While the Ray Cockrum Relays run last Saturday in Wenatchee were what they were advertised, mostly team events, Medical Lake head track coach Gene Blankenship was able to carve some slices of accomplishment elsewhere in the Wenatchee competition.
“We ran a lot better this weekend,” Blankenship said, referencing their opening meet in Richland on March 17. And there was a bonus. “We actually had great weather, that was the place to be in Washington this weekend.”
The best performances of the day came on opposite ends of the grade spectrum in a win from senior Kayla Branch in the triple jump at 34 feet, 1/2 inch, coupled with freshman Quintin Collins breaking five minutes in the 1,600-meter run turning in a 4 minute, 59.59 second time.
The Cardinals’ distance medley relay team of Tyler Pena, Urijah Taylor, Nicholas Henry and Mason Williams finished fourth in 11:25.
While finishes in events like that are no real surprise considering the cross country pedigree that has been established at Medical Lake in recent years, field events seem to be having a resurgence.
“Our young thrower, Colton Ellis continues to improve,” Blankenship said. He finished ninth in the shot put at 39-04 and 11th in the discus with a throw of 106-02.
The competition featured 10 schools, seven in either 4A or 3A and then three 1A schools with Cashmere and Leavenworth joining Medical Lake.
The Cardinal contingent set 22 personal records and five teams found their place in the coveted top-four list of all-time school bests.
The Cardinals have one meet remaining on Friday, March 30 at the Riverside Invitational which begins at 9 a.m. Their first Northeast A League competition follows spring break on April 11 at Newport.
Paul Delaney can be reached at [email protected].
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