GSL Preview Track and field

Could anything be more entertaining or indicative of the quality of athletes in this area than what transpires during track season? Last year the Mead (10-0) boys edged Central Valley (9-1) 75-70 in a meet that went down to the last event and North Central was third (8-2). NC’s Indians went on to dominate the 3A ranks on their way to a state title. CV outscored Mead’s Panthers by four points at district, but Mead beat CV’s Bears by 1½ at regional, and they placed third and fifth, respectively, at state.

Ferris (10-0), Mead (9-1) and Mt. Spokane (8-2) topped the girls standings before Shadle Park got healthy. Shadle led four GSL 4A teams in the top 10 at state, placing sixth, the same as Mt. Spokane in 3A with East Valley in the top 10.

Sprints

A pair of state placers in the 100, LC senior Zach Robinson (third) and Ferris junior Kelsey Lin (sixth), headlines the speedsters. NC senior Spencer Wordell was seventh in the 400. The only returning placer among hurdlers is University senior Madeline Fuchs, who was fourth in the 300s, a race that returns all top four placers.

Distance

With the NC boys winning a national title, the Mead boys winning state and Ferris boys, CV girls and Mt. Spokane all third, there is no lack of potential points. NC returns senior placers Leon Dean (800-fifth, 1,600-fourth) and Andrew Kimpel (1,600-fifth, 3,200-second) plus the other members of a powerful cross country team who will find it tougher to get to state (3A) than placing at state. Jeff Howard and Ben Johnson, third and fourth in state cross country, couldn’t get through the postseason squeeze down. The same is true for the (4A) Panthers, whose only returning track placer is senior Jordan Curnutt (800-fifth). Adam Thorne of Ferris, a state qualifier in track, was eighth in cross country. Andrea Nelson of Shadle, a 4A track placer, is the 3A cross country champion. Another big threat, in a loaded event with the top three finishers returning, is CV senior Brad Whitley (800-third). On the girls’ side, Mt. Spokane senior Courtney Zalud is the only returning double placer (800-sixth, 1,600-second), who will face Nelson (3,200-second) dropping down to 3A. That leaves Mead sophomore Baylee Mires (1,600-second) at the 4A level.

Throws

Shadle senior Bianca Pope twice placed in the 4A javelin and will be among the favorites at 3A this season. In 4A, seniors Joe Zimmerman of LC and Justin Graff on Mead were third and fourth, respectively, in the EA javelin. GSL boys were shut out in the shot and discus. On the girls’ side, CV returns senior Lauren Puhek (shot put-sixth) and Mt. Spokane has senior Rachel Damiano (discus-fifth).

Jumps

One state champion is back, 4A high jumper Anthony Maracich, a junior at Mead. The Panthers also had two state-placing pole vaulters in juniors Keith Webber (third) and Justin Hurtubise (fourth). From the 4A horizontal jumps, Bo Schuetzle of Shadle was fourth in the long jump and Levi Taylor of LC was fourth in the triple jump. For 4A girls, Mead junior Tasha Clark is the only placer back (pole vault-third). Mt. Spokane senior Kaycee Smith was third in the 3A vault.

Outlook

On the boys side, size does matter. Mead, CV and LC should do battle again, with NC scoring big because of its distance corps. For the girls, Mead, Mt. Spokane and Shadle appear to have the depth necessary to win league.

New coaches

Anecia Grigsby takes over for Pat Pfeifer with the LC girls and Ryan Murphy replaces Jaime Reese with the Shadle girls.

Key meets

Right off the bat, Mead and CV square off, headed to Rogers this afternoon. The last meet, May 7, is intriguing with Mead, LC and East Valley at Mt. Spokane. … The two big invitationals of interest come soon, Mooberry Relays on Saturday at Whitworth – a 40-team extravaganza swollen by the addition of the hammer throw – and the Pasco Invite April 18.

Postseason

The district meet is at SFCC on May 14-15, with regional at Richland 22-23, which is Memorial Day weekend. State has been moved to Mt. Tahoma HS and is a three-day gathering, May 28-30, with 2A athletes joining the fray. District will be cutthroat at the 4A level, with only two advancing to regional, from which three advance to state.