Freeman qualifies 22

Like voting on such reality shows as “American Idol” or “Dancing With The Stars,” singling out one individual performer more valuable than another during Saturday’s District 7 1A track and field meet proved difficult.

Was it Chewelah’s stable of boys shot put and discus throwers or Cougar teammate Samantha Beamer? There were the four-event efforts of Newport hurdler-jumper Aric Walden and distance teammate Sophie Bush.

Freeman and Lakeside deserve consideration for sheer numbers of state qualifiers – 22 and 20, respectively – to the meet at Eastern Washington University on Friday and Saturday.

Those were among highlights on Freeman’s track during a meet that experienced persistent rain and a half-hour delay due to a passing lightning and thunderclap.

Boys

Walden, the defending state 110 high hurdles champion, swept the highs (15.03 seconds in the 110 and 40.53 in the 300), anchored Newport’s 400-meter relay upset over state leader Freeman (44.54 seconds, winning by .08 seconds) and added the long jump title in 21 feet, 2¼ inches.

“Not too good for the 300s,” he said. “I’m happy with it, though. Four golds today.”

He was happy with his long jump effort, considering, he said, it’s only his second week of competing in the event.

Chewelah’s shot put trio of Will Lohman (a meet record 60- 1/2 ), Will Peters (51-7¾) and Riley Nelson (50-7¾) are part of a four-man NEA state contingent that includes Newport’s Aaron Castle (third in 50-11).

Lohman also set a district discus record at 176-6, beating the 175-4 by East Valley’s Bill Kelling that had stood since 1963.

“I think there’s more in the tank,” Lohman said following the shot, which is more than a foot shy of his season best. “I’d like 62 feet.”

Freeman’s Tucker Rudy, whose spring times have come down more than a second from last year when he didn’t make it out of district, won both the 100 and 200. He credited work in the weight room and a good block start to win the rubber race with Lakeside’s Jimmy Day.

Colton Berry won the 1,600 and 800 over a pair of Freeman foes to pace Lakeside’s boys.

“I had pretty good times,” he said. “But need to improve for state.”

Girls

Beamer has earned eight state medals already and is still a junior. But she’s added individual events in lieu of relays at Chewelah.

She won the triple jump, 100, 200 and 400 – which earned her a second, two thirds and a fourth at state last year – all of them handily.

“Every time before the 400 I get very nervous. It’s become a ritual,” Beamer said following her least-favorite event. “I know people are expecting me to do well and I don’t like to let them down.”

Newport’s Bush won the 3,200, then was involved in dramatic competition with Freeman’s Hailie McClure. After running within a step for three laps of the 1,600, McClure took the lead on the gun lap, only to have Bush blow by her to win by 11 seconds.

“I didn’t think I had that much left, but pumped my hands,” she said. “I didn’t care if it hurt.”

McClure came back to win the 800, but in the 1,600-meter relay Bush put on a tremendous anchor surge to rally Newport past Freeman and McClure (whose early charge in the final lap had made up huge ground on early leader Lakeside) for the win.