Ephrata Tigers dominate both girls, boys divisions at Best of the Basin track meet 

QUINCY — The Best of the Basin competitors had the best of both worlds at Thursday’s track and field meet at Jaycee Stadium.

It was overcast and calm with the temperature hovering around 60 degrees and the athletes were feeling it.

Gabriel Green won both the 100 (11.95 seconds) and 200-meter (23.95) races. Teammate Kolby Tune won the 1,600 (4 minutes, 58.76 seconds) and 3,200 (10:57.84) and the Ephrata boys won 11-of-17 events, including the final event of the day when Aaron Evans, Anthony Evans, Green and Jayden Lopez combined for 3:35.37 to win the 4x400 relay.

Ephrata’s Mya Spencer won all three sprinting events and ran the anchor leg on the winning 4x200 relay to lead the Tiger girls, who dominated, winning eight events.

Considering the first two meets of the season were called the Icebreaker and the Windbreaker, the Best of the Basin not only showcased some of the best small-school track and field talent in the region, it had the best weather of the season to let ‘er fly.

Ephrata senior Anthony Evans won the 400 meters in 51.72 seconds and also ran a leg on the winning 4x400 relay.

“I like the 400 a lot. I think the middle part is the most important and coming off the second curve, because it sets up the second half of the race,” he said. “I usually try to start my kick at the 100-meter point. Right now I’m still working in it, but I like my kick.”

The 800 meters proved to be one of the most competitive races of the day. Kiona-Benton middle distance runner Billy Simpkin took control of the race through the first 500 meters, but Ephrata’s Jayden Lopez pushed hard down the back straight away and caught Simpkin as they started into the final curve. The two came off the curve stride for stride down the grandstand straight right to the finish. Simpkin led Lopez to win in 2:11.72. Lopez was second (2:12.39) and Quincy’s Omar Ramos (2:13.51) was third.

“I like the 800 because there’s enough time to make a move if you have to catch up like I did today,” Lopez said. “My kick is pretty good, but it’s better in the 800. I ran the 1,600 last year, but I’m stronger in this race.”

Hunter James won the javelin by 14 feet with a mark of 154-feet and Ephrata won both hurdling events. Brad Flanigan won the 110 high hurdles (16.46) and Mario Rios (45.03) ran a personal best to hold off Kiona-Benton’s Jared Garner (45.05) in a race that came down to a sprinter’s lead in the 300-meter hurdles.

The Othello boys 4x100 relay crushed the field in the sprint relay. Brayan Garza, Jonathan Rocha, Anthony Veliz and Francisco Alonzo clocked 45.06 for the victory. Huskies vaulter Steven Ochoa cleared a personal best to win the pole vault (11 feet).

In the girls’ action, Spencer was in state meet form, winning the 100 (13.37), 200 (27.25) and the 400 meters (1:01.06) to lead the Tigers. McCall DeChenne (1:01.73) ran a personal best in the 400, finishing second to give the Tigers a one-two punch. DeChenne also won the 100 hurdles (15.39).

Othello freshman Galilea Gonzalez (54.25) defeated the field in the 300 intermediate hurdles. Nikola Brzezny (54.70) of Ephrata was second and Morgan Kleyn (55.52) of Quincy was third.

“The big thing with running the 300s is that you have to stay focused,” Gonzalez said. “The 300s give you more time than the 100s, but it takes more stamina to run the 300s.”

Jane Kennedy (5:40.13) and Bryn Heikes (5:43.07) gave Quincy a one-two finish in the 1,600.

For all of the results visit https://www.athletic.net/TrackAndField/meet/319464/results/f/1/1600m.