Girls track takes league title

YAKIMA - The Moses Lake girls track team captured its first Columbia Basin Big Nine league title with 14-of-18 first place finishes at the Big 9 meet in Zaepfel Stadium at Eisenhower High School Thursday.

The Chiefs dominated the competition, set several personal records along the way, and now turn their attention to the upcoming district tournament May 16 at Eastmont Stadium in East Wenatchee.

"These girls are amazing," coach Nicki Weiland said. "They are always pushing each other to improve on their PRs ... it's exciting to anticipate what they are going to do next."

Several girls had outstanding performances on the day. Setting the pace early was Alysha Overland who placed first in the 100 meters with a finish time of 13.00. Taylor Yamane (13.55) placed second, and Maggie Middleton (14.00), sixth. In the 200 it was Caylah Lunning crossing the finish line first at 26.9. London Cleverly took second at 26.95. Cleverly (1:00.13) was the top runner in the 400, and Casci Carpenter set a personal best in the 800 with a time of 2:24.91, which was good enough for third place.

Yamane continued to perform well in the 100 hurdles, crossing the finish line first with a time of 16.46. She placed second (47.67) in the 300. Alysha Overland took first in the event at 45.66.

The Chiefs owned the relay competition, placing first in all three events. The 4x100 team of Lunning, Kayla Grigg, Diamond Ransom and Alysha Overland crossed the tape at 49.22 to set a new school record.

The 200 team of Alysha Overland, Ransom, Lunning and Cleverly broke the school record set a week and a half ago with a finish time of 1:49.49. And the 400 team of Yamane, Carpenter, Cleverly and Megan Roughan was nearly three seconds faster than the second place finishers from Davis with a time of 4:15.41.

In the field events it was the ever steady Sadie Nielsen taking first in the shot with a put of 39-11.50. She also placed first in the discus breaking a previous personal best set a few meets ago with a throw of 137-09.

In the javelin competition it was Grigg placing third with a throw of 96-09. Selina Koon took first in the high jump (5-04.00) and first in the triple jump with a leap of 32-01.00. She also place second in the long jump (16-05.00). Teammate Lunning (17-01.75) was first in the event. Heather Carbon cleared 8-06.00 to claim the top slot in the pole vault.

The Chiefs are off for the next two weeks as they prepare for the district tournament that takes place at Eastmont Stadium in East Wenatchee May 16.

The venue moves to Zaepfel Stadium in Yakima May 18.