By John McCallum
Managing Editor 

Blackhawk boys edge Ferris in track and field

Cheney girls continue improvement by just missing upset of Saxons

 

Last updated 5/13/2021 at 11:05am



CHENEY – The Blackhawks boys and girls track and field teams wrapped up their first regular season in the Greater Spokane League at Ferris High School in Spokane last Thursday. The boys downed the host Saxons 76-69 while the girls just missed an upset, losing 80-70.

The boys won eight of 10 events on the track, including 1-2 finishes in five of them. Senior Ryan Rieckmann won both the 100 and 200-meter dashes with times of 11:36 seconds and 22.96 while junior Braxton Hinton was right behind in second with times of 11.83 and 24.29.

Seniors Beckett Schoenleber and Dustin Butikofer went 1-2 in the 400, with Schoenleber setting a new personal record of 52.16 and Butikofer a season best of 53.75. Dylan Thornburg set a PR of 2:09.86 for first in the 800, but for head coach Derek Slaughter, the big push for the Blackhawks came in the 1,600 and 3,200 meter runs.

That push came from junior Finnegan Syrie and sophomore Adam Estock. Both set new PRs in the 1,600, with Syrie first in 4:44.22 and Estock second in 4:44.57 — then flipping the results in the 3,200, led by Estock’s first-place PR of 10:37.03 followed by Syrie in second in 10:43.70

“I think it was a great performance from the distance crew,” Slaughter said. “Beckett won the 400 with a great time, Dylan popped a six-second PR in the 800 to win, Finn and Adam earned districts spots in the mile with their 1-2 finish. They were ready to run fast against Ferris.”

Cheney won both relays, the 4x100 in 44.81 and the 4x400 in 3:43.98.

In the field it was the Saxons who had the larger share of success, but the Blackhawks found rewards in several events. Rieckmann continued his dominance in the javelin, winning with a toss of 169 feet, 5 inches. Seniors Eti Ena and Charles Johnson pulled a 1-2 finish in the discus with throws of 106-06 and 104-00 respectively while Josh Whiteley went 5-07 for second in the high jump.

The formula was much the same for the Cheney girls — success on the track with good efforts in the field. Senior Jaela Thornburg brought home wins in the 200 and 400, setting a season-best in the latter of 1:02.98 and winning the former in 28.18.

Sydney Reagan won the 100 in 13.70, with Samantha Habegger establishing a PR of 13:36.07 for first in the 3,200. Hannah Ayers was second in the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, posting times of 17.80 and a PR of 51.62 in the latter.

Jenna Mansfield set a PR of 1:07.21 for second in the 400 and Habegger’s PR of 2:29.67 earned her second in the 800. Cheney won two of three relays, taking first in the 4x200 in 1:56.81 and first in the 4x400 in 4:23.27.

Senior Malea Farrell won the shot put with a toss of 34-04.75, with Emma Dennstaedit leading four Blackhawks in the top spots of the high jump with a winning jump of 4-11 — a new PR. Emma Miller was second with a PR of 4-07.

Hope Schneider was second in the javelin with a PR of 92-06, followed in third – sixth by freshmen Clare Browne and Joy Assonken, junior Marley Fox and senior Peyton Knox, all with PRs. Sophomore Marie Mayfield’s PR of 31-10.50 earned her second in the triple jump.

“MC Mayfield is amazing to watch in the triple jump, really going to be a talent for us as she turns into an upperclassmen,” Slaughter said. “Still can’t forget about Jaela Thornburg — the rock and workhorse of the team. She attacks track just like she does in the classroom.”

The Blackhawk boys finish their GSL season with a 3-1 record while the girls went 1-3. Cheney’s final meet with be district competition this week, May 12 – 14, at Central Valley High School.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.

Author Bio

John McCallum, Retired editor

John McCallum is an award-winning journalist who retired from Cheney Free Press after more than 20 years. He received 10 Washington Newspaper Publisher Association awards for journalism and photography, including first place awards for Best Investigative, Best News and back-to-back awards in Best Breaking News categories.

 

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