By JOHN McCALLUM
Editor
The Cheney High School track and field teams have developed a habit, one opponents likely view as a nasty one.
The Blackhawks boys and girls proved they're the team to beat in post-season competition, claiming a pair of titles at the 2A District 7 meet last Thursday and Friday at West Valley High School. It was the fourth consecutive championship for the girls and third for the boys.
For Cheney boys' head coach Todd Hering, it was a meet where everything really went according to plan. The Blackhawks easily out-scored second place East Valley 193.5-141, led by the four district titles of Diondre Moore-Young. The senior won the 100-meter dash in 11.29, the 200 in 22.86, the 110 hurdles in 14.55 and the 300 in 39.84, bettering his prelim times in each race but still not touching what he's capable of doing, Hering said.
“The field wasn't as competitive as he's seen in some meets so that kept him back somewhat,” he added.
Moore-Young is currently tops in the state in 2A in the 110 hurdles and third in the 100-meter dash. He got a lot of help at West Valley though from his teammates as Cheney landed at least one competitor in 13 of 15 events, often doubling up.
Austin Kautzman qualified for regional action by finishing third in the 100 in 11.73 while Devon Johns was 32/100ths of a second behind Moore-Young for second in the 200. Nash Springberry ran smart in the 800 prelims to qualify, then turned in a PR for first in the finals with a time of 1:57.70.
Aaron Brenton took first in the 1,600 with a time of 4:28.89, with Springberry second in 4:30.93. Brenton and Devon Poulsen went 2-3 in the 3,200 in 9:55.97 and 9:57.36 while Colin Beeler qualified for regionals with second in the 400 in 52.60.
Both boys' relay teams advanced. The 4x400 team of Beeler, Brenton, Poulsen and Springberry was second in 3:32.37 while the 4x100 team of Dietrich Smith, Johns, Kautzman and Ben Bissel placed third with a time of 44.82.
In the field the Blackhawks got district titles from Dakota Condos and Johns. Condos took first in the javelin with a throw of 163 feet, 5 inches with Johns first in the long jump at 20-10 1/4, one inch short of a PR.
“He has a 22 in him,” Hering said.
Brennen Wynd jumped 13-06 for second in the pole vault while Michael Payne advanced with third place finishes in the shot put and discus at 49-04 1/2 and 139-05.
“We kind of knew that with some good weather, good competition, things on the line that we'd see some good times,” Hering said. “It was a good meet. We've got a good team. The guys compete hard and they knew what they had to do.”
Ditto for girls' head coach Tom Stralser. The Blackhawks did what they had to do to slip by second-place East Valley 150-136.5, led by top performances on the track from Janessa Day and Sanne Holland.
Day cruised to wins in the 200 and 400 in 26.25 and 57.16 while Holland ran away from the field in the 1,600 and 3,200. The sophomore won the former in 5:12.89, almost 16 seconds ahead of teammate Kali Klotz-Brooks, and the 3,200 in 11:43.32, over 16 seconds ahead of Clarkston's Kari Scharnhorst.
Amie Zachman was third in the 3,200 in 12:00.29, advancing to regionals along with Katie Haslebacher, who like Springberry ran a smart prelim to advance to the finals in the 800 where she finished third in 2:25.95.
Kelsey Filmore also moves on to Friday's meet in Prosser, finishing third in the 400 in 1:02.47, as does Chaz Diamede with her third in the 100 hurdles in 17.14.
Two of the Blackhawk girls' relay teams advanced, although that came very close to one and potentially none if not for some last minute changes.
In the 4x200, Stralser said first-leg runner Chae Brown turned her ankle in her first step out of the blocks. Despite the injury the team that includes Alexa Shaw, Filmore and Day, set a season PR for second at 1:46.88.
“They still run a season best PR,” Stralser said. “I'm thinking gosh, we could get into the 44s, 43s even. We think those girls can run faster.”
Brown's injury kept her out of the 4x400, but the Blackhawks are loaded with runners so in her place Stralser put in Haslebacher. The junior fit in well, teaming with Amanda Batchelor, Filmore and Day to take first in 4:07.67.
While talented and experienced on the track the Blackhawk girls are talented but inexperienced in the field, and that showed at districts. Cheney finished out of the regional picture in all but one event, and Stralser said several of those young athletes learned a valuable lesson.
“Everybody brings their ‘A' game,” Stralser said. “If you don't, you get left behind.”
Erin Clark wasn't about to get left behind. Despite jumping with a new pole the sophomore turned in a season PR for second in the pole vault at 10-06, and had a couple good attempts at 10-09 that would have tied her with Deer Park's Bailee Jacka.
“Her last two weeks her practices have just been great,” Stralser said. “I knew she was going to break out.”
All told 27 Blackhawks will be heading to regionals in Prosser this Friday, with 17 teams from the Central Washington Athletic Association and Great Northern League battling for four slots to state in each event.
John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.
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