Freshman Bailey powers Panthers
Two teams that added state-championship cross country hardware to their trophy cases last fall squared of in an early Greater Spokane League boys track and field showdown Thursday night.
The difference was speed.
Led by unassuming freshman Wes Bailey, 4A Mead had no trouble with 3A North Central, rolling 89½-59½. The Mead girls won 96-54.
Bailey, a transfer from Missoula, won the 100 meters in 10.8 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 40.0, an impressive double for someone so young and slight. He almost overcame a bad handoff in the 400 relay and was pulled from teh 1,600 relay when the meet’s outcome had been decided.
The distance running went according to form, with NC’s Indians sweeping the 1,600 behind Andrew Kimple (4:19) and then trailing Mead’s Jason Curnutt (1:59.8) in the 800 when they tried to double back. By the time the 3,200 rolled around, the meet was over because NC, with less depth everywhere but the distances, had to be perfect to challenge the Panthers and wasn’t.
Credit the freshman for making a statement at the start.
“I like the 100 because it goes really quick,” Bailey said. “There’s definitely a lot more in the tank. I’ve got to practice harder and improve every aspect.”
He ran an 11.3 in junior high and wasn’t expecting such rapid improvement.
“I’m very surprised,” he said. “To come out and run a 10.77 is a miracle.”
Bailey moved with his mom after the last school year because they thought there would be more competition, but Mead wasn’t necessarily the destination.
“We just found a house and took it,” he said.
Bailey’s sport of choice is football, but he’s found a new passion. After he ran a 400, the coaches asked him to try the 300 hurdles.
“I love football, but track – it’s fun to run and beat people,” Bailey said.
One person that took advantage of no pressure was Mead high jumper Ryan LaForte.
The senior finally cleared 6 feet, 6 inches and almost made 6-8, two heights he has handled but never when it counted.
“I clear them all the time in practice,” he said. “I get in a meet and it’s 6-4, since I was a freshman. My confidence level was high. I knew we (swept) so I took a deep breath and went after it. It was like 20,000 pounds off my shoulders. Finally.”
LaForte picked up a rare win when junior teammate and defending state champion A.J. Maricinich only jumped once to place.
“It doesn’t bother me (to play second fiddle),” LaForte said. “I knew A.J. had potential as a freshman. Last year I took him under my wing. I knew (opponents) would try to get in his head. I was a father figure. I made it to state, barely by an inch each week. Mainly I wanted to have his back. When he won state, I was just as happy as if I won.”
LaForte gets his recognition in other sports. He’s a three-year varsity basketball player and he was an all-league wide receiver the last two seasons, setting school records for single-season and career yards.
He never thought about giving up track once he decided to pursue football at a junior college in Arizona, and not because he is the only three-sport male in his class.
“People say track is an individual sport. I say it is a team sport,” LaForte said. “I can see us winning a state championship. It’s not very often you get a chance to win a state championship. I definitely want one.”
Sam Wright was a double winner for the Panthers (3-0) in the shot put (51-11½) and discus (154-7). Justin Graf made it a sweep in the throws, taking the javelin (189-10) on his last chance. Spencer Wordell won the 200 (22.6) and long jump (20-9½) for North Central (2-1).
Alexa Banaugh won the 400 (1:01) and long jump (15-3) and Tasha Clark matched the state lead in the pole vault (11-6) to spark the Mead girls (3-0). NC is 0-3.
•In other GSL meets: At Mt. Spokane, the Ferris boys and host Wildcats girls went 2-0 in a triple dual that included University (boys and girls, both 2-2). Shannon Winant won the long (20-8) and triple jumps (41-9) and Kjelby Oiland (52-5½) led a sweep in the shot put for the Saxons (3-0), who handed Mt. Spokane (3-1) its first loss. Despite Kelsey Lin’s sprint triple, including lowering her area best in the 400 to 58.6, Ferris (2-1) couldn’t chase down Mt. Spokane (3-1). Courtney Zalud won the 1,600 (5:25.2) and 800 (2:28.3) for the Wildcats, who swept the triple jump behind Michelle Mollison (32-8½) and the javelin behind Holleigh Bergstrom (127-2). … At Central Valley, the Bears swept Gonzaga Prep and East Valley. CV (3-1) dominated the field events, except for an East Valley (0-4) sweep in the discus. Evander Cobbs won the long jump (21-2½) and triple jump (43-4). G-Prep’s (1-3) Tate Kelly won the 800 (1:58.7) and 3,200 (10:11.4), while EV’s Nick Bellomy won the 100 (11.1) and 200 (22.3). The CV girls (3-1) won despite winning just one event on the track. G-Prep’s (3-1) Megan Lindsay was a triple winner in the 100 (12.8), 200 (26.3) and 400 (1:01.1), and teammate Alicia Doohan won the 800 (2:24.9) and 1,600 (5:19.3). Kendra Szoke won the long jump (16-½) and triple jump (33-6½) to lead the Bears. EV is 1-3.