Prep track and field: Molly McCormick leads Central Valley’s charge at district qualifier

Molly McCormick has gripped a Greater Spokane League trophy each of the last four years.

The Central Valley senior sprinter’s head coach, Geoff Arte, has helped the Bears earn the last eight GSL dual-meet titles.

League, district and state hardware – McCormick, Arte and the Bears have earned plenty.

But McCormick, who will run at Montana next year, has yet to win a GSL individual title.

She’s helped Central Valley rack up hundreds of points over the years with impressive times in the 100 (12.50 seconds), the 200 (25.6) and as the anchor on the 400 and 800 relay teams, but finished second in the 100 at the GSL district championships last year and third in the 200.

McCormick aims to take the next step on Thursday and Friday when Central Valley hosts the Greater Spokane League’s 4A and 3A district-qualifying meets.

The District 8 4A and 3A state-qualifying meets are next week in Richland.

“It’s never fun running four events,” said McCormick, who also has the second-best time in the GSL this season in the 400 meters (1 minute, 1 second). “But when you know you can score points and help the teams, it’s a good feeling.”

If this week’s meet ends up anything like last year’s district qualifier, the team title could come down to the wire.

CV and rival Lewis and Clark finished tied in their GSL dual and at the District 8 4A meet in 2018, but the Bears clipped the Tigers 209-193 at the district-qualifying meet.

When the Bears graduated many state medalists from last year’s team that placed fifth at the State 4A meet, McCormick, who said CV’s strength is the sprints this year, expected to reload.

“We lost a few studs this past year, (but) we’ve been proving people wrong,” she said. “We have strength in numbers.”

McCormick’s biggest competition this week will likely come from an LC sprinter.

LC junior Samiah Kuntz has posted the best times in the GSL this season in the 100 (12.23) and 200 (25.4) and has also anchored the Tigers’ strong relay teams.

CV and LC have multiple sprinters who rank among the best in in the GSL.

“It’s between us and LC every year,” McCormick said.

In the boys 4A meet, it may come down to the duals champion CV and Mead again.

CV edged the Panthers 73-72 in a dual finale last week for the league title. Mead beat CV 200-177 at last year’s district-qualifying meet.

West Valley hosts district meet

A week after its boys and girls teams won Great Northern League duals titles, West Valley is hosting the District 7 2A meet on Friday.

LaTrouchka Duke has paced the Eagles’ girls team in the 100 (12.51), 200 (25.65) and 400 (102.51).

East Valley boys standout jumper Jared Hathaway ranks among the best in the 2A ranks in the long jump (21 feet, 10 inches) and triple jump (45-4).

Riverside hosts NEA district meet

Riverside hosts the District 7 1A meet this weekend. Lakeside won the Northeast A boys duals championships last week. Lakeside and Colville’s girls each finished 5-1 atop the duals standings.

State-qualifying meets kick off in Idaho

The Idaho 5A and 4A Region I meets begin Thursday at Coeur d’Alene High and end Friday at Vollmer Bowl in Lewiston.

The 3A District I meet is Thursday and Friday at Timberlake High in Spirit Lake.