Eagle Athletes Dominate District 7 Meet
Saturday, May 14, marked the District 7 meet on a blustery track and field in Freeman. Athletes from Chewelah, Colville, Freeman, Lakeside, Newport, and Riverside competed for the coveted top finishes.
The top four in each laned running event advance. Eagle athletes advancing include speedsters Jimmie Day with a 2nd place finish in the 100m and a 3rd place finish in the 200m and Jake Widman with a 4th place in the 400m. Hurdler Joe Blazek also advances with a 4th place in both the 110m and 300m hurdles. In addition, the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams advance with 2nd and 3rd place finishes, respectively.
The top six in each non-laned (distance) and field events advance, as well. Ryan Coffman was crowned District Champ in the 1600m and placed 2nd in the 3200m while Ryan Rojeski became District Champ in the 3200m and placed 2nd in the 1600m. Coffman, a freshman, shows much promise and is sure to leave his mark on the distance program at LHS. Rojeski, a senior, will attend Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, in the fall to run Cross Country and track for the Battlin' Bears.
Senior Paul Thomas added to his ever-growing collection of awards by being named League MVP in the field events. Thomas was also awarded District Champ medals in the discus and javelin. He is currently ranked 14th in the nation and 1st in Washington State (among all divisions) in the discus. In addition, he placed 3rd in the shot put and 2nd in the high jump.
Other field athletes advancing to regional competition include Matt Liss who placed 6th in the shot put; Cody Little, 2nd, javelin; Mike Schimke, 3rd, pole vault; Elden Clarkson, 4th, pole vault; and Asher Egland, 6th, pole vault. Junior Kyle Powell received a District Champ medal in the long jump and placed 4th in the triple jump, while Trevor Wood placed 3rd in the triple jump and 5th in the long jump.
The Lady Eagles turned on some skill of their own and advance in 20 events. Two-time state pole vault champion Anandae (Clark) Egland broke the meet and school record with a vault of 12'01”. Both records were held by Eagle alumnae and state champion Loreah Winlow, who vaulted 12'00” in 2008. Egland also placed 3rd in the 200m.
Two multi-talented freshmen will compete in five events. Distance runner Megan Ahrendt placed 3rd in the 800m and 4th in the 1600m and 3200m. Hurdler Katie Collins placed 4th in the 100m and 3rd in the 300m hurdles. Sophomore Sofie Marikis placed 6th in the 1600m to qualify. Marikis showed absolute determination and will as she closed a significant gap in the final 400 meters to outrun a Colville competitor by a little over a second. Rounding out the running events, the 4x100m relay team placed 2nd and the 4x400m relay team placed 4th.
Field athletes advancing to regionals include three-time state-placer Jessica Coffman, 2nd, shot put and discus; Jenna Widman, 5th, shot put and 3rd, triple jump; Melissa Cupp, 5th, discus; Lexie Zappone, 3rd, javelin and 5th, high jump; Davina Carr, 2nd, pole vault; Farrahn O'Hara, 4th, pole vault; and Katherine Murphy, 5th, pole vault.
The top 3 placers in each event at Regionals will advance to the State 1A Championships at Eastern Washington University in Cheney on May 27 and 28.