Track Articles (not PV related)

A forum to discuss pole vaulting or anything else relating to the state of Washington

Moderator: Robert schmitt

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Wed Apr 13, 2005 9:46 am

http://www.union-bulletin.com/main.asp? ... leID=26296
Round and round she goes
The 69th running of the Carnival of Speed in M-F Friday was blessed with sunshine and strong individual showings.

By Roy Elia of the Union-Bulletin


MILTON-FREEWATER - Weston-McEwen's Kayla Johnson recorded two first-place performances, a second-place showing and a fifth-place finish in four individual events to claim the girls high-point title during the annual running of the Carnival of Speed track and field meet on a sun-drenched Friday afternoon at Shockman Field.



Johnson won the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.06 seconds and chalked up a mark of 16 feet, 5 inches to take first in the long jump. She was runnerup in the 200 (27.05) and fifth in the triple jump (30-9).


The TigerScots placed sixth among 24 teams participating with 45 points.


Like Johnson, DeSales' Andrea Wujek picked up two event victories. She won the 100 hurdles in 15.53 and cruised to a three-second win in the 300 low hurdles in 48.67.


Waitsburg sported one champion during the meet. Natasha Montgomery successfully defended her title with a 5-2 effort in the high jump.


Angela McCaw gave the Irish a third in the 100 (13.67) and a fourth in the long jump (15-2).


Two Dayton athletes took home third-place ribbons. Heather Lambert competed in the 400 (1:01.52) and Stephanie Turner in the high jump (5-0.03).


Turner also finished sixth in the triple jump (30-7) and Lambert was seventh in the 200 (28.27).


Another top performance for Weston-McEwen came in the javelin. Susanna Bonifer's toss of 101-1 earned her fourth place.


Bonifer also finished eighth in the 100 hurdles (18.92) and teammate Brittany Dobos was eighth in the 1500 (5:43.72).


Meet host Mac-Hi had four girls ascend to the top eight. Lindsey Timmons and Katie Brown were fifth and sixth, respectively, in the javelin (101 and 95-1); Mackenzie Garton tied for sixth in the pole vault (7-0.10); and Megan Riley was eighth in the long jump (14-6.75).


Walla Walla Valley Academy's Brianne Bechtel finished fourth in the shot put (33-0) and fellow Lady Knight Alexandra Buell took seventh in the 3000 (14:01.09).


Two other DeSales athletes joined Wujek and McCaw as top-eight finishers. Lindsey Thomas equaled Garton's pole vault and Mary Magnaghi grabbed seventh in the discus (89-11).


A heave of 89-8 by Ivanna Saldivar in the javelin produced Dayton's other top-eight effort in the girls meet.


One Carnival record was set during the girls competition. Pasco's Carly Mauch established a new standard in the girls javelin with a winning mark of 138-7, breaking the old record of 136-11.5 achieved by former Mac-Hi standout Karen Weitz.


On the boys side, WWVA and Mac-Hi had eight individual placings of eighth or better.


Chibuike Opara led the Knights by finishing first in the 100 (11.46) and second in the 200 (23.38). Teammate Andrew Battenburg tied for second in the 100 (11.58); Tom Beyer was second in the high jump (6-0) and eighth in the long jump (18-6.05); Jonathan Solis was fifth in the 1500 (4:34.31) and seventh in the 800 (2:10.67); and Ross Montgomery eighth in the high jump (5-6).


Casey Smith and Andy Hetterley placed in three events apiece for the Pioneers, who finished fifth in the meet with 49 points. Smith won the 400 (52.08), was fourth in the 800 (2:08.54) and fifth in the 100 (11.69). Hetterley was third in the 300 intermediate hurdles (43.68), fourth in the 110 hurdles (16.74) and eighth in the 200 (24.43).


Josh Ashley in the pole vault (fourth, 10-6) and Sean Middleton in the javelin (sixth, 148-3) rounded out Mac-Hi placers.


Waitsburg's Matt Baker placed in three events to lead the Cardinals. Baker won the 110 hurdles (16:49), placed fourth in the high jump (5-10.02) and sixth in the 300 intermediate hurdles (44.65).


Gabe Kiefel was third in the javelin (152-1) and sixth in the discus (121-10). Jeremy Nichols crossed the finish line fifth in the 400 (55.92) for Waitsburg.


Two Weston-McEwen boys made their presence felt in two events each. Jimmy King was fifth in both the long jump (18-8.25) and the triple jump (39-1). Clell Hasenbank was seventh in the discus (120-1) and eighth in the javelin (140-7).


Likewise, DeSales had four placements led by Chad Acock's win in the javelin (175-10) and eighth in the shot put (44-6.5). Travis Klicker broke into the upper half of finishers in the shot with a fourth-place throw of 47-0.5 and Jim Caulk was seventh in the pole vault (10-0.03).


Dayton and Touchet both had one competitor crack the top eight in the 400. The Bulldogs' Steve Reeves (56.61) and Vader Castillo of the Indians (56.91) were seventh and eighth, respectively.


The results of the 69th annual boys event and 25th go-round for the girls that featured some 760 participants had many coaches smiling afterward.


``For district this year, I think we'll have a strong boys team,' Waitsburg Coach Ron Huntington said. ``I'm happy with the day. It was a good day for Natasha. Excellent competition.'


``The kids looked good,' Touchet Coach Ray Douglas said. ``This is the third meet for most of them. They're getting enthusiastic and that's the important thing.'


``I think it was a great day,' Dayton Coach Katie Wooldridge said. ``There was a lot of good competition out here. It let us figure out where we are with some bigger schools.'


``Overall we had a very good day,' DeSales Coach Mike Michels said. ``It was a good meet for us. We're right on schedule. We're getting a little bit better every week.'


``We've had some injuries but we've had some good moments,' WWVA Coach Dan Solis said. ``It (was) a good day for us. It's always good for us to come here and match up with some of the big schools.'


``Things are looking rosy on my side of the street,' Mac-Hi Coach John Milleson said. ``I've got a great bunch of kids. We're looking good.'


Minus a couple of technical glitches, Milleson expressed satisfaction with the meet and praised those behind the scenes.


``We had a great day and we couldn't have asked for better weather,' Milleson said. ``We had a great meet and great competition for everybody. You can't be disappointed with any performance on a day like today. The competition was tough. If you finished and competed, you're a winner in my book.


``The Pioneer People (Mac-Hi's booster club) helped us put on a great meet,' Milleson said. ``Most of them were volunteers in one aspect or another. You can never say enough about your help. The help is what makes it run.'


Though team scores were compiled, the Carnival of Speed is not viewed as a team competition.



http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... tes12.html
Notebook: Federal Way meet lures big track field


By Seattle Times staff








E-mail article
Print view
Search

Most e-mailed
Most read
RSS





Athletes from Ballard, Bishop Blanchet and Franklin high schools are among the new faces competing in the 43rd annual Bill Harris Invitational track and field meet today at Federal Way Memorial Stadium.


The 16-team meet features a unique scoring system with boys and girls points combined. Host Federal Way won last year's title, the Eagles' third in the past four years.


Ballard's Kevin Hickenbottom comes in as the top seed in the boys javelin with a reported toss of 170 feet and also is No. 1 in the shot put (45-0). Teammate Andrew Faulkner has the best long jump (22-0), followed by Blanchet's Joe Horsman (21-3 ½).


