Good turnout, optimism for Othello track program
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald - First-year Othello javelin thrower Crystal Arreola-Marquina launched a personal best throw of 107-feet-9 at the District 5-6 meet to qualify for next week's regional meet in Prosser.
OTHELLO — The numbers are good, and the Othello track and field youth movement intends to make its presence felt in the Central Washington Athletic Conference this season.
The boys team returns 2A state qualifier senior Ulises Neponuceno, who posted a 51.7-second 400-meter time last year. Neponuceno will head a young sprint squad, competing in both the 100 and 200 meters and maybe even a relay.
“We expect our sprinters to be pretty good this year,” said boys head coach Paul Oursland, who coaches the sprinters and javelin. “We’re pretty young and we still don’t have a true leader, but we’re expecting Ulises to help us in that role.”
Freshman David Maldonado is coming off an impressive cross country season and is expected to pick up where he left off running on the track. The freshman’s work ethic is contagious, said girls head coach Mandi Perez, who also coaches the distance runners.
“He really works hard at what he does. I think it’s going to take some time to get him extremely competitive (in a tough distance running CWAC). But he’s going to be one of our better runners.”
They aren’t necessarily locked races or events, but Maldonado certainly has the capacity to run the 1600 and 3200, maybe even drop down to the 800.
The Huskies also have an up-and-coming thrower in freshman Isaiah Perez, who is a junior All-American in the discus. Perez will step up to the larger high school disc this season and is also expected to throw the shot put.
The Huskie girls are led by a talented group of hurdlers and sprinters, Perez said.
Senior Allison Garza returns to run the 100-meter hurdles. She is also expected to run the 300 intermediate hurdles. Middle distance runner junior Lori Gomez will also give Othello some depth in both hurdle events, as will sophomore Brissia Valenciano.
Thrower Crystal Arreola had a 107-foot-9 mark last season in her first season throwing the javelin. She’s been refining her technique, Oursland said, and is ready to take her game to the next level. Senior Samantha Valenciano has gone 93 feet in the discus, so the Huskies are solid in the throws.
“Our team is very young with a lot of freshmen and sophomores, but I think some of them will be pretty good,” Perez said.
The Huskies open the season at the Papa Wells Invitational on March 18. For the complete schedule visit www.cwacathletics.com.