Early return from spring break pays dividends for track and field athletes on a cold day in Condon
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Cole Walters, in his first meet of the year, set three new personal records and placed high in the shot put (fourth, 36-2), discus (third, 112-9), and javelin (fifth, 128-1) and Samantha Brewer won all four of her events as track and field athletes from Klickitat and Lyle-Wishram braved the weather to compete in the Condon invitational on Saturday. It was even more remarkable, as they were forgoing the final day of Spring vacation.
Walters, a sophomore, views himself as a discus specialist. After putting up his best marks in the javelin by more than six feet, and the shot put by more than two feet, he became serious, discarded his loose loafers and donned his real track shoes for the discus. Walters then set down his best mark in the discus, beating his previous best by more than six feet.
Brewer didn’t need her best to win the high jump, hurdles, long jump and triple jump, although Sherman County’s Karissa Mobley threatened the upset in the triple jump. Mobley lost to the Klickitat junior by 3.5 inches. The long jump pit proved to be a distraction to Brewer, who usually is well beyond 15 feet. That would have put her out of the pit. It forced her to use a different take-off point, landing her close to the front of the pit. She never got within 8 inches of the take-off point, but was still long enough to win.
Teaera Churchwell won the 800 meters, but couldn’t get past Pilot Rock’s star sprinter Erica Drake in the 100 and 200 meter races.
Nolan Smith of Lyle-Wishram not only surprised his teammate, Henry Matai in the shot put, he set a big PR going beyond 40 feet for his first time. Smith added nearly four feet to his best with a second place toss of 40-11. Matai was third at 37-11.
Matai was second in the discus, behind Spray’s triple throwing event winner, Jason Starr. But, Matai was not about to lose in the 110 hurdles, winning time in a respectable 16.26. The hand-held time converts to 16.54, less than half a second off his personal best.
Also setting a PR at the meet was Johnathon Marshall, of Lyle-Wishram who threw the javelin 108-8.
April 24 is opening day for lowland lakes
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
The state’s single biggest fishing season opens April 24, with lakes throughout the state stocked with millions of hatchery-reared fish by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Although many lakes are open year round, the last Saturday in April marks the traditional start of a four-to five-month-long lowland-lakes fishing season.
“This is our biggest fishing season opener and it traditionally draws more than 300,000 anglers of all ages,” said WDFW Director Phil Anderson. “It’s a good time to gather family and friends at local waterways to cast off winter and celebrate spring.”
With lakes in every county of the state well stocked, anglers can keep travel costs down by enjoying good fishing close to home.
A Washington freshwater fishing license, valid April 1, 2010 through March 31, 2011, costs $26 for resident adults (16-69 years old). Fifteen-year-olds and persons with disabilities can buy a license for $11, and seniors (70 years and older) can buy an annual fishing license for $8. Children 14 years and younger do not need a fishing license. The two-pole endorsement (check http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/twopole/lakes.php for details) costs an additional $24.50 for adults; $6.50 for seniors.
All licenses can be purchased on the Internet ( https://fishhunt.dfw.wa.gov ), by telephone (1-866-246-9453), or at hundreds of license dealers across the state (listed on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/licensing/vendors ).
Wooldridge and Better set weight lifting records
Andrew Christiansen
Reporter
Members of Goldendale’s Black Iron Gym Powerlifting team brought home a host of medals from the Goodson/Honda National Benchpress and Deadlift championship, held in Portland on March 13.
Two new Washington state records were set for class, age and weight divisions. One by Jane Wooldridge in the benchpress and the other by Dan Better in the deadlift. Better won the event and was also first in the benchpress for his class. Wooldridge placed second in the deadlift to go along with her winning benchpress.
Other winners were Randy Wells, first in benchpress and first in deadlift, and Ken Berry who won his class in the benchpress. Ken Schlief took home second in the benchpress and third in deadlift. Marc Boardman was third in benchpress.
The event was sanctioned by the World Association of Benchpressers and Deadlifters. |
