Tigers 2nd in CTL; Hornets gear up for post-season

CASHMERE – Cashmere simply overwhelmed the field with sheer numbers at the Caribou Trail League championships on Friday, May 4.

But what Tonasket couldn’t match in quantity, it claimed in quality as the Tigers brought home five individual league titles on the boys side, to Cashmere’s six.

Cashmere dominated as a team, running up 180.5 points to double up the Tigers’ 89.5. Omak finished third with 85 points.

It was Tonasket’s second straight CTL runner-up finish.

For the girls, Cashmere’s 250 more than tripled runner-up Cascade’s 76 points. Tonasket finished fifth with 51 points.

Bringing home league titles were John Stedtfeld in the 200 (23.18), Jake Hickman in the 800 (2:13.41), Damon Halvorsen in the 1600 (4:45.81) and 3200 (10:13.25), and Stedtfeld, Hickman, Zach Villalva and Smith Condon in the 4×100 relay (45.23).

Stedtfeld added a second place in the 100 (11.30).

“Jake, John and Damon all ran very well in winning their races,” Thornton said. “The relay ran by far their best race of the year, leading from start to finish.

“Joaquin Polito also had a very good day for a freshman, making the finals in javelin and discus. Freshmen Dallas Tyus and Ethan Bensing also had a good meet, making the finals in the triple jump.”

For the girls, Kylie Dellinger finished second in the 1600 (5:56.23), and Kelly Cruz, Amber Kilpatrick, Cassie Spear and Karlie Henneman were second in the 4×100 relay (53.89).

“The girls competed well, but were a little tired mentally at the start,” Thornton said. “It took them a little while to get going. We’ll change some things up this week so they should be ready to go Friday.”

The Tigers host the District 6 meet Friday afternoon at 4:00 p.m. The top four in laned events and top six in other events advance to the regional meet.

Hornets track squads primed for post-season

WINTHROP – Oroville’s track and field squads are peaking at just the right time.

The Hornets boys finished second and the girls took third at the Liberty Bell Invitational on Friday, May 4, to set the stage for the Central Washington League north subdistrict meet on Thursday on their home track.

“We had a lot of personal records,” said Oroville coach Harold Jensen. “The athletes were excited about their results. The timing is right on schedule for our subdistrict meet. It will be close in the team competition for the championship with a number of teams competing for the title in both the boys and girls meets.”

Kaitlyn Grunst highlighted the Hornets’ day with a school-record (and meet record-tying) 5-2 in the high jump. Grunst also took second in the triple jump by a mere quarter inch with a leap of 30-0.75.

Sierra Speiker also won the 1600 (5:51.56) and 3200 (11.57.52), including a victory over defending state champion Kim Barry (Lake Roosevelt) in the 3200.

For the boys, Zack Speiker won the 3200 (10:36.56), and C.J. Mathews won the triple jump (40-0.25). Speiker was also second in the 1600 (4:58.31), Mathews was runner up in the long jump (19-8) and Caleb Haney took second in the discus (119-8).

The dynamic at Thursday’s meet (which starts at 4 p.m.) will be somewhat different as the pole vault was not competed at the Liberty Bell meet. Among those competing for the girls will be Oroville state runner up Callie Barker, as well as Lake Roosevelt’s Barry, who was a state placer in the event last year.