Jordan Gardner, also of Ballard, is listed as the favorite in the triple jump with a previous leap of 43-5 and the Beavers also have the top distance runner in Zach Gussin (4 minutes, 20 seconds in the 1,600 meters and 9:30 in the 3,200).


The boys 200 should be competitive, featuring four runners who have broken 23.0 this season, led by Kentwood's Kenjamine Jackson (21.9) and Ballard's Dan Tyson (21.9).


Decatur sophomore Princess Joy Griffey leads the girls field. She is the defending Class 4A state champion in the 100.


Other schools competing in the meet are Franklin, West Seattle, Issaquah, Kent-Meridian, Auburn Riverside, Enumclaw, Beamer, Central Kitsap, North Mason, Franklin Pierce, Fife and Central Kitsap.


Field events begin at 4 p.m. with the first running event at 5 p.m.



http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2 ... sports.txt
Three locals honored at Seaside





By the Daily World staff


Tuesday, April 12, 2005 11:34 AM PDT


Print Version
E-mail This Story










SEASIDE, Ore. - Three Willapa Harbor athletes received special awards at the Daily Astorian Invitational track meet Monday at Seaside.

Willapa Valley's Ashlea Pollard received one of two Outstanding Female Athlete awards for field events.

Pollard was a double winner, clearing 4-8 to win the girls high jump and also taking the discus with a toss of 93-41/2.

South Bend's Josh Lorton and Raymond's Mitch Snodgrass swept similar honors for the boys.

Lorton captured the boys high jump at 6-2. Snodgrass won the boys shot at 46-11/2.

Valley's Garrett Foster was the other Willapa Harbor winner, prevailing in the boys 400 meters with a time of 52.1.

The annual meet was contested in miserable conditions, with rain, hail and strong winds materializing during various portions of the proceedings.

"All these marks were pretty good marks considering the weather, because it was horrible weather for track," said Valley coach Dave Ege.





Valley's Joe Pettit was cited by Ege for establishing a personal record by some 10 feet (154-11) in finishing second in the boys javelin.

South Bend's Travis Reeves was credited by Tribe coach Steve Lazelle with a fine showing.

Girls

HJ - 4-8 - Ashlea Pollard (Val), first. Disc - 93-41/2 - Pollard (Val), first; Briana Eickhoff (Ray), third. 100 - Jessica Peterson (Val), sixth. 100 H - Tori Lynn (SB), third. 300 H - Lynn (SB), fourth. Jav - Alexa Betrozoff (Val), fourth. TJ - Svenja Wilhelm (Val), sixth. Disc - Tera Remington (SB), sixth.

Boys

Jav - Joe Pettit (Val), second. 100 - Garrett Foster (Val), fourth; Rick Bannish (Val), fifth. 400 - 52.1 - Foster (Val), first. 110 H - Josh Lorton (SB), third. 200 - Foster (Val), fifth. HJ - 6-2 - Josh Lorton (SB), first; Justin Lorton (SB), third. 300 H - Travis Reeves (SB), fifth; Chad Michell (SB), sixth. Disc - Mitch Snodgrass (Ray), third; Drew Ege (Val), fourth. LJ - Pettit (Val), second; Josh Lorton (SB), third; Foster (Val), fourth; Rick Bannish (Val), fifth. Shot - 46-11/2 - Snodgrass (Ray), first; Ege (Val), fifth. TJ - Josh Lorton (SB), fourth. 4x400 R - South Bend, fifth.

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Wed Apr 13, 2005 10:06 am

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... ger13.html
Track and field: Tyson's state-best 200 leads Ballard to win


By Sandy Ringer


Seattle Times staff reporter


FEDERAL WAY â€â€

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Thu Apr 14, 2005 9:04 pm

http://www.columbian.com/04132005/sports/265172.cfm
Charters leads hammer

    With the hammer throw not being a sanctioned track and field event for high school athletes in Washington, Brad Charters needed to take matters into his own hands if he wanted to post the nation's top throw of the year to date.

    The Camas senior put on a hammer-throwing clinic on Friday, and a competition on Saturday as part of his senior project. Then during the competition, Charters won the event with a throw of 222 feet, the best hammer throw by a prep athlete in the country this season.

    "With hammer not being a sanctioned high school event, all of the competitors had to have a (USA Track and Field) card to throw the hammer," said Hank Midles, who coaches the throws at Camas High School. "We have to work hard to promote this event to the kids who are interested in it."

    And that led Charters to put on last weekend's event, which drew the top hammer throwers from around the state.

    Charters beat out Zach Midles of Olympia's Capital High, who threw 221-1, the second best mark of the year in the nation. Jordan Stray of Centralia was third (185-7) and Mark Cogan of Capital was fourth (166-4). Tom Ramirez of Camas was seventh at 141-9.

    Shanna Harvey of Olympia won the girls hammer at 150-1, and Gabriela Midles of Camas was second at 143-10. Maddy Midles of Camas was fifth at 111-1.



http://www.columbian.com/04132005/sports/265179.cfm
Area Boys Track and Field Bests


Wednesday, April 13, 2005
compiled by Columbian staff


100 meters

    Ryan Hamilton, Evergreen 11.1

    Triston Dallas, Heritage 11.2

    Kenny Lee, Washougal 11.2

    200 meters

    Ryan Hamilton, Evergreen 23.1

    Davidson, Battle Ground 23.3

    Chris Michels, Skyview 23.3

    400 meters

    Chris Michels, Skyview 50.9

    Zach Weaver, Washougal 52.3

    Stewart, Battle Ground 52.7

    800 meters

    Jeff Bishop, Fort Vancouver 2:00.3

    Donnie McCorkle, Columbia River 2:00.5

    Grant Kinman, Skyview 2:04.0

    1,600 meters

    Paul Limpf, Evergreen 4:32.0

    Eric Lauritzen, Camas 4:39.6

    Brandon Krout, Prairie 4:40.0

    3,200 meters

    Paul Limpf, Evergreen 9:37.7

    Josh Brady, Skyview 10:14.0

    Erik Cronrath, Battle Ground 10:26.3

   

    110 hurdles

    Tek Fish, Heritage 15.0

    Pele Ahloo, Heritage 15.3

    Nat Schilling, Skyview 15.3

   

    300 hurdles

    Anthony Robinson, Mountain View 41.7

    Eric Kramer, Columbia River 41.9

    Brian McMaster, Columbia River 42.7

    Tek Fish, Heritage 42.7

    400 relay

    Evergreen 44.0

    Battle Ground 45.4

    Camas 45.5

    1,600 relay

    Skyview 3:34.8

    Battle Ground 3:35.3

    Heritage 3:38.7

    Shot put

    Victor Asher, Columbia River 59-4 1/2

    Brad Charters, Camas 53-6 1/2

    Mat Webb, Heritage 53-4

    Discus

    Mat Webb, Heritage 156-0

    Victor Asher, Columbia River 154-10

    D.J. Kier, Camas 148-0

    Javelin

    Alex Doroshkin, Heritage 17-23

    Jeremy Lovell, Columbia River 162-11

    Vance Murphy, Battle Ground 160-8

    High jump

    Ross Milne, Mountain View 6-2

    Josh Lovell, Columbia River 6-2

    Austin Reddington, Heritage 6-1

    Long jump

    Zack Weaver, Washougal 22-0

    Magaiva Herman, Hudson's Bay 21-11 1/2

    Jeremy Lovell, Columbia River 21-11 1/2

    Triple jump

    Magaiva Herman, Hudson's Bay 45-5

    Trent Bach, Camas 41-6 1/4

    Jeremy Lovell, Columbia River 41-1/2

    Pole vault

    Jake Hull, Heritage 13-8

    Tyson Clack, Skyview 13-6

    Ben Funk, Columbia River 12-6

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Sat Apr 16, 2005 9:09 am

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... ack15.html
Track and field: Mount Si pals thriving a year after collision


By Michael Ko


Seattle Times staff reporter






E-mail article
Print view
Search

Most e-mailed
Most read
RSS





Adam Rothgeb didn't realize what had happened until two days later, when he woke up in intensive care at a hospital.


