extra! Sports - Oct. 15, 2009

Morgan Willson wins G-Prep race

Colfax sophomore Morgan Willson stepped up to the challenge Saturday and took a 30-second win in the Bullpup Invitatonal race sponsored by Gonzaga Prep at Finch Arboretum. Willson clocked 20:02 to lead a field of 89 girls in the race which drew entrants from GSL schools.

Coach Jamie Kinley, who put Willson in the race to step up her competition, said she was surprised to see the Colfax runner way ahead of the pack at the finish.

Willson Tuesday also led the field at Northwest Christian with a 21:03. That clocking was about 20 seconds under her time from two weeks ago on the same NWC course. Other Colfax clockings for the Bulldogs Tuesday were Kyle Largent 22:31, Cody Wuestney 23:41, and Brady Cornelius 28:57.

The league race will be next Friday at Harrington.

SJE Eagles win home XC race

St. John/Endicott runners booked a solid win last Thursday for their lone home meet of the season. Coach Andrea Miller charted a 3.1 mile course across the St. John golf course and up the spectator terraces at Webb’s Slough.

The Eagles booked a team win with 17 points with four finishers in the top five. Pomeroy placed second with 58 and Asotin third with 59.

Cody Siegel won on a time of 18:59 and Jason Swannack was second at 19:38.

Also placing for the Eagles were Caleb Rich, 3rd at 20:09, Drake Hinkins, 5th at 20:24, Brad Riehle, 6th at 20:48, Dakota White, 8th at 21:08, Alex McCue, 12th at 21:47, John Quinton 19th at 24:19, and Evan Jones, 24th at 24:59.

Only five girls made the entry sheet at St. John with Callie Kolb taking the win for the Eagles at 23:091 and Meghan Gfeller placing second at 23;21.

Saturday, seven Eagles made the trip to Lake Roosevelt and placed sixth among seven teams over a hilly 2.7 mile course.

Highlight for the Eagles was a win by Quinton in the jayvee race at 20:11. Jones placed 10th in the jayvees with a 23:15.

Finishers in the varsity run were Swannack, 16th at 17:36, Siegel, 17th at 17:39, Rich, 27th at 18:43, Hinkins, 30th at 18:49, Riehle, 33rd at 19:01, and McCue, 35th at 19:19.

Kennewick trio faces charges of fish theft at Lyon’s Ferry

Three Kennewick men have been charged in Franklin County District Court and face federal prosecution for allegedly poaching salmon and steelhead from the broodstock collection area on the Snake Rive next to the Lyons Ferry fish hatchery.

Peter P. Robison, 50, Robert D. Bowen, 31, and William S. Lueck, 40, are accused of taking 22 fish, including three wild steelhead and two wild Chinook salmon, according to a report from the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Dept.

Following an anonymous tip, game enforcement officers Brian Fulton of Pasco and Rob McQuary of Walla Walla observed the three men fishing from a boat at night within the 400-foot hatchery area, which is closed to all fishing.

The officers reported the boat had no navigation lights, made several passes inside the closed area and the suspects caught and landed several fish, which were placed in a large cooler.

Officers confronted the men just before 3 a.m. after they pulled the boat from the river at the Lyons Ferry Marina.

The federal NOAA Fisheries Service is reviewing the case for possible civil prosecution of taking the wild fish because they are listed as threatened in the Snake River under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Fines for the state charges range up to $5,000 per count and up to a year in jail. Authorities seized an 18-foot boat, trailer, five fishing rods and miscellaneous fishing and boating equipment for forfeiture proceedings, the department reported.