surprised CV coach Chuck Bowden said. “I couldn’t be happier for the kids. Wow.”

CV had 41 points, five ahead of Prosser and Jesuit (Portland). Mead, North Central and LC finished in the top 10.

Bellarmine Prep rolled up 65 points for the girls title, with Richland second at 571/2. Shadle was fourth, with West Valley sixth, Mead and LC tied at eighth and 1A Chewelah, led by long jump winner Erin Smith, was 10th.

Girls

Smith gave Chewelah the distinction of being the smallest school to have a winner, surprising a good field with a leap of 17-feet, 41/2-inches into the wind.

“It’s tough but I love to go out and prove myself,” she said.

It’s been a struggle for Smith all year. The State 1A champion last year with a mark of 18-6, turned in her best effort of the season in a season that has had way too many meets canceled.

“I feel like as far as being in shape, I’m on top of it,” she said. “I need to get my technique down – and keep my attitude up.”

Teammate Liz Cobb was seventh in the long jump (16-73/4), Rebecca Johnstone was fourth in the triple jump (36-01/4) and Samantha Beamer was sixth in the 400 (59.3). The Cougars were fifth in the 400 relay (50.38 seconds).

Another small-school success story was Ashley Stabl of Tekoa-Oakesdale-Rosalia going second in the 300 hurdles (45.47) and fifth in the 100 hurdles (15.62).

The distance duel was quite entertaining on a number of fronts, not the least of which is the possibility of a rivalry after Nelson dominated GSL distances most of last season.

“It’s fun to run with Bailee,” Nelson said. “She is making it a great season for me. I really have to work. I love it.”

It was only the fourth race for Nelson, who wasn’t ready to start the season because she broke a toe walking down stairs.

“I’m close,” she said of her fitness level. “I feel so good it’s amazing.”

Pasco was the biggest stage yet for Mires, who ran like a seasoned veteran to win in 5 minutes, 2.80 seconds, 1.22 seconds in front of Nelson, who doubled back with a fourth place in the 3,200 (11:00.21).

“I told myself to relax, stay calm,” Mires said. “I tried to channel my energy through (the backstretch) and kick some booty (down the stretch).

“I was really nervous but it was really fun to get out there. That’s my goal for the next four years, have fun. I love track.”

In a year when throws are down across the state, Kenney and Albrecht are lucky to find good competition within the league.

“It’s a challenge every time, you really have to focus,” said Kenney, after her 141-2 in the discus beat Albrecht by close to 11 feet. “It’s good to have competition. I hope to get to 155, 160 by the end of the year; 150 should be soon, it’s just a matter of getting it in a meet.”

Albrecht went 42-81/2 in the shot put to beat Kenney by almost 31/2 feet.

“I’m kind of playing catch-up,” Albrecht said. “I missed the first two weeks because of state basketball and we haven’t had too many meets. I’m starting to get back in the rhythm, feeling a little more natural.”

The other winner on the girls side was LC’s Eleanor Siler in the 400 (56.49).

Boys

Central Valley won with just one individual champion, 800 runner Brad Whitley, who usually runs the 400.

“I just wanted to see what I could do in the eight,” the junior said after going 1:56.89. “In college I will probably run the 800 or 1,500. I love it. It’s a tactical race instead of an all-out sprint.”

North Central’s David Butler won a photo finish in the 100 hurdles, his time of 14.67 seconds just two-hundredths ahead of Sean Harris of Kent Meridian.

“I’m very pleased,” Butler said of the electronic PR. “I knew coming in we were really close. I knew I didn’t have to do anything amazing to win, just run my own race. I told myself not to get too tense.”

But the real fun was the javelin.

Last week in the GSL it was Nolen edging Graff. Next Thursday it’s Graff against Zimmerman. Shortly it will be the three-week postseason run.

Graff started it off with a leading throw of 180-3, followed by Nolen’s 177-10. Then Zimmerman hit 180-3. No one got better through the flight, although Zimmerman scratched on a throw well beyond 190.

Nolen opened the finals with a leading 183-11 and Zimmerman followed with a throw that was 3 inches short. Then Zimmerman scratched on a throw just shy of 190, but came through on his last throw with a 186-8.

“I prefer this,” Zimmerman said. “If I lose, I lose to good friends. I like (the constant competition). I’m getting better and better. Hopefully I’ll peak at state.”

Nolen, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, said, “I’m still catching up. I’m 75, 80 percent. I have the rest of the season, we’ll see.”

Graff is battling a bad back, but wouldn’t use that as an excuse. “I had a lot of fun,” he said. “I’ve been throwing against these guys since sixth grade.”