Bleeding in the brain. A severed facial nerve. Six fractures in his skull. Two days of his life he still can't remember.


"It's one of those things I think about because I still can't feel half the left side of my face," Rothgeb says.


Rothgeb, a senior at Mount Si High School in Snoqualmie, has run the state's third-best time this spring in the 110-meter hurdles (14.6 seconds).


His best friend since elementary school, Alex Grazda, also a Mount Si senior, has the KingCo 3A Conference's best javelin throw this season (178 feet, 7 inches).


What happened last April 7 is something they'll never forget.


They were playing pick-up football in the Mount Si gym. Somebody floated a pass between them. They both ran full-speed to catch it, and collided face-to-face.


Grazda was fine. Rothgeb was on the floor.


The swelling subsided about a month later. The bones healed after that. Rothgeb has recovered, except for the numbness.


He returned to track near the end of spring last year, and a neurologist cleared him to play football in the fall. He was named first-team all-KingCo at outside linebacker.







"This whole thing brought us together again as close friends," Rothgeb said. "It think it pushes both of us this season because you never know when your last day is going to be."



As agonizing as those few days were for Grazda, waiting for Rothgeb to get better, he says the accident has helped their friendship.


"It showed us how much our friendship meant to each other," he said, "and how easy it was to lose somebody."


Yesterday's highlights


Lake Stevens sophomore Brittney Aanstad threw the javelin 144 feet, 5 inches â€â€

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Sun Apr 17, 2005 1:15 am

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2 ... sports.txt
AHS girls nearly sweep tri-meet





By the Daily World staff


Saturday, April 16, 2005 12:40 AM PDT


Print Version
E-mail This Story










CENTRALIA - Aberdeen's girls narrowly missed a sweep in a triangular track meet with Centralia and Chehalis on Friday at Tiger Stadium.

Centralia won the girls meet with 65 points, two points more than the Bobcats. Chehalis had 54 points.

Chehalis captured the boys meet with 73 points. Centralia was second with 67 and Aberdeen third with 41.

The Bobcats won 10 events (seven girls; three boys) in a meet contested in cold, rainy conditions.

"The conditions were poor, but we still had a lot of personal bests," said Aberdeen coach Steve Reed.

"The weather has been horrible at all these meets and they're not complaining," he added. "That's one of the things I like about this group."

Marly Schmidtke had a hand in three victories for the Bobcat girls. She won the 100 meters in 13.0, then prevailed in her first 400-meter appearance in two years with a time of 1 minute, 1.3 seconds.

The Aberdeen junior also anchored her team's victorious 4x200 relay effort.





Aberdeen's Allison Dickson was a double winner in the throws, taking both the shot (33-10) and discus (97-4 1/2).

The other victories for the Bobcat girls came from Nicole Hyde in the javelin (98-7) and Cara Lillybridge in the long jump.

Aberdeen's Alison Matisons established significant personal bests in finishing second in both the 800 and 1600 meters. Freshman teammate Tosh Wyeth lowered her PR by about five seconds in taking third in the 800.

Bobcat sprinter Justine Sturm missed the meet due to dental surgery.

Aberdeen captured two of the boys distance races, with Justin Buehner winning the 800 (2:14.3) and Ben Green the 1600 (5:03.2).

Andrew Gibb took the discus with a mark of 127-6.

The Bobcats will take next week off due to WASL testing before making their first home appearance April 26 against North Thurston and River Ridge.

Boys

Chehalis 73, Centralia 67, Aberdeen 41

100 - Sanchez (Che), Hansen (Che), Jensen (A). 200 - 23.5 - Baldwin (Cent), Sanchez (Che), Fuller (Cent). 400 - 54.8 - Baldwin (Cent), Kaplan (Che), Bangston (Che). 800 - 2:14.3 - Buehner (A), Johnson (Cent), Morrison (Che). 1600 - 5:03.2 - Green (A), Mohoric (Cent), Sauer (Che). 3200 - 11:39.0 - Mohoric (Cent), Stewart (A), Holmgren (Cent). 110 H - 17.6 - O'Brien (Cent), England (Che), Korenkov (Cent). 300 H - 45.6 - O'Brien (Cent), Johnson (Che), Morrison (Che). 4x100 R - 46.2 - Chehalis, Centralia. 4x400 R - 4:04.2 - Chehalis, Aberdeen.

HJ - 5-4 - tie between McFarland (Cent) and McGree (Cent), Buehner (A). LJ - 18-11 - Kaplan (Che), McFarland (Cent), McGee (Cent). TJ - 36-5 - Matson (Che), Sinclair (A), Inocencio (A). PV - 9-0 - tie between Mount (Che) and Johnson (Che), Mohoric (Cent). Shot - 46-10 - Ulrich (Che), Volland (Cent), Trask (A). Disc - 127-6 - Gibb (A), England (Che), Stray (Cent). Jav - 156-10 - Hansen (Che), Schultz (Cent), Gibb (A).

Girls

Centralia 65, Aberdeen 63, Chehalis 54

100 - 13.0 - Schmidtke (A), Mitchem (Cent), Lillybridge (A). 200 - 26.6 - Carver (Che), Schmidtke (A), Mitchem (Cent). 400 - 1:01.3 - Schmidtke (A), Pelzel (Cent), Peterson (Cent). 800 - 2:38.4 - L. Voetberg (Cent), Matisons (A), Wyeth (A). 1600 - 5:49.7 - L. Voetberg (Cent), Matisons (A), Carlson (Che). 3200 - 13:33.7 - B. Voetberg (Cent), McCullough (A), Loftus (A). 100 H - 15.9 - Carver (Che), Simonds (Che), Creel (Cent). 300 H - 46.6 - Carver (Che), Rose (Che), McFarland (Cent). 4x100 R - 46.2 - Chehalis, Centralia. 4x200 R - 2:01.1 - Aberdeen, Centralia. 4x400 R - 4:30 - Chehalis, Aberdeen.

HJ - 4-10 - Lindstrom (Cent), Simonds (Che), Speers (Cent). LJ - 13-3 - Lillybridge (A), Arnold (A). TJ - 31-5 - Rose (Che), McLaughlin (Cent). PV - 7-6 - Harbour (Che), Fuller (Cent), Huestas (Che). Shot - 33-10 - Dickson (A), Palmason (Cent), Wentz (A). Disc - 97-41/2 - Dickson (A), Banks (Cent), Palmason (Cent). Jav - 98-7 - Hyde (A), Palmason (Cent), Smith (Cent).


http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2005/04/ ... orts01.txt
The graceful side of athletics
Ballet dancer does rodeo, track

By ROB OLLIKAINEN








Kenley Unruh and Jocelyn Sloan practice their routine at the Ellensburg Dance Center on Wednesday. Sloan and Unruh are dancing in "Celine Dion, A Visual Interpretation," tonight at the Morgan Performing Arts Center. Photos by David Dick/Daily Record


Should ballet be considered a sport?

