The first day of the GNL District Meet took place today in the cold and wind at Eastern Washington University. This State qualifying meet will send the top three in each event to next week’s meet in Tacoma. Finals in some of the field events and the 3200m were held today with the rest of finals tomorrow.
In the first completed event of the day, Cheney’s DeAngelo Jones led the long jump with a 21-6 going into finals. He extended his lead to 21-10.75 missing the meet record of 21-11 held by Nathaniel Youmans in 2009. Jones is hoping to improve on his 8th place 2009 State finish next week. “My goal is to get in the top 3” said Jones when talking about his goals. He currently ranks 3rd in state 2A list with a PR of 22-5.
Pullman’s Nina Al-Hassan came into the today’s meet with a PR of 126-0 in the javelin and excited about making it state in four events; the javelin, the 300 hurdles (where she is the defending state champion), 4x100, and 4x400. She is on her to way accomplishing those goals with a 4 foot PR in the Javelin and winning her heat in the 300 hurdles. Her winning throw of 130-8 was performed early in competition, during the first flight, but held up through finals. Al-Hassan was well aware of her third placing ranking in the state and hopes for a top three finish. “Kirkwood from Othello is way out there with a 153 but I’m hoping for a second or third.” She will compete in finals tomorrow in the hurdles and relays.
Al-Hassan’s teammate Anna Goa also moved on to State in the triple jump. After her first jump scratch she came back with a second jump of 35-10, which turned out to be the winning jump partly due to the increased wind into the jumper’s face. Goa’s PR of 36-4.25 leads the state 2A rankings and she hopes to “…get back in 36s after consistently jumping in the 35s.”
Tyler Poldervardt from West Valley went into the finals just barely ahead of the top seed from Deer Park Reid White (47-7 for White, 47-7.5 for Poldervardt.) Poldervardt then got progressively better on each of his three throws and clinched the title with a mark of 50-11.5 (48-2, and 49-6 where his other throws in the finals.) He doesn’t have specific distance goals for next week’s meet but “definitely going for a top eight spot.”
In the only track final of the day, Colville’s Ned Fischer hung on Riverside’s Max Winter until the final two laps then pulled away to victory in the 3200. Fischer slipped under 10:00 for the first time with a 9:58.9.
Full results to follow