Hood River News

By ADAM LAPIERRE

News staff writer

May 10, 2006

The Hood River Valley High School track team has only one meet remaining before the Intermountain Conference districts meet, which will start on Friday, May 19, in Redmond. So how does the team look going into the final events of the season?

Ideally, most athletes should peak at districts. They should train hard through the middle of the season, ease up a bit the week prior to districts and come into the Intermountain Conference showdown well-tuned, rested and ready to rock and roll.

“Usually the last two weeks going into districts we start tapering the athletes,” said Coach Shawn Meyle. “This is when we start backing off on the volume and work load. That is this week for us. We want to give the kids a chance to be able to compete their best at the district meet.”

As part of the team’s final week before tapering, the Eagles traveled to Portland for a meet against David Douglas and St. Mary’s. And in that meet, the team posted a total of 40 personal records, which is a good indication that individuals continue to improve and peak going into the final weeks of competition.

“I would say that 40 PR’s is pretty good for this time in the season,” Meyle commented. “Our goal of course is to PR every meet, with the biggest ones to come at the district and state meets.”

In Oregon, the top two finishers in each event from each district qualify for the OSAA State Championships, which will be at the University of Oregon campus starting May 27. In addition to the top two, to adjust for districts stacked with talent in certain events, athletes who beat predetermined state-qualifying marks, at districts, in respective events qualify for state. OSAA determines the pre-set state marks by taking the average fifth place state finish over the last five years.

Last season, the Eagles sent four girls to state. McKenna Hering won the district pole vault title and was runner up in the high jump. Markee Cox finished fourth in the 200-meters but qualified for state after beating the pre-determined mark in the event. Kari Hidle qualified with a second place finish in the triple jump and Melissa Kauffman qualified in the 3,000-meters.

At state, Cox finished 22nd, Kauffman 9th, Hering 6th and Hidle 4th in their respective events.

The boys’ team was very young last year and none qualified for state. District placers were Leo Castillo (5th in the 3000-meter and 6th in the 1500-meter) and Joel Miller (6th in the pole vault).

“I expect the boys to finish better than last year (last place),” Meyle said. “Hopefully they can place up towards the middle of the pack. The girls overall are better this year than last year, but so are the other teams. Hermiston and Pendleton look tough. But so is The Dalles/Wahtonka at big meets. I would think we’re about 3rd or 4th.”

David Douglas highlights

Girls:

200 meters —

Markee Cox 1st

800 meters —

3,000 meters —

Melissa Kauffman 1st

100 high hurdles —

Justine Campbell 2nd

4x100 relay —

Amy Hay, Laura Yates 3rd

Kari Hidle, Markee Cox

4x400 relay —

Markee Cox 3rd

Kylee Staughton

Melissa Kauffman

Laura Yates

High jump —

Jacquie Mattson 1st

Pole vault —

McKenna Hering 1st

Alisandra Denton 2nd

Triple jump —

Kari Hidle 1st

Lindsey Halliday 2nd

Boys:

400 meters —

Julio Avila 2nd

800 meters —

Fernando Morales 1st

1,500 meters —

Leo Castillo 2nd

3,000 meters —

Leo Castillo 1st

300 Int. hurdles —

Stefan Zosa 1st

4x100 relay —

Joel Miller, Chris Barber 2nd

Juan Zuniga, Jacob Thornton

4x400 relay —

Antonio Garcia 1st

Fernando Morales

Carlos Quintana

Juan Zuniga

Discus —

Sal Ledezma 2nd

Javelin —

Jacob Thornton 1st

High jump —

Stefan Zosa 2nd

Pole vault —

Joel Miller 2nd