It depends on who you ask. And who better to ask than Jocelyn Sloan, an Ellensburg High School sophomore who runs track, participates in rodeo and dances in the ballet.

"Most people wouldn't call it a sport," Sloan said. "It's not really a competitive sport."




It's more of an art, Sloan explained, but that's not to say it doesn't require strength, balance and flexibility. Sticking a four-rotation pirouette, after all, is not an easy thing to do.

Sloan is one of the lead dancers in tonight's performance of "Celine Dion, A Visual Interpretation." The show is performed by 25 high school and junior high school dancers from the Ellensburg Dance Center and directed by Amy Thompson.

Sloan has four parts in the show, including an athletic partnering sequence with Kenley Unruh.

"She's one of the strongest dancers, if not the strongest dancer we have," Thompson said. "She's a great turner. She can handle any turn."

While turning and partnering are Sloan's technical strengths, her real strength is her dedication to dancing, Thompson said.






Kenley Unruh dips his partner, Jocelyn Sloan, while rehearsing on Wednesday for tonight's ballet performance.

"What I see in Jocelyn is that even though she's tired, she is persistent in working hard," Thompson said, referring to Sloan's busy regimen.

Sloan gets up to ride her horses before school, goes to track practice after school and commits the rest of her energy to ballet. Sloan has been dancing since the third grade. She does barrel racing, pole bending and roping events in the rodeo. In track, she does the long jump, 800-meter relay and 1,600-meter relay.

"I go home whenever possible," Sloan said. "Sometimes I have to leave early from track and sometimes I'm late to dance."

What keeps her coming back to dance practice after such a busy day before and after school?

"Getting better," Sloan said. "People say I'm good at it. I just want to keep on getting better and better."

Sloan said she likes ballet because of its regimented style.

"I like how it's really structured, unlike modern dance," she said. "There are actual steps. I like expressing myself that way."

While Sloan hasn't decided if she will pursue a dance career, Thompson said she has the tools to turn pro.

Unruh, Sloan's dance partner and real-life boyfriend, is relatively new to ballet. Unruh said Sloan has exceptional balance and good leaping ability.

"She can jump pretty high," Unruh said. "She's great to work with because she's real supportive. She's by far one of the best dancers here."

Sloan and Unruh have a graceful, athletic routine. Unruh's performance leaves no indication that he has only been dancing for a year. Sloan leaps into the air like a high jumper and spins on a dime like a running back.

If it wasn't for Celine Dion singing in the background, it would seem very sporty indeed.

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Mon Apr 18, 2005 12:10 am

On their best days
By SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC








SANDY SUMMERS/Yakima Herald-Republic
Christina McDuffie, of Davis, runs the 100-meter race at the 79th annual Davis Invitational track and field meet Saturday.
Ambria Brantner spent most of Saturday trying to live up to what she had accomplished on Thursday.


But when school records didn't fall at her feet, she had to settle for meet records. And considering the event was the 79th annual Davis Invitational, which drew 24 schools to Zaepfel Stadium, Saturday turned into a fine day indeed for West Valley's jumper extraordinaire.


Two days after setting a school record in the long jump of 17-101/4, Brantner managed just 16-13/4 â€â€

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Thu Apr 21, 2005 1:58 am

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... me20n.html

Cori Moore has head start going the distance


By Matt Massey


Special to The Seattle Times









THOMAS JAMES HURST / THE SEATTLE TIMES


Everett High School junior Cori Moore has the state's best time this spring in the 800 meters and has attracted the attention of numerous colleges.





E-mail article
Print view
Search

Most e-mailed
Most read
RSS





This week's top matchups




As a third-grader at Wetumpka Elementary School in Alabama, Cori Moore barged through her family's front door and informed her dad that she had just won the mile race on the last day of school.


"You beat all of the third-grade girls?" Dan Moore asked innocently and proudly.


Cori, 9, responded with clarification: "No, I beat the boys, too."


Come to find out later in the conversation that Cori Moore, the third-grader, had dusted every boy and girl in the school through sixth grade.


"That's when it hit us â€â€

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Thu Apr 28, 2005 8:32 pm

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... tes27.html

Auburn Riverside runners sign letters
Those who run together, sign together.
At least, that's how it turned out for five members of the Auburn Riverside boys track and field team.
Jordan McNamara, Josh Clough and three teammates signed college letters of intent at Clough's home near the high school. McNamara, who recently placed fourth among 26 runners at the prestigious Gerry Lindgren Invitational 2-mile in Salt Lake City, and then won the 1,600 meters at the Pasco Invitational, signed with Washington. Clough chose Willamette University over Santa Clara and Concordia, while Larry Choat picked Army.
Doug Benson and Greg Nakata committed to Clackamas Community College in Oregon.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... dea26.html

Coach veteran of two wars, returns to help lead O'Dea track
By Craig Smith
Seattle Times staff reporter
A 58-year-old citizen-soldier on the O'Dea High School faculty and coaching staff is back from the Gulf War.
Andy Slatt, who was wounded in Vietnam, returned safely in March, after 14 months of duty as a logistics warrant officer who spent most of his time in Kuwait. O'Dea students and faculty are all relieved and happy to have him back.
"We missed him when he was gone," said Monte Kohler, the Seattle school's football coach, co-track coach and athletic director. "We are thankful he has returned to us safely."
Fellow track coaches also are happy to have Slatt back for O'Dea's quest for a third straight Class 3A state track and field title. That doesn't stop them from ribbing him, however, about wearing more layers of clothing than anyone else on chilly days as he readjusts from the Mideast.
Slatt is back at O'Dea doing what he loves, but he is just passionate about the mission in Iraq.
"If I was called to go back tomorrow, I'd go in a heartbeat," he said.
Although based in relatively safe Kuwait, Slatt sometimes flew into combat areas to deliver items that were urgently needed. He also made one trip to Afghanistan.
The dangers were nothing like he had experienced in Vietnam.
Slatt was shot down flying a photo reconnaissance mission in 1968.
"I ejected and so did my pilot. I made it and he didn't," Slatt said. "He was killed. I was messed up a bit. I had a broken neck in a couple places and tore up my legs and knees."
A helicopter from the 101st Airborne rescued Slatt and he spent six months recovering at Madigan Army Medical Center outside Tacoma.
Being shot down wasn't the only horrifying experience for Sgt. Slatt in Vietnam.
He calls the Communist Tet Offensive of 1968 "probably the most intense month of my life. If you say you weren't scared or worried, you were crazy. You had no control. It was just rockets and mortars coming in on you constantly and there was nothing you could do but just pray."
After his discharge, Slatt went to Central Washington and Seattle universities and then worked as a counselor, first at the University of Washington where his clients were fellow Vietnam vets. He later worked at the University of Puget Sound, then went to O'Dea 18 years ago.
He coaches the cross-country team in the fall and distance runners in the spring. Gordy Braun, former Shoreline High School and UW standout, has coached the Irish runners in Slatt's absence and they are working together since he returned to the staff a few weeks ago.
Slatt's route to a war zone in his late 50s shows the grip the military has on him. After he returned from Vietnam and had been a civilian for about a decade, he felt the tug of the military on his psyche.
"I just felt like I hadn't finished what I wanted to do," he said. "I wanted to be a Green Beret. I consider those guys to be like the Peace Corps with guns. That's what I had wanted to be out of high school but I was a year too young at that time. I became a Green Beret through the Reserves and National Guard and stayed for about 15 years."
When Slatt turned 50, he changed military course.
"It was like sports," he said. "I started to lose a step and slow the guys down a little bit. That's when I decided to get out of the special-ops stuff and go into the logistics end and went to warrant officer school."
Even after the switch to logistics, Slatt has continued to teach basic soldiering in officer-candidate school during his summers.
Slatt went to the Middle East with the Seattle-based 81st Infantry Brigade of the National Guard. He came home about two weeks early in March because his mother, Mildred, died at age 93.
Slatt comes from a coaching and military family. His late father, Andy Slatt Jr., was a Marine in World War II and returned home to coach a variety of sports at Bellarmine Prep, O'Dea, Shoreline and Shorecrest, where Andy was a member of the first graduating class in 1964.
What's the pull of the military on him?
"I've always respected the military and I've always loved the country and I grew up with the John F. Kennedy thing â€â€

