Eight LRS athletes advance to District Meet

Jimmie Snider Field was awash in color and activity for the last time this season on May 7, as 13 track and field teams sent their athletes to the Sub-District Meet to vie for limited slots on a path toward an ultimate place in the State Championship Meet in three weeks time.

The top 12 finishers in each field and distance running events, plus the top eight finishers in each track lane event move on to the District Meet for a final opportunity to punch their ticket to State. The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos successfully moved eight athletes, five women and three men, some in multiple events, to the next level.

On the women's running side, five women qualified for District in their event(s). Sydney Kinch goes to District in the 100 meters (fifth place, 13.71 seconds), and 200 meters (seventh place, 28.76). Brooke Coons ran the 100 meter hurdles in 21.51 for sixth place and a spot at Districts. Julia Klein continued her consistency at 800 meters in 2:33.25 for a fourth place finish. She also ran the 400 meters in 63.87 for a fifth place finish and a second ticket to District. Finally, Linnea Schafer placed fourth of 13 competitors in the 1,600 meters to reserve her spot at Districts.

In the field, Broncos women also had success. Kinch won both the pole vault (at 9'-06") as well as the long jump (15'-03.25"). She will be a busy woman at the District meet, competing in four events. Brynne Nelson maintained her consistency in the shot put, throwing 31'-4" to nab second place in that event. Nelson will be joined on the shot put list at Districts by Julia Klein, who nabbed ninth place with a 28'-9" throw. With her three events, Klein will also be busy this weekend.

LRS's men were no less active on the track. Spencer Gering led off, running both the 100 (12.23) and 200 meters (24.59). Gering was 10th of 36 entrants in the 100 meters, which missed the District cut-off of top eight. But he will join teammates at Districts after finishing sixth of 37 in the 200 meters.

Conrad Ziemer skipped the 200 meters, preferring to save himself for competition in the 400 and 800 meters, plus the long jump. He was successful in all three, racking up a fifth place finish in the 400 meters (53.86) and a sixth place finish in the 800 meters. Ziemer leaped 17'-06.5" in the long jump, just ducking under the qualifying limit of 12. He will compete in three events at District.

Finally, Sam Michels also ran his way into the District competition, finishing the 3200 in 11:40.49-which incredibly is about 15 seconds better than his previous best time.

A salute is also due to teammates who did not qualify for the District Final. Brinley Moore ran the 400 meters in 70.68; she has competed in every 400-meter race in the past six meets and finished with her season personal best, although short of the qualifying limit.

Freshman Kaylee Monroe has competed all season in the 100 meters, 200 meters and long jump. She notched bests of 15.03, 30.98 and 13-03 in her first season; the sprint times coming as her personal bests on April 30. Grace Saint John and Taylor Stromberger were consistent entrants in the throwing contests, as was Brooke Koch, whose javelin throw of 77-05 nearly matched Nelson's season best of 79-09.

Josh and Zach Crouse, both throwers, competed with consistency, though not far enough to place. Zac Moore joined the team late in the season at the high jump runway, as did Doug Morris. The team will miss Morris as he was a versatile sprinter and jumper.

Unfortunately, The Journal reported a Morris personal best high jump of 5'10" – which is nearly his height. We were wrong, due to a typo. Morris knew it, but took it in good stride when we apologized and reduced it by 10 inches. Another story is Michels, a distance running guy who tossed a javelin 87'9" on March 29 and continued to throw with increases every meet until he flew a javelin 103'3" on April 30.

The pathway to State awaits the eight Broncos who have earned the next steps. Standing in the way to success in the District Meet is significantly more competition. The top four athletes in each event will move on to the State Meet. The District Meet will be held at Central Valley High School in Spokane Valley on May 17 and 18.