Prep track: Mt. Spokane boys, Central Valley girls capture league titles

Hayden Dressel and Dillon Lionello finished their Greater Spokane League track and field careers Thursday as two-time conference champions.

Dressell and Lionello were part of Mt. Spokane’s first GSL title as freshmen. They added a bookend championship. The homestanding Wildcats (9-0) topped Mead 83-62 and North Central 84-61.

Central Valley’s girls, meanwhile, also capped an undefeated season, finishing lopsided wins University (118-32), Gonzaga Prep (121-29) and Rogers (136-14). The Bears’ 18 seniors finished their careers 36-0 with four league titles.

Mead (7-2) could have forged a share of the title. And the Panthers started quickly, but Mt. Spokane’s depth overcame an early 18-point hole.

“I had it scored them beating us by one, us beating them by one. It could have gone either way,” Mt. Spokane boys coach Pat Kostecka said. “It didn’t start good for us at first. So it’s fun to win (the league title) again. It was our goal to be league champs but our bigger goal is the biggest trophy. Mt. Spokane has never won a boys state title in anything.”

Several athletes had personal bests on the warmest day of the year at 82 degrees. It warmed 30 degrees in three days.

Dressel especially felt the heat. He did the distance triple, winning the 800 meters in a season best 1 minute, 58.03 seconds, and using a nice kick in the final 150 meters to win the 3,200 (10:02.60). He finished third in the 1,600 (4:35.38).

His older brother John, who is running at the University of Colorado, has given him daily workouts via text or calls. He also did the same during the cross country season when Hayden took second behind James Mwaura of Lincoln.

“With (John) coaching me I’ve been able to have some success, which has been awesome,” Hayden said. “I give him all the credit. The training has gone really well, prepping me for college. But I also have my eye on state.”

Dressel is chasing state titles in the 1,600 and 3,200. He’ll also run a leg on the 1,600 relay.

“I haven’t run the times I know I’m capable of doing this season but the training is definitely there,” Dressel said. “My training this winter leading up to now … I have a lot of base and a lot of strength. I’m going to start doing some great things.”

He has yet to decide where he plans to run in college – either join his brother in Boulder, Colorado, or sign with Arkansas.

“Both are great Division I programs,” said Dressel, who has visited both schools. “I enjoyed both visits. I’m trying to make a decision soon. If I could choose before state that would be nice. But state is the main focus right now.”

Lionello was a double winner, taking the shot put (56 feet, 11½ inches) and the discus (164-3).

Cade Neumann of Mt. Spokane soared to 15-1 in the pole vault, a career best by an inch.

Other Mt. Spokane winners were Jacob White in the long jump (21-8½) and in the triple jump (42-1¼) and Phalon Maddox in the high jump (6-4).

Joseph Heitman led Mead, winning the 110 hurdles in 14.57, tying a season and career best, and winning the 300 hurdles in a season best 39.09.