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Thu Apr 28, 2005 9:39 pm

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/preps/221 ... ack28.html

High School Track Roundup: Top boys setting stage for state
By MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
Last weekend's Pasco Invite is not only the nation's largest one-day high school track meet, it signifies the halfway point of the track season, a time that state competitors begin turning things up a notch competitively.
Many sprinters are hesitant to risk injury in cooler spring weather. For many athletes west of the Cascades, Pasco is the first opportunity to perform in warmer conditions.
Here's a look at some of this season's top boys, and who to keep an eye on leading to the state meet June 3-4 in Pasco. Next week, the top girls performers will be detailed.
• 100 METERS: The top time in the 100 gives the sprinter the unofficial title of "fastest in the state." Bothell's Terry Johnson was the 4A runner-up last year and has the top 4A fully automatic time (FAT) of 11.09. Johnson will also be a favorite in the 200, but watch out for Kentwood's Kenjamine Jackson. The speedy senior clocked an 11.11 100 and has the state's top time in the 200 (21.98). The 3A title will come down to defending champ Taylor Mays (10.88 last year) of O'Dea or Timberline's Jonathan Stewart, whose 10.87 is the fastest time this season.
• 400 METERS: Ballard's Dan Tyson and Chris Stephens, the 1-2 4A finishers last year, will again be the ones to beat. Watch out for Olympia's Jason Kirk, who took fourth at state. Kirk has the top 400 mark this season (49.8).
• 1,600/3,200 METERS: Mead's Leaf Barnes is one of the top 2-milers in the nation, but will compete in events that help Mead the most at state. His top competition comes from Auburn Riverside's Jordan McNamara, who has the second-fastest state times this year in the 1,600 and 3,200. Watch out for Kamiak's Kelly Spady, the 4A cross country champ.
• SHOT PUT: The continuing duel between Clint Osborn of Lake Stevens and Kenny Alfred of Gig Harbor appears headed for a climax at state. Osborn has a slight edge, edging Alfred last year for second place in 4A. Osborn recorded the top 4A mark this season at Pasco with a 59-11 1/2. Alfred has hit 59-1. Victor Asher of 3A Columbia River has the overall top throw at 60-8, but reached only 54-7 at Pasco.
• TRIPLE JUMP: Kyle Jenkins of Jefferson broke a 27-year-old state record with a 50-2 jump at last year's Pasco Invite. His mark has since been topped by co-favorites Rashad Toussaint of 3A West Valley Spokane (50-8 1/2) and at Pasco by Moreno Zapata of 4A Curtis (50-3 1/4).
BELLARMINE'S RECORD: Led by the fastest female prep miler in the nation, Bellarmine Prep smashed the state mark in the distance medley relay by more than 25 seconds. In the relay, four participants run the 1,200, 400, 800 and 1,600 meters.
With North Carolina-bound Brie Felnagle's 4:45.2 on the 1,600 leg, the Lions clocked 11:54.37, breaking University's (Spokane) 1992 record of 12:19.7. Nicole Cochran had 3:41.7 in the 1,200, Brianna Okoro 60.9 in the 400 and Megan Kelly 2:26.0 in the 800.
Their No. 2 time in the nation this season is 27th all time.
RAVENS FLOCK TO COLLEGE: Five members of the Auburn-Riverside boys track and field team signed letters of intent this week. McNamara, who won the 1,600 at the Pasco, will run for Washington. Josh Clough, a Washington State Cross Country Coaches Association all-state performer, signed with Willamette University in Oregon. Larry Choate, who runs the 400, signed to run with Army. Distance runners Doug Benson and Greg Nakata committed to Clackamas Community College in Oregon.
POWER RANKINGS
4A BOYS
• Gig Harbor
• Mead
• Ballard
• Wenatchee
• Bothell
4A GIRLS
• Bellarmine
• Lake Stevens
• Wenatchee
• Richland
• Skyline
3A BOYS
• O'Dea
• Yelm
• West Valley (Yakima)
• Mercer Island
• Lakes
3A GIRLS
• Holy Names
• Rainier Beach
• Highline
• West Valley (Yakima)
• North Central (Spokane)


http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/preps/221919_aotw28.html

High school stars of the week
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER STAFF
Jordan McNamara
• SCHOOL: Auburn Riverside
• SPORT: Track and field
• VITALS: Senior, 5 feet 10, distance runner
• WHAT HE DID: He took fourth in the 3,200-meter race at the Gerry Lindgren Invitational in Salt Lake City on Friday night, then flew to Pasco the next morning and won the 1,600 at the Pasco Invitational (4:18.04).
• HOW HE DID IT: "At the first lap, he got boxed in and had to catch up to the top pack," A-R coach Bill Sumner said. "With about 200 meters to go (Prosser sophomore Nectaly Barbosa) takes off. I thought the kid from Prosser had it won. With 100 meters left, Jordan found an extra gear and ended up beating the kid by five meters. I was like 'Where did this come from?' " Said McNamara: "I was pretty pumped to run."
• WHAT HE'LL DO NEXT: "We're definitely looking forward to state and possibly a state championship in one or two events," Sumner said. "There's a good group he has to beat, but he does have the ability." McNamara, who signed with the University of Washington on Tuesday, said he's looking forward to running the mile and 2-mile next year and getting into 8Ks and 10Ks.
• OTHERS CONSIDERED: Moreno Zapata, Curtis (track and field); Brett Stenger, Stanwood (baseball); Max Navalinski, Lake Washington (baseball); Andrew Blanchette, O'Dea (baseball); Chuck Vallieres, Mercer Island (soccer); Brandon Kelley, Snohomish (soccer); Skyler Kimball, Jefferson (soccer); Clint Osborn, Lake Stevens (track and field); Tim Carrithers, Lynnwood (track and field); Attrail Snipes, Rainier Beach (track and field).
Devin Brooks
• SCHOOL: Holy Names
• SPORT: Track and field
• VITALS: Sophomore, 5 feet 6, sprinter
• WHAT SHE DID: The defending state champion in the 100-meter hurdles won the event in a state-best 14.6 seconds Thursday, then ran a 14.43 Saturday at the Pasco Invitational.
• HOW SHE DID IT: The weather was overcast in Pasco, but when Brooks got in the blocks for the hurdles, there was a sun break. "It was the same thing that happened at state," she said. "It seemed like my time to run." Brooks said her start was the best part of the race and she maintained her speed. "It was pretty intense because I didn't know if anybody was catching up with me," she said. "I was just running against the clock."
• WHAT SHE'LL DO NEXT: "I want to get in the 13s," said Brooks, who ran 14.11 in the 100 hurdles last year. "I try to sprint through the hurdles -- that's why I do the 100 and 200. That helps me get focused in the 100 hurdles and helps with my speed. I'll be working on my speed for the last couple hurdles because that's my weakness."
• OTHERS CONSIDERED: Lindsey Johnson, Rogers (softball); Jacqua Williams, Rainier Beach (track and field); Brianna Campbell, Mount Si (softball); Rachael Painter, Decatur (softball); Christie Goldie, Kamiak (golf); Melissa Dubay, Auburn Riverside (softball); Kara Sporrong, Snohomish (track and field); Meagan Ferguson, Lake Washington (track and field); Kaitlyn Kennedy, Archbishop Murphy (softball); Jasmine Kelly, Skyview (track and field).

