NC’s Ben Johnston led the Indian’s distance squad that produced 51 points on route to NC’s team victory today at Mooberry Relays. Johnston ran a 4:14.7 1600 meters on the final leg of the winning distance medley team. He and his teammates (JT Mellgren – 1200, Keagan Hall – 400, and Alex Avila 800) finished in 10:15.0 just missing the record of 10:13.9 (set by Mead in 1989.)
Johnston came back less than 45 minutes later to pick up another ten points in the Lindgren mile. Leading wire to wire Johnston’s first two laps were pedestrian covering the first 810 meters in 2:18. Johnston then threw in a 59 second lap, which dropped all challengers except for Shadle’s Nathan Weitz. The duo continued the blistering pace in the final lap with Johnston pulling away from the sophomore in the final 200 meters. Johnston finished in 4:19.1 (his final 800 was 2:01) and Weitz in 4:20.3.
6400 Meter Relay (4x1600)
University jumped out to the early lead in the 4x1600 gaining a 40 meter lead going into the third leg over a pack consisting of Lewis & Clark, Mt. Spokane, and North Central. At the last exchange U-Hi lead was whittled down to 6 seconds with North Central, and Lewis & Clark coming on strong. Midway through the final leg NC and LC caught and pulled away from U-Hi and the duo battle all the way to the finish. LC’s anchor Kenji Bierig was able to slip ahead of NC’s Keith Williams for the victory. LC’s team (Chris Ennis, Baxter Arguinchona, Derek Alcorn and Bierig) finished in 18:27.1.
Girls’ Distance Medley
A pack of four teams, which included Central Valley, Gonzaga, Lewis & Clark, and Mt. Spokane, broke away from the rest of the field during the 1200 meter leg. At the exchange CV held a slight lead over the three teams and extended their lead after the 400 leg. Gonzaga and LC were able to close the gap on the Bears going into the final leg. Anchors Annie Pokorny (LC) and Alicia Doohan (GP) pulled away from CV’s Jamie Lambie in the final two laps. The pair battled neck and neck with Pokorny slipping past Doohan. Both teams clocked 12:55 (Gonzaga’s team: Audrey Hiatt, Caitlin Padon, Katherine McCanna, and Doohan and LC’s team Alison Keenan, Lekecia Farmer, Maddie Ballou, and Pokorny.) CV’s team of Skye Sanders, Chatelle Fitting, McKenzi McDonald, and Lambie finished third in 13:07.
Girls’ Lindgren Mile
The start of the girls’ race was similar to the boys’. NC’s Katie Knight led a huge pack through the first lap then she put the hammer down with only Shadle’s Kendra Weitz able to match her pace. The two freshmen circled the track side by side for the next three laps. Knight was able to gain a ten meter advantage over Weitz at the line. She like her NC teammate Johnston broke the meet record with a time 5:01.7. The previous mile record was 5:18.8 by Mead’s Ryan Torpie.
3200 Meter Relay (4x800)
Boys: Mead’s Andrew Gardner, North Central’s Keith Williams, and University’s Joel Hetrik, formed a trio during the first leg of the 4x800. North Central was able gain a slight edge during the second leg (run by Andrew Wordell) over U-Hi’s Witkoe, and Mead’s Josh Greer. Ferris slipped back from the pack. Casey Adams extended NC’s lead to 8 seconds over the dueling Jon Smith (U-hi) and Cory Foss (Mead.) JT Mellgren secured the 13 second victory (8:04.5) for Indians in the anchor leg. U-Hi’s Chirstian Bucko edged in front of Mead’s Taylen Howland (8:17.5 vs. 8:20.1.)
Girls: Lewis & Clark had a slight lead over Mt. Spokane, Mead, Cheney and Central Valley after the first exchanges but that lead quickly disappeared during the second leg where CV took up the pace setting. Mt. Spokane took charge during the third leg making up four seconds and gaining two more on CV. Molly Cole extended the Wildcat’s lead in the final leg winning in 10:12.7 (team included Lexi Hereford, Juanita Dukes, Sarah Craig, and Molly Cole.) CV finished in second with a 10:22 edging out LC in 10:25 and Mead in 10:27.8.
3200 Meters
Boys: Ferris’ Perry Domini and NC’s Vince Hamilton took up the early pace setting with Mead’s Andrew Gardner and Cascade’s Aaron Campbell in chase. Mead’s freshman, Gardner (running in his third distance race today – 1200 in DM & 4x800) took charge in the second half pulling Hamilton along with him. Gardner held off a late charge from Hamilton to get the victory in 9:42.7 (Hamilton 9:43.5) Campbell (9:58.9) out kicked Domini (9:59.2) for third.
Girls: A pack also formed early in this race, which included Shadle’s Chelsea Chandler, Cheney’s Sanne Holland, Ferris’s Kara Walther, Mead’s Danielle Mold0nado, and Gonzaga’s Audrey Hiatt. The group took turns leading until lap six when Chandler took charge and cruised to the victory in 11:51.8. Holland out sprinted Walther for second (11:56.0 vs. 11:57.9) while Maldonado finished fourth in 12:04.1 and Hiatt in fifth with a 12:09.8.
Waiting for full results from all the events.