In The Running

WALLA WALLA - After his younger brother James was disqualified in the 100-meter dash on a technicality during sub districts in Clarkston two weeks ago, Cardinal Antonio Thompkins decided it was time for him to step up.

Though he had never won the short sprint at any meet, he thought he would try it anyway - win one for James.

His first-place finish at Martin Field last week became one of the biggest upsets during the district championships and helped the WP men's team win the overall competition for the sixth time in seven years. The Cardinals outscored the Asotin Panthers, their closest rivals, by 20 points.

The Cardinals women's team placed third at districts behind the more populated teams of Asotin and DeSales.

The women brought back one triple crown from runner Kristin Potter, while the men returned with a double from thrower Eshom Estes. But that had been more or less expected. Thompkins' perfect start-to-finish sprint had not.

"Tony surprised everybody," head track coach Jeff Bartlow said about the athlete from the Jubilee Youth Ranch in Prescott. "He really wanted to go to state for his brother. James is so happy for him."

The other big upset was Billy Brown's 110-meter hurdle finish, a 20-second event for him from which he shaved an entire 3.5 seconds to set a personal record, win first place and send him flying off to state on Friday.

Brown and Thompkins are among 14 WP track and field athletes who will travel to Eastern Washington University on Thursday to compete there Friday and Saturday. They are expected to get a special sendoff from hometown fans on Thursday morning. Nine of the competitors are men and five women, including the alternates on the relay teams.

"We're excited to take 14 kids to state," Bartlow said. "There are lots of chances for hardware."

The Cardinals are getting comfortable with the top ranking in the district.

"We're getting used to it a little bit," Bartlow said about being serial district winners. Though it's his first time heading the coaching team, he was an assistant coach for several years under Ron Huntington.

"The kids get excited about it," he said. "They're in the mindset of placing high, of continuing the tradition."

Cardinals with the best shot at bringing home trophies from Cheney include Kristin Potter, who ranks 4th in the state in the 100-meter sprint, 7th in the 200 and 5th in the 400. Ronnie Hulce ranks 8th in the 100-meter hurdles and 9th in the 300. The women's relay team, which also includes Kayla Huxoll, Krystal Harris and Yesenia Escalante, ranks 10th.

The top eight finishers in every event bring back some recognition for their ranking.

On the men's side, everyone has their hopes pinned on Estes, ranked third in shot and discus statewide; Seth Deal, ranked third in the 1600 and 3200- meter runs; and the men's relay team, which is ranked in the top 10 and includes Brown, the Thompkins brothers, Jared Morris, D.J. Leroue, Logan Dozier and Alex Dill. The Thompkins brothers each have a chance at making it into the finals in their running events, Bartlow said.

Before the rubber meets the cinder at Cheney this week, athletes have to avoid catching colds or get over the ones they have, practice an afternoon in the larger stadium to shake the "deer in the headlights" syndrome and pay plenty of attention to split-second details.

The women's relay team, for instance, faces a very competitive field and any small misstep can thwart their chances at finishing in the top 8.

"They have to run really well," Bartlow said. "They need great starts and handoffs."

The head coach said his team has been lucky to avoid accidents other than the fluke javelin injury Huxoll suffered in Oregon.

2B Track & Field State Championships

Varsity - Men

1-Waitsburg-Prescott 147

2-Asotin 121.83

3-Garfield-Palouose/Colton 81

Varsity - Women

1.Asotin 171

2. DeSales 82

3. Waitsburg-Prescott 78

WP Men's Results

100 Meters

1 Antonio Thompkins-11, V 11.65a

200 Meters

1 James Thompkins-10, V 23.51a

400 Meters

1 Jared Morris-11, V 53.89a

1600 Meters

1 Seth Deal-10, V 4:34.95a

3200 Meters

1 Seth Deal-10, V 10:02.29a

110m Hurdles-39"

2 Billy Brown-10, V 16.82a 3.5 sec.

4x100 Relay

1 Relay Team 45.40a

4x400 Relay

1 Relay Team 3:38.10a

Shot Put-12lb

1 Eshom Estes-11, V 44-01.00

Discus - 1.6 kg

2 Eshom Estes-11, V 134-01

Javelin - 800 g

1 Eshom Estes-11, V 154-03

WP Women's Results

100 Meters

1 Kristin Potter-11, V 13.42a

200 Meters

1 Kristin Potter-11, V 27.33a

400 Meters

1 Kristin Potter-11, V 1:02.45a

100m Hurdles -33"

2 Ronnie Hulce-11, V 17.31a

300m Hurdles - 30"

2 Ronnie Hulce-11, V 49.17a

4x100 Relay

2 Relay Team 53.51a

High Jump

2 Ronnie Hulce-11, V 4-10.00