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/preps/220 ... ack21.html

Highline girls aiming higher
With standout Ugwoaba, track team hopes to improve at state
By MICHAEL MCLAUGHLIN
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
With only two dual-meet losses in the past three seasons, the Highline girls are ready to take the next step as a team. Translation: These girls want to place at state.
The Lady Pirates finished 2004 with a 7-0 Seamount dual-meet mark but had only two individuals and its 1,600 relay team advance past districts to the 3A state meet in Pasco.
Much of this season's optimism began there, when then-sophomore Nkeiru Ugwoaba stunned observers by upsetting heavily favored Christina Tupper of Skyline in the triple jump. Ugwoaba fought winds up to 30 mph to nail a 37-10 jump, one inch farther than Tupper.
"I wasn't surprised to see her hit a 37-foot triple," Highline coach Jerry Bamburg said. "We knew she had the potential and saw it in practice. My biggest concern was how she'd do as a sophomore at the big dance (state). She's always had a tendency to rise up to her competition. The best part is she's only going to get stronger."
This season, Ugwoaba is again one of the top 3A triple jumpers, along with Dominique Radcliffe of Kelso. They won't be competing against Tupper at state, as Skyline moved up a classification to 4A.
"I wish Christina (Tupper) was still in 3A," Ugwoaba said. "She's so talented that she brings out the best in whoever competes against her."
Ugwoaba started competing in the long jump last summer.
She hopes to qualify for state in the triple and long jump, 300 hurdles and as part of the 400 relay team. The Lady Pirates have the third-best 400 time this season at 50.31.
The Highline girls finished 18th at Pasco with Ugwoaba and Helena Bottemiller, who placed fifth in the high jump, scoring all of the Lady Pirates' points.
This season, Highline had more than 50 girls turn out for the team. With that added depth, a top-10 finish at state isn't out of the question.
"We're pretty optimistic this season," Bamburg said. "Having Nkeiru and Helena (Bottemiller) back, along with our pole vaulter, (senior) Deanna Denmark, gives us a nice blend of youth and experience."
Bamburg also likes sophomore Kelly Mason, who can compete in the 100, 200, 400 relay and long jump.
The 50th annual Highline Relays are this weekend. The Lady Pirates are the defending champions.
TRIPLE-JUMP MARK FALLS: Despite less-than-perfect conditions last week in Spokane, senior Rashad Toussaint of West Valley (Spokane) shattered the state triple-jump mark when he sailed 50-8 3/4 at Lewis and Clark High School, breaking Kyle Jenkins' year-old record of 50-2 by more than half a foot. Jenkins is a Jefferson High School graduate now at Indiana University.
At state last year, it was Jenkins who predicted the 5-foot-11 Toussaint would break his record.
"Kyle said he was glad to have the record for at least one year because he was sure I'd eventually break it," Toussaint said. "I learned a lot after watching Kyle's technique. I also saw how much confidence a guy like Norris Frederick (Roosevelt, now at the UW) had in the long jump, and that inspired me as well."
Toussaint's leap is best in the nation this year, topping the 49-8 that Nkosinza Balumbu of Union City, Calif., set last week while defeating runner-up Toussaint at the Arcadia Meet.
Arizona State and USC have been courting Toussaint, but now Arkansas, one of the nation's top track programs, is in the hunt.
His goal is to top 53 feet by the state meet in June and break Frederick's state long-jump mark of 24-10 1/2.
"I'm not done, by any means," he said. "I have a lot left. You haven't seen the best from Rashad Toussaint yet."
NOTES: This weekend is the Pasco Invite, a meet that allows competitors from all classifications to compete against each other. Six meet records were broken last year, and several are in danger of falling this season. ...
Tupper signed a letter of intent to attend Tulane University on a track scholarship. Tupper's triple-jump mark of 40-8 is 11th-best in state history. Only LaShonda Christopher of River Ridge and Selina Burton of Hazen have jumped farther.
POWER RANKINGS
4A BOYS
• Gig Harbor
• Ballard
• Mead
• Central Kitsap
• Ferris
4A GIRLS
• Bellarmine Prep
• Wenatchee
• Rogers
• Lewis & Clark
• Skyline
3A BOYS
• O'Dea
• Yelm
• Mercer Island
• Renton
• Lakes
3A GIRLS
• Holy Names
• Rainier Beach
• Highline
• W. Valley (Yakima)
• Kelso

http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/hi ... 9354c.html

Big leap for Curtis’ Zapata
TODD MILLES; The News Tribune
Last updated: April 25th, 2005 08:59 AM

PASCO – Once a witness to state high school track history, Curtis High’s Moreno Zapata made his own as dusk fell Saturday.
Well, sort of.
Zapata, the sweet-faced bridesmaid in triple jump competition to Jefferson’s Kyle Jenkins in the South Puget Sound League last season, became the fifth Washington prep jumper to eclipse the 50-foot mark.
His mark of 50 feet, 31/4 inches will stand as the Pasco Invitational record as he upstaged national leader Rashad Toussaint of West Valley of Spokane for the title.
It marked the first time in state history that two competitors at the same event went over 50 feet in the triple jump.
But ask Zapata what his all-time best mark is and he’ll tell you, frankly.
“I’ll tell you it’s 50-111/2,â€Â

