Going big time

CUTLINE: Moses Lake track regional qualifiers (top to bottom; left to right) Jake Smedley, Kraig Grant, Rhoan Ashby, Brandan Anderson, Tyan Carpenter, David Moore and Aaron Wafer will compete in regionals this weekend. There are three pole vaulters, a sprinter, a 4x100 team and a javelin thrower traveling to take on the best the region has to offer.

Pam Robel/Columbia Basin Herald

MOSES LAKE — Brandan Anderson, Rhoan Ashby, Ryan Carpenter, Kraig Grant, David Moore, Jake Smedley and Aaron Wafer have competed in several events during the course of the regular meet season and Saturday they will put their skills to test against the best in the Region.

This season has brought a surprise or two for the Moses Lake High School track team and given a chance for its talent to shine.

Rhoan Ashby, a senior and first time member of the track team, will be competing in pole vault and is an alternate for the 4x100-meter relay team. As the team prepared to photos Wednesday afternoon, Ashby put his acrobatic skills on display, doing flips on the pole vault mats with his teammates.

"I came from a motor cross background and I heard that pole vault was crazy," said Ashby of his taking up of a new sport in his senior year of high school. When asked how he felt about the coming meet he said he was just happy to be going.

The only other senior competing at regionals is David Moore. Saturday will be Moore's second trip to the regional competition in javelin; he went to state last year. "This year I know what to expect and I'm training harder," said Moore of his expectations for this year's run on the state title. Moore's only concern is an injury to the middle finger of his throwing hand. "Hopefully he will have a good meet and we can go on to state," said coach Nikki Weiland of Moore's injury.

Another surprise for the Chiefs is Aaron Wafer. Wafer is just a sophomore but will be competing in four events Saturday; the 100, 200 and 400-meter dashes and the 4x100-meter relay. His first place finishes in the 100 and 200-meter dashes at districts make him a marked man but he looked nothing but collected during Wednesday's practice.

Brandan Anderson and Ryan Carpenter will be competing with the 4x100-meter relay team as the first and second legs respectively.

Kraig Grant is competing in both the pole vault and will be the third leg of the 4x100-meter relay team.

The final team member headed to regionals is Jake Smedley, who will compete in the pole vault.

"We're just holding our breath and hoping everybody gets out of regionals," said coach Weiland.