Moses Lake track competes well at Invite

YAKIMA - Thirty-seven teams took part in the 7th annual Papa Wells Invite at East Valley High School in Yakima Saturday. And although the weather conditions were more befitting a kite flying contest, Moses Lake turned in some respectable results.

"The weather was some of the craziest we've had in this short season," coach Kevin Whittall said. "We started off with a little sun, but the temperatures seemed to drop throughout the day and by the end of the meet the wind was blowing at 35-40 miles per hour."

The girls won the bragging rights at the invite as several first and second place finishes were recorded.

Leading the way for the Chiefs was Sadie Nielsen who took top honors in the shot put with a toss of 36-11 feet and in the discuss with a throw of 121-2. Stephanie Overland placed first in the long jump event at 17-2 1/2 feet. Selina Koon was second with a leap of 16-9 1/4. She also placed first in the high jump clearing 5 foot even. Alysha Overland was the top placer in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.59. Taylor Yamane finished third at 49.76. Yamane also finished second in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.84. Arlena Hannan was third at 17.90. In the triple jump event it was Kayla Grigg taking second (33-11) and Koon, third at 32-9 1/4.

The 4x100 relay team of Stephanie and Alysha Overland, Grigg and London Cleverly placed second with a time of 50.97.

And in the 4x400 it was Cleverly, Stephanie and Alysha Overland and Hannan crossing the finish line in second place at 4:16.85. Casci Carpenter (2:32.44)placed fourth in the 800-meters. Emma Deering placed third in the freshman-sophomore division 400-meter dash with a time of 1:12.71

Boys

Top finishers for the boys were Cameron Law who took third in the pole vault clearing 12 feet even, and Ben Crowell's third-place finish in the long jump at 20-4 1/2. Renwil Babcat finished fourth in the Javelin event with a throw of 143-8 feet.

And the 4x400 relay team of Alek Schweisow, Dylan Darlington, Lowell Kirkwood and Justin Johnson took fourth with a time of 3:47.66. Johnson also placed fourth in the freshman-sophomore division 400-meter dash, crossing the finish line at 59.31 seconds.

"The coaching staff is very proud of how our athletes were stacking up against some of the best in the Yakima and Columbia Basin area," Whittall said.

Moses Lake is back on the track Saturday to take part in the Ray Cross Invite in Ephrata.