Big numbers for Medical Lake track

Ever since Gene Blankenship arrived in Medical Lake in 2010, the Cardinals have won team and individual track titles with their distance and sprint athletes.

As in California, where he earned hall-of-fame coaching credentials, Blankenship has crafted a similar dynasty in distance running with three 1A state titles in the last five years, with runner-up finishes in between.

And his Cardinal track teams have also become contenders with a 1A team title in 2014, a runner-up the following year and most recently some individual state championships.

Now the page may be turning where field events become a factor. While too early to really tell for sure, at least the throwers, leapers and vaulters are beginning to emerge from the shadows.

That’s thanks to some additional coaching.

“We took one of our coach’s salaries and split it so Lisa Henry is getting paid a half salary to coach the pole vault and Isaac Sprinkle is getting paid to coach the jumps,” Blankenship said.

With 65 athletes cleared for competition in early turnouts, the depth will be a big factor in 2018 success. The large turnout pays off in two ways, one by stocking the shelves for the future, plus it could allow the Cardinals better results in dual meets.

“The boys side looks pretty good,” Blankenship said. “(And) if everybody that’s cleared stays out for the team it will be our biggest girls’ team ever.”

Like other spring teams, track had to spend the early portion of the season indoors, except the distance runners. Despite a lack of time on the track, Blankenship said early that sprints will be “pretty good,” and they have born that out in recent outings.

Medical Lake had a good effort from their 4x400 relay team of Nicholas Henry, Zach Lewis, Victor Long and Jeremiah Windle at Richland on March 17 where they finished fourth.

But distance events will still be where the Cardinals earn wins, and state spots, Blankenship predicts. “I think Mason (Williams) and Tyler (Pena) will make it to state,” he said, adding that they should earn medals with a finish somewhere in the top eight.

Filling the void left when Williams and Pena graduate might be freshman Quintin Collins who broke five minutes in the 1,600-meter run, turning in a 4:59.59 and 11th place at the Cockrum Relays, run several weeks ago in Wenatchee.

The girls lost their premiere sprinter — a two-time/two event 100 and 200 meter 1A state champion — Lexi Rolan who has translated those winning skills to Eastern Washington University where, as a freshman, she’s already turning heads.

Now the focus will fall on junior Jaxyn Farmen, who has made it to state the past two years. Blankenship expects the long and triple-jump competitor to make it three in a row when state returns to EWU over Memorial Day weekend in May.

Farmen did not qualify in the triple-jump because of a not-so-good finish at the district meet, “But she made it in the long-jump and did well,” Blankenship said. “She might even make it in the javelin.”

And a new name surfaced recently at the Cockrum Relays where the best performance of the day came in a win from the Cardinals’ Kayla Branch in the triple jump at 34 feet, 1/2 inch.

Assistant coach Bill Berg has a lot of confidence in the throwers on the team, Blankenship said. The jump coach from 2017 has taken over working with throwers — javelin, shot put and discus.

One of those competitors is Colton Ellis who continues to improve, Blankenship said. At the Cockrum’s, he finished ninth in the shot put at 39-04 feet and 11th in the discus with a throw of 106-02. That outing also produced over 20 personal records, a good sign for the weeks ahead.

Event-wise, the 2018 schedule has a lot of similarities, except for the addition of the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays, Friday, April 27, race in Portland.

“We’re hoping to take 16 to 18 kids,” Blankenship said. “We paid the maximum entry fee hoping we get one kid in each event.”

The Cardinals got their Northeast A dual-meet season underway April 11 at Newport and host Deer Park and Lakeside on April 18 at 3:30 p.m. Tucked in between is this Saturday’s Pasco Invitational and the Van Kuren Invite at Cheney.

Paul Delaney can be reached at pdelaney@cheneyfreepress.com.