Track and field preview: Tight races to team titles expected in Greater Spokane League

Greater Spokane League

Central Valley: The girls have won six straight league dual titles. Their streak will be challenged by Lewis and Clark. The Bears are led by two sets of twins, Anna and Erica Pecha and Lacie Hull and Lexie Hull, who teamed to place second in the 1,600-meter relay that placed second at state; Samara Nelson (shot put, 2nd); and the 800 relay team of Katie Hawkins, Ahna Duggan and Hayden McAuliff, who combined to place fifth. Also back is Hailey Christopher (2nd, high jump). Anna Pecha also took third in the 800 and fifth in the 400. “Depth will be a continued bonus,” coach Geoff Arte said. … In the boys, cross country state champ Ryan Kline returns along with two-time state distance qualifier Gabe Romney. “This is one of the best group of seniors that we’ve ever had,” coach Chuck Bowden said. CV’s strengths are in the distances.

Ferris: The boys captured the regional title last year. The Saxons are led by jumping ace Shamrock Campbell, fifth at state last year in the triple jump. They should challenge Mead for the league dual title. … The girls don’t return any state placers but will be led by Madi VonBrethorst, a two-event state qualifier in the jumps, Jessica Harpel, Annika Briggs, Grace Martin and Lexi Caniglia.

Gonzaga Prep: Distance runner Turlan Morlan returns the most experience for the boys. Others to watch are Tony Tareski, Matthew Holden, Xzandre Jean Francois, Jonas Bears and Eric Floyd. … Top returners among the girls are Carmen Winslow, Olivia Lauffer, Kathleen Horn, Maria Strasser, Emily Spiering, Calli Graham and Reagan Crain.

Lewis and Clark: The Tigers’ boys and girls cross country teams captured state titles. Spencer Swaim, Carter Ledwith and Will Smith were part of the boys title. “They will be our main point-getters and will be an exciting group to watch,” coach Bret Bohlen said. Also back is sprinter Jake Hallesy. … Sprinter/jumper Anna Rodgers and state cross country champ Katie Thronson lead a girls team that will challenge for league, district and state titles. Also back are Mia Lebar and Anna Reeves.

Mead: The boys, a traditional power in league duals, are the favorite to return to the top. They’re led by talented and versatile Joseph Heitman, who carried Mead to a state title last year with victories in the 110 and 300 hurdles and second in the long jump. He has given Washington State University an oral commitment. Also back is Josh Farr, who placed fourth at state in the javelin. Others coach John Mires expects to contribute are Pierce Christanson, Nathan Pulatasi and Ben Cikutovich. “This year’s team has great potential and can stack up against any team,” Mires said. … In the girls, hurdler/sprinter Zella Conley returns. She’ll be out to bounce back from a season cut short by injury. She has signed to attend Central Washington University. “We have a small team this year,” coach Dori Whitford said. Sophomore Samiah Kuntz, a state placer as a sprinter at Northwest Christian, transferred to Mead.

Mt. Spokane: The boys captured a State 3A title last year and suffered some big losses, but they’re not going anywhere. They’re led by Jacob White, who took second at state in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump. Also back is Bo Jensen, fifth in the javelin, and three members of the 1,600 relay that took third at state. … The Wildcats girls bring back Katie Rhodes, Grace Thompson, Natalie Koch, Treshur Allen, Liv Sargent, Mallory Flowers, Emma Main, Allie Baribault and Melina Ama.

North Central: The boys have many holes to fill but bring back a handful that will be in the mix for state berths, including three legs off the 400 relay that took third at state. They are Michael Stacy, Quataveous Mason and Kieran McHenry. Also back are distance runners Markus Taylor and Mohamed Ahmed. … In the girls, the core of NC’s State 3A title cross country team will anchor the Indians. Leading the way are twins Erinn and Mia Hill and Marie Taylor. Erinn took fourth at state last year in the 3,200 and Mia was sixth. Also returning are Hailey Leeking, second in the shot put, Karsten Gering, Devin Cook and Amaya Martin. Freshman Allie Janke took eighth at state cross country.

Rogers: The Pirates may lack numbers, but they don’t lack for a competitive spirit. Jumpers Jahlil Frans and Akon Aleu will be seeking state berths. The Pirates have a handful of other kids who want to prove they can earn a state berth. First-year coach Brent Palmer is impressed with his athletes’ determination. “Rogers is in one of the poorest zip codes in Washington,” Palmer said. “We live differently over here and have to coach to different things.”