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Thu Apr 28, 2005 11:06 pm

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/04/ ... ook001.cfm

Results of the Pasco Invite bode well for local athletes
By Mike Cane
Herald Writer
If the Pasco Invite was an indication of what's to come, several area track stars should do well at the Class 3A/4A state track and field meet in June.
Several area standouts performed well Saturday at the massive invitational in Eastern Washington that included most of the state's elite competitors. Among boys, individual champions from local schools were Kamiak teammates Kelly Spady (3,200 meter run, 9:20.45) and Chase Mancuso (discus, 179 feet, 1 inch). The seniors helped the Knights finish eighth out of 65 boys teams.
Also, Clint Osborn of Lake Stevens took first in the shot put with a top heave of 59-11.5.
Everett placed 20th, propelled by a third-place medley relay team, junior Rick Gervasi's third-place finish in the javelin (188-4) and senior Isaac Hicks' shot put effort (51-9, eighth).
Lakewood's Adam Togstad (fourth in the javelin, 183-4) and Arlington's Jake Webb (fifth in long jump, 20-7) also placed.
On the girls side, Snohomish (tie for 12th), Lake Stevens (tie for 14th) and Everett (tie for 17th) placed in the upper half of the 38-team field. Individual champion Kara Sporrong (11:00.97 in the 3,200), a sophomore, and junior Amanda Stopa (seventh in the 800, 2:22.9) led Snohomish. Additionally, Jessica Yates took eighth in the triple jump (35-5.5) and the Panthers medley relay group finished fourth.
Everett's Cori Moore, a junior, had an impressive meet, winning the 800 (2:17.54) and placing third in the 400 (58.54).
Other girls placers included:
Jasmine McCormack of Arlington, second in the javelin (138-3); Elise Page, Lake Stevens, third in the 800 (2:20.72); Andrea Patterson, Lake Stevens, fourth in the triple jump (36-1.5); Caitlin Bonney, Lynnwood, fourth in the 300 hurdles (46.17); Kimery Hern, South Whidbey, fourth in the discus (128-2); Lauren Sego, Shorewood, fifth in the javelin (132-8); Brandie Edwards, Lake Stevens, sixth in the 100 hurdles; and Lisa Anderberg, Kamiak, eighth in the 1,600 (5:16.63).
Kamiak's Mancuso signs with WSU, other Knights also choose: Kamiak senior Chase Mancuso recently signed a letter of intent to compete in track and field at Washington State University.
Mancuso, one of the state's premier discus throwers, said he probably will compete in the discus, shot put and hammer throw for WSU.
"I like their coaches," he said. "They have a great team and they're going to have a great team next year."
Mancuso said the school's renowned communications program also attracted him.

http://www.heraldnet.com/stories/05/04/ ... ies001.cfm

Running through the pain
After a dizzying experience running against the nation's top prep runners last week in Utah, Jackson junior Jeff Helmer says he's mentally tougher heading into next month's state track meet.
By Bob Mortenson
Herald Writer
SNOHOMISH - Jeff Helmer spent last Friday night running in some pretty fast company.
A junior at Jackson High School, Helmer was among 21 of the nation's most accomplished prep distance runners summoned to Salt Lake City to participate in the prestigious Gerry Lindgren Invitational.
Helmer came into the two-mile race ranked No. 1 nationally among high school runners in the indoor 3,000 meters after recording a time of 8 minutes, 34 seconds at the University of Washington Invitational in January.
"This is a great opportunity to just believe in yourself and have fun," he said before the race.
Helmer arrived in Salt Lake City two days prior to the race to acclimate himself to both the altitude (4,900 feet) and the warmer climate. The day before the race, he went for a 35-minute run to get a feel for the thin air.
"It's a little harder, but that's no big deal," Helmer said. "That was just to shake out the legs because the hay is already in the barn at this point."
On Friday night, Helmer covered the first mile in 4:27 and found himself in second place on the fifth of eight laps. "I was gaining on the leader," he said.
Then?
"I started to feel dizzy," he said. "It was hard to breathe."
Helmer was feeling the effects of the runner's bane: altitude sickness.
"I tried to fight through it," he said. "It was the most pain I've ever gone through."
The pack surged.
"I was just trying to go with them, trying to battle through it," said Helmer, who fought his way to a seventh-place finish in a time of 9:35.
The victor, Chris Rombough from Wisconsin, came in at 9:09, comfortably ahead of Utah's Pat Smyth in 9:14.
After Helmer crossed the finish line, his condition worsened. "My head was pounding," he said.
The headache was accompanied by nausea and vomiting that went on for 10 minutes after the race. He eventually recovered in time to enjoy an ample late-night serving of lasagna.
The lesson learned from the experience?
"I feel like I'm 10 times stronger mentally, just to have gotten through that," he said.
Helmer first served notice he was a runner to watch in the fall of 2003. Just a sophomore, he won the Class 4A Northwest District cross country title and placed sixth at the state meet.
Last spring, he finished fifth in both the 1,600-meter run and the 3,200 at the Class 4A state track and field championships.
Then, a series of nagging injuries sidelined him from August through most of the fall 2004 cross country season.
Although nowhere near full strength, he came back for the final weeks of the season and managed a 10th-place finish at the state cross country meet.
Now that he's healthy again, Helmer has his sights set on next month's Class 4A state track meet. "It's one of the deepest fields in state history," he said.
The only returning runner to finish ahead of Helmer in either the 1,600 or the 3,200 at state is Charles Cummings of Eisenhower. Others pursuing those titles this spring may include Laes Barnes of Meade and the 2004 Class 4A state cross country champion, Kelly Spady of Kamiak.
Among the colleges that have expressed interest in Helmer are Notre Dame, Colorado, Princeton and Stanford. His 3.86 grade-point average is undoubtedly an added attraction.
"He's very focused athletically, academically and spiritually," his mother, Sherri, said. "And very humble."
Hardworking too, although he's no zealot when it comes to either training or racing.
"There's really no magical workout," Helmer said. "In a race, if I have to lead, I'll lead. If I have to sit, I'll sit."
In terms of athletics, Helmer wasn't always committed solely to cross country and track.
He was a talented basketball player who played for elite programs, including the Seattle Pirates and the Hoopaholics through junior high school. His freshman year at Jackson he was one of the top players on the junior varsity.
Jamal McMillan, son of Seattle Supersonics coach Nate McMillan, was a teammate at Hoopaholics. Helmer, who stands 5-foot-11, said the elder McMillan understood his dilemma with choosing between basketball and running.
"He basically told me it's hard to compete in two sports at the national level," Helmer said. "It was pretty hard for me to give up."
Indeed, giving up on anything generally sticks in Helmer's craw.
Just as he proved Friday night.


http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20 ... 4250.shtml

JORDAN SWARTHOUT
Capital track
- Age: 17.
- Year: Junior.
- Other sports: Cross country, swimming.
- Grew up in: Olympia.
- Last week: Set a school record in the 3,200-meter run, covering the course in 9 minutes, 23.33 seconds to finish third at the Pasco Invitational as the Cougars tied for seventh in the team scoring. Also won the 800 in a time of 1:59.9 in a meet against Lincoln and Mount Tahoma.
- About last week: "It was pretty much all about mindset. I went in happy and ready to go. I had 'I can do anything you can' stuck in my mind before the race. I was raring to go. It was fun being second behind Kelly Spady of Kamiak most of the second mile. I was like, 'He won state in cross country.' "
- What's one word to describe your personality? "Stubborn. You have to be to go all the way through 3,200 yards without giving up some time."
- What do you do to prepare for a race? "Pretty much just go over it in my head and get away from the rest of the group and concentrate on the
race. I like the big races like Pasco, where we're at the track all day."
- Who is someone that you respect and why? "My grandpa Jack. He's touched so many lives. We even went to Hawaii and this woman said, 'Jack Swarthout, he touched my son's life and turned it around.' It's amazing the lives he's touched in 80-some years."
- Who is someone, living or dead, that you might like to meet? "Condoleezza Rice. I'm into traveling and being an international diplomat, and she seems like an interesting person to talk to about international relations."
- In 10 years I'd like to be ... : "Living in Europe in a U.S. diplomatic mission."
Athletes of the Week are chosen by The Olympian's sports staff, based upon nominations by South Sound high school coaches.

