24 Cardinals Qualify For Districts

CLARKSTON - It hasn't happened before that anyone can remember, but there is a good chance WP will end up with two track and field Triple Crowns at this week's big district championship meet in Walla Walla.

Eshom Estes and Kristin Potter each are stars in three events and may end up winning them, track and field head coach Jeff Bartlow said. And that isn't because the competitive field in the district is weak. Both Cardinals rank in the top 10 for their events statewide.

Estes, a thrower, qualified easily for districts at last week's sub district meet in Clarkston, securing his participation in shot put, discus and javelin. Potter, a sprinter, did the same in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter dashes.

In all, 17 men qualified for 11 events in Clarkston, while seven women qualified for 12 events, prompting Bartlow to observe that he "got more than I expected."

He singled out several Cardinals who improved their performances, in some cases their personal bests, to qualify for this week's big meet. Austin Beasley added two feet to his triple jump record to get to districts, winning him the team's distinction as Athlete of the Week.

Others who pulled through in their events include Roy Ebong in the 800 meters, E.J. Meserve in the 3,200 meters, Peter Wilson in discus and Amanda Cook in discus.

One disappointment was James Thompkins' false start in the 100-sprint at Clarkston, which disqualified him from that event.

"That was a shock to everybody," Bartlow said. "It's pretty gut-wrenching to see your best sprinter go."

But Thompkins, a Jubilee Youth Ranch student who is ranked as the eighth-best sprinter in the state, did not feel terribly shaken by the incident, which was triggered when he leaned too far forward at the starting line. He went on to win and qualify in the 200-meter sprint and both relays (4x100 and 4x400). Thompkins completed his stretch of the 4x400 relay in 52 seconds, making it the best race day result.

"He ended up getting three firsts," Bartlow said. "We're really proud of him."

WP athletes who qualified for this week's final and most important district meet include Billy Brown, Nick Carpenter, Seth Deal, Logan Dozier, Roy Ebong, Eshom Estes, Kyle Fredricks, Yusef Johnson, DJ Leroue, EJ Meserve, Matthew Montgomery, Jared Morris, Ben Shafer, Antonio Thompkins, James Thompkins, Peter Wilson, Isabela Benito, Amanda Cook, Yesenia Escalante, Krystal Harris, Ronnie Hulce, Kayla Huxoll and Kristin Potter.

The two- day district championship meet at Martin Track & Field near Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla starts at 4 pm on Thursday.

WP Men

Austin Beasley-12, V Triple Jump 36'3.00

Billy Brown-10, V 110 m Hurdles 21.24 (20.96),V-A 4x100 Relay 45.64 (45.49); V

300m Hurdles 43.23; V-A 4x400 Relay 3:43.30 (3:43.30);

Nick Carpenter-12, V 1600 meters 4:58.62; V 3200 Meters 11:01.70 (11:01.62)

Seth Deal-10, V 1600 Meters 4:38.70 (4:38.61); V 3200 Meters 10:17.5 (10:17.48)

Logan Dozier-10, V 110m Hurdles 21.43, V-A 4x400 Relay, V Triple Jump 34' 5.50

(34'5.5")

Roy Ebong-9 V 800 Meters 2:18.81

Eshom Estes-11 V Shot Put 45'6.00 (45'1/2") V Discus 142'4.00; V Javelin 140'6.00

(140'6")

Kyle Fredricks-9 V 110m Hurdles 21.14, V 300m Hurdles 58.24 (58.08)

Yusef Johnson-11 V Javelin 134'11.00 (134'11")

DJ Leroue-10 V-A 4x100 relay

EJ Merserve-9 V 3200 Meters 11:41.5

Matthew Montgomery-12 V 3200 Meters 11:31.20 (11.31.18)

Jared Morris-11 V-A 4x100 Relay, V 400 Meters 53.48, v-A 4x400 Relay

Ben Shafer-10 V Shot Put 39'4.75

Antonio Thompkins-11 V 100 Meters 12.04 (11.76); V-A 4x100 Relay, V 200 Meters

25.04 (24.79) V High Jump 5'10.00

James Thompkins-10 V-A 4x100 Relay, V 200 Meters 23.5, V-A 4x400 Relay

Peter Wilson-12 V Discus 100'10.00

WP Women

Isabela Benito-12 V 1600 Meters 6:29.73, V 3200 Meters 14:01.54 (14.22.80)

Amanda Cook-11 V Discus 73'10.00 (73'10"1)

Yesenia Escalante-9 V 100m Hurdles 20.14 (19.83), V-A 4x100 Relay, V 300m

Hurdles 59.63

Krystal Harris-10 V 100 Meters 14.84 (14.57), V-A 4x100 Relay 54.54 (54.32), V Shot

Put 27'7.50

Ronnie Hulce-11 V 100m Hurdles 17.64 (17.38), V-A 4x100 Relay, V 300m Hurdles

49.94 (49.80), V High Jump 4'6.00 (4'6")

Kayla Hulce-11 V-A 4x100 Relay, V shot Put 27'4.25 (27'4.25"), V Javelin 87'1.00

Kristin Potter-11 V 100 Meters 13.74 (13.48), V-A 4x100 Relay, V 400 Meters 1:03.43,

V 200 Meters 27.74 (27.49)