Young Cheney High School tracksters gain needed experience

CHENEY—The fourth Quad-Duel GSL track meet held at University High

on Thursday, May 5 didn’t produce as many favorable results of the previous three.

That’s due in part to Head Coach Derek Slaughter and his staff deciding to use several of their higher scoring athletes in different roles. Switching things up enabled the coaches to enter several JV or other varsity members who hadn’t had the opportunity to participate in the other meets.

Some of the changes for the boys included having Braxton Hinton, the Blackhawks top sprinter, not compete the 100m or 200m. Instead he ran the 400m, finishing sixth in a PR time of 53.6. Miler Adam Estock didn’t run his two distance races, but turned in time of 2:06.7 in the 800m, which was good enough for fourth place. Teammate Dylan Thornburg placed second in the event with a time of 2:05.65. Freshman Calvin Hilton placed third in the 1600m, running a 4:33.7. Jonah Ward won the javelin event, throwing 136’11”. Landon Moad cleared 11 feet in his third place effort in the pole vault.

The boy’s team ended up falling to Mt. Spokane, 115.5–29.5, to U-High, 77.5–67.5 and to North Central, 75–68.

The girls had considerable more success, beating U-High 89–60 and edging North Central 75–73. Cheney lost a close one to Mt. Spokane, 79–71.

Key sprinter Sydney Reagan was held out of the 100m, but freshmen Olivia Peppard and Avery Warren added points with fourth and sixth place finishes in the event. Senior Jenna Mansfield had a PR in the

200m, winning with a time of 27.62.Samantha Habegger, Cheney’s 800m runner, took second in the 400m (1:04.56). Hannah Ayers did compete in her hurdle specialties, but placed first in the 100m (17.28 PR) and had another PR in the 300m (52.22). Top field event points were scored by Marie Mayfield (second shot, first triple jump and fourth long jump), Clara Brown (fourth discus and third javelin). Shawna Elliott won the high jump at 4’08”.

The Blackhawks will compete Wednesday and Friday in the 3A-4A

District Qualifying Championship at Central Valley.

“I am excited for this week. We have a chance to qualify a lot of athletes for Districts —the top nine in individual events are guaranteed and 10/11 place have a shot to get in,” Slaughter said. “We really have great kids and I want them to be showcased this week at CV. We also have a chance to win a lot of JV and freshman titles on Saturday at their meet. It has really been an exciting year for our track program, getting some of the pre-COVID magic back to make some State runs in the next couple years.”