Besides enjoying a rare moment in the sun, Montesano’s tracksters reaped a pair of dual-meet victories in the process.
The Bulldogs swept team honors from Hoquiam in an Evergreen 1A League track meet Thursday at Sea Breeze Oval.
Winning 13 of 18 events, Monte’s girls prevailed, 91-43. Montesano’s boys nosed out the Grizzlies, 71-69.
Having braved extremely soggy weather throughout March, both teams welcomed dry, sunny conditions on Thursday — although there was, as is customary at Hoquiam’s track, a significant wind-chill factor.
Both coaches were happy with their team’s performances in the last meet prior to spring break.
“We thought it was a good outing all around,” Monte girls coach Doug Schupbach said.
In addition to adverse weather conditions, Hoquiam has been forced to deal with a couple of community tragedies within the past week.
“Considering the weather and the tragedies we faced, I thought the kids stepped up and competed well,” Hoquiam coach Tim Pelan said. “We’ve got a long ways to go. We’re way behind on anything that requires a lot of technique.”
The Harbor rivals traded event sweeps in the boys meet, with the Bulldogs dominating the distances and hurdles and the Grizzlies piling up points in the sprints and jumps.
Montesano’s Jake Mustard nabbed the 800 (2:19.3) and 1,600 (4:59.5), while teammate Lyle Burbidge was a double winner in the hurdles (17.81 and 47.24).
The Bulldogs ran some of their top male performers in uncharacteristic events.
“It was just two schools,” Monte boys coach Brian Hollatz said. “It was an opportunity for the kids to show what they could do.”
Burbidge and Sam Winter, who won the triple jump, were cited for fine performances.
Hoquiam’s Anthony Nash was a double winner in the sprints and anchored the HHS victorious 4×100-meter relay team.
Grizzly high jump ace Devin Merksick cleared 6-2 (and made an unofficial jump at 6-4) to win his specialty.
Hoquiam’s Caleb Larsen registered his first-ever event win in the boys shot put at 40-3. Teammates Ryan Espedal and Artimus Johnson tied for first in the boys pole vault, with Espedal awarded the victory on fewer misses. Hoquiam’s Antonio Garcia was cited by Pelan for a strong showing.
“We’re definitely more set up for invites (invitational meets),” Pelan observed. “We haven’t had a chance to cut loose yet.”
Senior Shayla Floch batted 4-for-4 in highlighting Montesano’s girls triumph.
Floch cleared 5 feet to win the high jump and bounded 15-3 in the long jump. She also anchored a pair of winning relay efforts, rallying on the final leg of the 4×200 to take what was probably the most exciting race of the day.
Jordan Spradlin, Jamie Anthony and Madison Schupbach were double individual winners for the Bulldogs.
The reigning state champion in the girls shot and discus, Spradlin took both events with throws of 41-1 and 120-4, respectively. Her younger sister Carly, second in all three throws, drew the praise of her coaches.
Anthony doubled in the girls 200 and 400, while Schupbach captured the short hurdles and triple jump.
Hannah Barre, the girls 100 meter winner, also earned a commendation from Monte coaches.
Pelan cited Savannah Lutz for taking the girls 800 meters and Jade Sandstrom for volunteering to run (and win, as it developed) the 300 hurdles.
Both teams will be idle until competing in the Ray Ryan Memorial All-County Championships on April 15 in Aberdeen.
BOYS
100 — 11.37 — Nash (H), Smith (H), Doll (H). 200 — 25.25 — Nash (H), Smith (H), Doll (H). 400 — 59.2 — Johnson (H). 800 — 2:19.3 — Mustard (M), Clements (M), Albert (M). 1,600 — 4:59.5 — Mustard (M), Clements (M), Aschenbrenner (M). 3,200 — 12:53.9 — Hogarty (M), Houbregs (H), Moir (H). 100 H — 17.81 — Burbidge (M), Winter (M), Garcia (H). 300 H — 47.24 — Burbidge (M), Winter (M), Hollatz (M). 4×100 R — 45.84 — Hoquiam, Montesano, Montesano. 4×400 R — 3:47.0 — Montesano, Hoquiam, Montesano.
Shot — 40-3 — Larsen (H), Dierkop (M), Moodenbaugh (H). Disc — 110-7 — Englund (M), Browne (H), Nicklas (M). Jav — 140-0 — Moodenbaugh (H), Dierkop (M), Ridgway (M). HJ — 6-2 — Merksick (H), Garcia (H), Lowder (H). LJ — 17-9 — Whipple (M), Doll (H), Garcia (H). TJ — 35-6 — Winter (M), Ridgway (M). PV — 11-6 — Espedal (H), Johnson (H), Felten (H).
GIRLS
100 — 13.97 — Barre (M), Scott-York (H), Tuengel (H). 200 — 31.4 — Anthony (M), Landry (M), Nelson (M). 400 — 1:10.8 — Anthony (M). 800 — 2:54.0 — Lutz (H), Kahler (M), Bertram (M). 1,600 — 6:23.1 — Kahler (M), Lutz (H), Hutchings (M). 3,200 — 14:51.8 — Hutchings (M), Bertram (M). 100 H — 18.77 — Schupbach (M), Sandstrom (H), Landry (M). 300 H — 1:01.38 — Sandstrom (H), Diaz (M). 4×100 R — 54.67 — Montesano, Hoquiam. 4×200 R — 1:55.2 — Montesano, Hoquiam. 4×400 R — 4:37.0 — Hoquiam.
Shot — 41-1 — J. Spradlin (M), C. Spradlin (M), Strom (H). Disc — 120-4 — J. Spradlin (M), C. Spradlin (M), Pinnell (H). Jav — 107-4 — Krohn (H), C. Spradlin (M), Hatcher (M). HJ — 5-0 — Floch (M), McCormick (H). LJ — 15-3 — Floch (M), Capoeman (H), Delahanty (H). TJ — 27-7 — Schupbach (M). PV — 7-3 — Delahanty (H), Capoeman (H), Pinnell (H).
