Colfax track team pegs strong start at WV meet

With a lot of the competitors back from a solid track season last year, Colfax Coach Jason Cooper looks for more good things in the coming season. Cooper’s crew marked their first outing last weekend at the big West Valley Invitational which included 15 teams on the guest list, including some of the biggies in the Spokane area.

Colfax girls finished in ninth place with 80 points behind a power win by the Cheney Blackhawks who rolled up 283 points in the big meet.

Lone win for the Bulldogs was a 5:27.6 booked in the 1600 by Morgan Willson who returns this year as a senior.

“She was really our anchor for the team last year, and we’re glad to have her back for this season,” Coach Cooper noted. Willson, who booked the lone Colfax win in last year’s state finals, also placed second in the 3200 Saturday with an 11:04.95

Another big mark on the returnee roster will be the Bulldogs sprint relay team of Amelie Bruya, E.B. Hatley, Hannah Harazin and Bailey Mackleit. They placed second in the 4 X 100 at state last year with a 51.0 clocking. The same team also clocked a third in the state 4 X 200 with a 1:48.8.

Saturday at WV the team placed fifth in the 4 X 100 with a 54.2, and fourth in the 4 X 200 with a 1:54.92.

Mackleit, now a sophomore, also placed fifth Saturday in the 100 hurdles of the big WV meet with a 18.98. Taylor Lange and Hannah Knaack, now juniors, and Holly Rimbey, a freshman, are all hurdlers in action this year.

Nicole Sheer, now a sophomore, also returns to the weight events. She banked a third in the shot at WV with an 34-10 and placed ninth in the discus with an 86-7.

Also in the field events this year will be Emma Klaveano, freshman pole vaulter.

Best mark for the Bulldog boys Saturday was a second place in the high jump by Justin Berarducci who cleared 6-2. He missed the track action in his junior years while recovering from a basketball ankle injury.

Berarducci also placed fifth in the 400 with a 54:72.

The Bulldog boys also have a strong 4 X 100 relay entry back this year with Sam Thompson, Alvin Li and Lucas Lyon, all seniors, and Austin Corean, a sophomore. They clocked ninth Saturday with a 47.6.

Lyon placed seventh in the javelin with a 132-3.

Li, Dylan Hall, Thomson and Arik Lauback all figure to stack up points in the sprint events.

Junior Skylar Simonson placed eighth in the pole vault at WV with a 10-0. The Bulldogs this year also have Sam Dailey in the pole vault.

Colfax weight throwers this year will include Cole Neu, a junior; Brent Conrad, a senior; and Josh Brown, a freshman.

Coaches assisting Cooper this year are Jennifer Fulfs, Randy Daniels, Todd Neu and Kami Lowe.