Shadle Park: The boys took second at State 3A last year. They lost three-event state winner Jakobe Ford but return talented sprinter Tony Pizzillo, who took second in the 200, third in the 400 and fourth in the 100. “The team has a lot of new kids out,” first-year coach and former Mead assistant Johnathan Simpson said. “We are positive about the future.”

University: In the boys, senior Terrell Sanders (100, 200) and sophomore Jacob Easton (1600, 3200) return while senior girls distance runners Rebecca Lehman (3200) and Claire Dingus (800, 1600) return, along with junior thrower Kylie Turner.

Great Northern League

Boys: Joshua Quirk, West Valley (shot put, 2nd); Charles Johnson, Cheney (100, 2nd; 200, 2nd; 1,600 relay, state champ); Peyton Putney, Cheney (1,600r, state champ); Carson Brown, Cheney (1,600r, state champ); Kevin Houndongobo, Cheney (1,600r, state champ); Jabriel Davis, WV (high jump, 4th); Nathan Allred, East Valley (sp, 4th); Aron James, Pullman (800, 7th); Cody Skay, WV (3,200, 8th).

Girls: Alsatta Bakama, Cheney (200, state champ; 400, state champ; hj, 2nd); Chole Chalfant, EV (javelin, 2nd); Payton Walker, Pull (sp, 2nd); Taylor Bogle, Clarkston (tj, 5th); Anna Sharp, Clark (jav, 5th); Sophia Van Wormer (pv, 6th).

Northeast A League

Boys: Zach Annanie, Lakeside (jav, state champ; pv, 3rd); Micah Holmes, Lakeside (100, 3rd); Andrew McGill, Freeman (300h, 3rd); Nathan Berglund, Lakeside (400r, 3rd); Gabe Swett, Lakeside (400r, 3rd); Urijah Taylor, Medical Lake (400r, 4th).

Girls: Sienna Swannack, Lakeside (hj, state champ; lj, 4th); Allie Cherrington, Lakeside (hj, 2nd; pv, 3rd); Lillian Kirry, Chewelah (300h, state champ); Libby Michael, Deer Park (1,600, 3rd); Faith Kennedy, Lakeside (400, 3rd); Hallie Jensen, Lakeside (800, 4th).

2B and 1B

Boys: Caleb Meyer, Northwest Christian (400r, state champ; 200, 3rd); Carson Bowman, NWC (400r, state champ); Mitchell Ward, St. George’s (400, 2nd); Ben Ahmann, Colfax (300h, 3rd); Gaven Elder, Odessa (100, 4th); Liam Bracken, Republic (200, 4th, 400, 2nd; hj, 4th); Ryan Issakides, Selkirk (800, 2nd); Kyle Abrahamson, Wellpinit (800, 3rd; 1,600, 3rd; 3,200, 3rd); Griffin Parrish, St. John-Endicott (hj, 2nd); Will Lane, NWC (1,600r, 2nd); Darius Carrozzo, NWC (1,600r, 2nd).

Girls: Alyssa Oates, Wilbur-Creston (hj, state champ); Piper Cai, Colfax (pv, 4th); Mary Neder, SG (3,200, 4th); Ashley Sande, SG (100, 2nd; 200, state champ); Madison Clark, W-C (400, 2nd); Anne Hockett, Oakesdale (100h, state champ; 300h, state champ; 200, 2nd; 400, 3rd); Emma Perry, Oakesdale (800, 2nd; 1,600, 4th); Elisabeth Perry, Oakesdale (800, 4th); Gracie StrangeOwl, Cusick (1,600, 2nd; 3,200, 2nd; 300h, 4th); Natalee Glanville, Northport (100h, 2nd; lj, 4th; tj, 4th); Julia Hayes, Valley Christian (tj, 2nd; hj, 2nd); Syierra Membrere, Columbia (sp, 2nd); Jadyn Corder, St. John-Endicott (sp, 4th; discus, state champ); Jazzmyn Gordon, LaCrosse-Washtucna/Kahlotus (discus, 2nd); Alynn Hardere, L-W/K (jav, 4th); Jora Gleason, SG (1,600r, state champ); Grace Harrill, SG (1,600r, state champ).

Idaho

Boys: Nate Burch, Coeur d’Alene (110h, 2nd); Taylor Dawson, CdA (100, 4th; lj, 4th).

Girls: Emily Hernandez, Lake City (sp, state champ); Melody Kempton, Post Falls (hj, state champ); Keara Simpson, LC (discus, 2nd; sp, 3rd); Whitnee Skalskiy, Lakeland (tj, 2nd); Hannah Davidson, Sandpoint (800, 5th).