Sports - High Schools

POSTED: Saturday, May. 30, 2009

PREP GIRLS' TRACK: Nooksack Valley places two in shot put

For a few minutes on Friday, May 29, the Nooksack Valley girls' track team led the point standings at the Class 1A State Meet in Cheney.

That's what happens when you have two athletes place in the first event of the meet.

Nooksack Valley's first day at the meet was highlighted by a second- and a seventh-place finish in the girls' shot put, as Danelle Himango threw 37 feet, 9 inches, and Noelani Bumatay had a toss of 35-0.

"We expected that or better from our girls' throwers, and they came through for us," Nooksack Valley coach Robb Myhre said in a phone interview. "There was one girl that was head and shoulders above everyone else, and we're happy with a second and a seventh."

Allison Johnson also finished 12th in the event with a throw of 32-6.25.

The Pioneers almost added to their point total, as Bailey DeBruin finished just off the podium in the girls' 3,200 meters with her time of 12:17.68 (ninth).

"With the heat, that was a pretty good time," Myhre said. "It wasn't a PR, but we were real proud of the way she ran."

Sonora Hlebiechuk also finished 15th in the javelin with a throw of 98-8.

Meridian was most pleased to see Alicia Wolf qualify for the finals of the 200 (seventh, 13.16 seconds) and 400 (third, 1:00.62). Wolf also helped Anna Fast, Naomi Eissinger and Randi Donahue get the Trojans' 4x200 relay team into the final with the seventh-fastest time (1:48.81).

"Alicia ran real well today," Meridian assistant coach Mike Holt said. "I think near the end of the day, the heat began to take its toll, and she started to tire a little, but she ran her hardest."

The Trojans also got Eissinger qualified for the finals of the 300 hurdles (seventh, 48.51), though freshman Haley Hull missed joining her, as she turned in the 12th-fastest time (50.36).

Fast also just missed placing in the long jump, as her leap of 15-6.5 was ninth.