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Arc ... p_docnum=6

Prosser's Barbosa kicks past Pasco field

Marcus Michelson
By SCOTT SPRUILL YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
PASCO - Nectaly Barbosa possesses a powerful finishing sprint which, at the end of a track race, can erase just about any deficit.
But the Prosser sophomore is still learning how to effectively use it, and on Saturday he got perhaps his most important lesson.
It's not so much how fast his kick is, Barbosa discovered, but when it's unleashed.
After coming up short in the 1,600-meter race, where he finished second to a better-timed kick, Barbosa blew away the 800 field in a season-best time in the 44th annual Pasco Invitational track and field meet at Edgar Brown Stadium.
"I wanted to make sure nobody could catch me this time," Barbosa said after winning the 800 in 1 minute, 55.25 seconds at the Northwest's largest prep meet of the season. "In the 1,600 I went too soon and got caught. I didn't want that to happen again."
Barbosa was plenty fast in the 1,600, clocking 4:18.58 after charging into the lead coming off the final corner. But Auburn Riverside's Jordan McNamara was more patient, holding back on the turn before closing with a rush to overtake Barbosa in the final 50 meters.
"There were a couple guys ahead of me going into the last turn and I felt like I had to go around them on the turn to have a chance," he said. "It was too soon, I guess, because I didn't have it at the end."
Barbosa'a 1:55/4:18 double is far ahead of his 1:59/4:22 debut at Pasco last year, leaving the prospects for the rest of the season extremely bright.
"I love this meet because of the great competition and I'm happy with the times," he said. "At the end of the 800 I felt really good. I had a lot left."
Pasco's nine-hour schedule created a long day for two Eisenhower distance runners, but Robbie Barany and Charles Cummings, not surprisingly, had the stamina for it.
The two teamed with Foi Malaki and Stephen Englund to win the distance medley by a comfortable five seconds over Bothell in the morning. Barany led off with a 3:08 split in the 1,200 and Cummings closed with a 4:22 leg for 1,600 meters.
Barany came back four hours later to place fifth in the open 1,600, recording a career-best 4:19.46, and Cummings hung around to defend his 3,200 title. Lacking his normal final-lap punch on this day, Cummings settled for fourth place in 9:24.42 but also ran a leg on Ike's 4x400 less than an hour later.
"We were really hoping to load up the distance medley here because we haven't done that well in it and this was our last chance," Barany said. "It's too bad it's not a state event."
Ike's time of 10:31.49 was the school's second-fastest ever. The 19 points collected by the distance crew was good for 10th in boys team scoring.
The Yakima area picked up two second-place finishes in the girls throws - West Valley's Karen Chase in the shot and Bickleton's Annie Hess in the discus.
Chase threw 39 feet, 10 inches, losing only to a girl from Idaho, and Hess flew the discus a career-best and state-leading 139-2 on her final throw.
"I'm happy with myself," said Hess, who represented the smallest of Pasco's 113 teams. "I did the best I could."
West Valley's boys saw two school records set by Brandon Sears and Jarom Smith. Sears placed fourth in the 200 in 22.59 but he blazed 22.32 in the prelims, and Smith was fourth in the 110 hurdles in 14.83.
Sears enjoyed a breakthrough day, also placing sixth in the 100 with a swift dash of 10.96.
Davis' big success came in the back-to-back 4x100 races where the boys placed sixth and the girls followed in fifth with season-best times.
Miles Pola, Michael Adams, Marcus Rance and Sean Sims clocked 44.04, and Tamika Williams, Crystal Johnson, Amanda Brown and Christina McDuffie timed 50.92.
McDuffie also placed sixth in the 100 with a career best of 12.49.
"What's great about those times is that we had a real hard week of practice and the kids were tired," said Davis coach Kelly Harmon. "We love this meet, but we were working through it and still got somes good times."
With Chase leading the way, West Valley's girls had five placers and scored 19 points, good for 11th.
While scrambling between the 100 hurdles prelims, high jump and long jump, Ambria Brantner managed to place fourth in the high jump (5-3) for West Valley. Lynnea Braun whipped the javelin 129-8 for sixth, and Rachael Johnson was seventh in the 400 and led off the eighth-place 4x400 relay.
The Valley got a pair of fourth-place finishes in the pole vault with Davis' Blake Harmon (14-0) and Prosser's Hilary Moore (10-3).
Becca Noble of Spokane's Rogers High repeated as the meet's top female athlete, winning the 200 and setting a meet record in the 400 of 54.40.
Wenatchee's Tom Ballinger earned the boys top award with an amazing display of endurance, winning the 300 hurdles and placing in three other events - the 110 hurdles, 200 and 400. With prelims, he ran seven races Saturday.
Bothell's boys and Benson's girls from Portland won the team titles.



http://www1.kitsapsun.com/bsun/sp_prep_ ... 15,00.html

Prep Spotlight: Samantha McDonald
Samantha McDonald, senior, N. Mason track and field
April 22, 2005
With all the disciplines that deserve attention in track and field â€â€

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Mon May 02, 2005 12:12 am

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... ley01.html


Eason Invitational: Snohomish, Everett win titles
By Jim Riley
Special to The Seattle Times


SNOHOMISH â€â€

User avatar
rainbowgirl28
I'm in Charge
Posts: 30435
Joined: Sat Aug 31, 2002 1:59 pm
Expertise: Former College Vaulter, I coach and officiate as life allows
Lifetime Best: 11'6"
Gender: Female
World Record Holder?: Renaud Lavillenie
Favorite Vaulter: Casey Carrigan
Location: A Temperate Island
Contact:

Unread postby rainbowgirl28 » Fri May 06, 2005 12:04 pm

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... per05.html

Track and field: Skyline's Tupper has state-best mark
By Seattle Times staff

Skyline High School senior Christina Tupper set a girls state best this season in the triple jump, going 41 feet, 8 ¾ inches to win the event yesterday in a three-team KingCo 4A Conference meet at Seattle's Southwest Athletic Complex.

Tupper topped her previous state best of 40-8. Her mark was also the seventh best in state history. Only LaShonda Christopher of Lacey's River Ridge High School has jumped farther.

Christopher set the all-time state record of 42-9 in 1995, and has the six longest jumps in state girls history.

Tupper has signed a letter of intent to attend Tulane University on a track scholarship. She also has the state's best girls long-jump (19-0 ¼) mark this season.

---

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/h ... _ko03.html

Life's a blur for Bothell's Terry Johnson
By Michael Ko
Seattle Times staff reporter

JIM BATES / THE SEATTLE TIMES
Long, explosive strides propelled Bothell High School senior Terry Johnson to the state's fastest time in the 100 meters this season. Last year, as a 16-year-old, he ran the state's fastest 200.
E-mail article
Print view
Search
Most e-mailed
Most read
RSS
BOTHELL â€â€


Return to “Washington”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests