Blackhawks advance to regional track action

The Cheney High track and field team advanced six individuals and a pair of relay teams from last Friday's District 7 meet to regional competition May 22 at West Valley High School in Millwood against teams from the Central Washington Athletic Conference.

KD Skillingstad led all individuals with three district titles in girls' events last Friday, also at West Valley. The freshman turned in her best marks so far this season to win the 100-meter hurdles in 15.03 seconds and the 300 hurdles in 45.52.

Both times are the best so far in the state in 2A. Skillingstad also captured the triple jump with a leap of 35 feet, 1.5 inches.

Freshman Alsatta Bakana was the only other regional qualifier for the girls on the track, placing second with a season-best 12.52 time in the 100-meter dash. In the field, senior Jamie Bradley captured the district title in the pole vault with a season best 11-00 while sophomore Rylie Pease won the javelin with a new season-best and state-leading toss of 134-04.

Cheney's 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams also advanced with second place finishes in 49.85 and 4:09.81.

Senior Steaven Zachman and freshman Peyton Putney carried the day for the Blackhawk boys. Zachman moved on to regionals with a district title in the 800, turning in a time of 1:58.60 while Putney claimed the title in the 200 with a season-best 22.76.

Only the top two placers advance to regionals. Third-place finishes went to Charles Johnson (boys 100, 200), Zachman (boys 1,600), Kristie McGourin (girls 400), Helen Levchenko (girls 300 hurdles), Abby Hammermeister (girls 800), Gaige Felix (boys long jump) and Kayla Lemelin (girls triple jump). Fourth-place finishes went to Hannah Spakousky (girls 3,200), Spencer Jackson (boys 100 hurdles), Jolene Whiteley (girls 800), Matthew Christiansen (boys 3,200), Houston Moczulski (boys pole vault), Brooklyn Spencer (girls pole vault) and Brett Wyborney (boys shot put).

The Cheney girls' team finished second overall out of five teams at districts with 169 points, 27 points back of meet champion Pullman. The boys finished fourth overall with 87 points.

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].