Odessa-Harrington’s Sam Shafer looks to defend titles and more

Sam Schafer says there’s a charm and benefit to training on a cinder track.

“It’s different, that’s for sure,” the Odessa-Harrington senior said. “But I kind of like it. It’s a little more challenging but when you get to meets on all-weather tracks you feel a lot faster.”

Odessa has the cinder track. Harrington doesn’t have a track.

“We’re one of the last few small towns to have a cinder track,” Schafer said. “That’s kind of cool.”

Schafer heads to the State 1B track meet as the favorite in three of his four events. The three-day meet begins today at Eastern Washington University.

He’s ranked No. 1 in the 100 meters, long jump and triple jump and second in the 200. He’s also ranked No. 1 in the 300 hurdles but rules allow athletes to compete in no more than four events.

Schafer will be out to defend state titles in the 100 and 200. He was third last year in the jumps.

He only has gold on his mind this week.

“It’s going to take a lot of stamina,” he said. “It’s a lot of competition. The adrenaline at state usually pushes your body a little faster than a league meet. I hope to get personal bests in all of my events.”

He begins Friday with prelims in the 100 and 200 sandwiched around the long jump. On Saturday, he’ll have finals in both sprints and the triple jump.

For each event Schafer wins, O-H gets 10 team points. So he has the potential for 40 points – enough to put O-H in the hunt for a trophy. O-H placed fifth last year, one spot away from taking home a trophy.

Schafer has increased his personal bests in each event this spring. He clocked 11.15 seconds in the 100 at district last week. His bests in the 200 (23.01), long jump (21-5) and triple jump (42-5 1/2) came at the Riverside Invite.

“It’s all natural ability,” O-H coach Travis Schuh said. “He hasn’t worked too hard in the weight room, but he works hard in practice. When he gets on a nice all-weather track, he takes advantage.”

That should be the case at EWU.

Schafer is your typical small-town athlete in another way too. He plays three sports.

He was a three-year starter in football, twice at running back and once at quarterback. And he was a four-year letterman and two-year starter in basketball for Schuh, also the school’s basketball coach.

Schafer showed his jumping skills in basketball. At 5-foot-8, he led O-H in rebounding at six per game and also scored 11 points per game.

“He can jump out of the gym,” Schuh said. “We always put him on the best offensive player. And he played a little post.”

Schafer gave Schuh a scare last week at district. He scratched on his first two attempts in the long jump. He moved his mark back five feet just to get a legal jump in so he could advance to the finals. He made 20-9, and it was a jump that could have been further, Schuh said.

“He’s very talented. When it’s time to compete he competes,” Schuh said.

Schafer hopes to break the school record in the long jump (22-3) Friday.

The state meet will likely be his last competitive athletic venture. He plans to attend Washington State University.

“I’m ready to go to college and experience something other than 900 people in one town,” Schafer said.