Waitsburg-Prescott Fifth In State

CHENEY - The WP men's track and field team placed fifth in state this weekend, honoring their schools, Waitsburg and Prescott, with the second-highest placement in recent memory. Students from the Jubilee Youth Ranch, more specifically the Thompkins brothers, made significant contributions to the achievement.

The women's team, much smaller in size than many of its competitors, placed 29th with Kristin Potter and Ronnie Hulce placing in the top 10 for sprints and hurdles.

"It was fantastic," head coach Jeff Bartlow said. "I'm thrilled with being fifth in state."

What's more, all but a few athletes will come back next year, including stars such as Eshom Estes, Seth Deal, Jared Morris, Hulce and Potter to name a few.

"Next year, we'll be very tough team wise," Bartlow said. "The future looks bright for the 2012 track season."

Estes placed highest of any WP athlete, winning second in shot, scoring eight points with a distance of 46' 10," a feat that lengthened his personal record by a foot.

"It's huge for me," Estes said before he mounted the stage to accept his medal. "I was hoping to make it to the top three."

Third- place Cardinals finishes were shared by Seth Deal, who won it in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, and the 4x1 relay team.

Northwest Christian in Lacey won the 2B state tournament with 82 points, followed by Riverside Christian with 63, South Bend with 61 and La Conner with 39 points. WP was tied for fifth place with Reardan and Willapa Valley - all with 37 points.

Reardan's running team, spearheaded by senior Chace Bell, denied WP its first place dreams for the men's relay. Before the state meet at Roos Field, WP was ranked first in the 100 relay.

Bell, who placed first in the 100-meter and 200-meter dashes, was the last of his team to take the baton the 4x1, running roughly parallel with the last WP runner in the handoff zone, James Thompkins.

Chace quickly broke from the field in the last-remaining seconds and crossed the finish line first, raising his hands sky bound in victory as he realized his team had won.

"My blood was just pumping," Thompkins said after the much-anticipated event. "It was a good race."

Billy Brown, a sophomore who is among the more promising athletes returning to the team next year and won his first medal at the event, said the running crew had expected to place first, but basked in the third-place finish nonetheless. The team consists of Brown, Thompkins, his younger brother, Antonio Thompkins, and Jared Morris.

"The handoffs were perfect," Brown said. "The team interacted well. Team work makes good magic. We gave it our best. There's always next year because our team is coming back."

It won't be the entire team. James Thomkins is a senior.

In individual sprints, Antonio Thompkins placed fifth in the 100 meters, while James Thompkins placed fifth in the 200 meters. Estes placed sixth in discus.

Potter placed 7th in the 400 meter dash with a time of 1:02.89; 9th in the 200 meters with a time of 27.94; and 11th in the 100 with a time of 13.67.

Hulce placed sixth in the 100-meter hurdles, 9th in the high jump and 11th in the 300-meter hurdles.

"I couldn't be more happy for them," Bartlow said about Potter and Hulce. "The girls were not as strong as we were hoping, but they battled hard."

State Championships

Track & Field Cheney, Washington

Male Team Scores-2B Division

1-Northwest Chr. (Lacey) 82; 2-Riverside Christian 63;

3-South Bend-61; 4-La Conner 39; 5-Waitsburg-Prescott

37

WP Men's Team

Boys 400 Meter Run -Jared Morris (9th) 53.21 (PR)

Boys 110H Meter Run - Billy Brown (14th) 18.12

Boys Javelin Throw - Eshom Estes (9th) 158'6" (PR)

Boys 400 Meter relay - 4x4 team (10th) 3.38.62 (Morris, Dozier, Brown & Tompkins)

Boys 100 Meter Dash 2B - 5. Antonio Thompkins, 11,

Waitsburg-Prescott, 11.70 4 points.

Boys 200 Meter Dash 2B-5. James Thompkins, 10,

Waitsburg-Prescott, 23.35, 4 points.

Boys 1600 Meter Run 2B - 3. Seth Deal, 10, Waitsburg-

Prescott, 4:35.63, 6 points.

Boys 3200 Meter Run 2B - 3. Seth Deal, 10, W Waitsburg Prescott, 9:59.30, 6 points.

Boys 4x100 Meter Relay 2B - 3. Waitsburg Prescott;

Billy Brown-10, Antonio Thompkins-11, Jared Morris-11

and James Thompkins-11.

Boys Shot Put 2B - 2. Eshom Estes, 11, Waitsburg-

Prescott, 46-10.25, 6 points.

Boys Discus Throw 2B 6. Eshom Estes, 11, Waitsburg-

Prescott, 134-10, 3 points.

WP Women's Team

Girls 400 Meter Dash 2B - 7. Kristin Potter, 11, Waitsburg Prescott, 1:02.89, 2 points.

Girls 100 Meter Hurdles 2B - 6. Ronnie Hulce, 11,

Waitsburg-Prescott, 17.59 3 points.

Girls 100 Meter Run - Kristin Potter, 11th, 13.67

Girls 200 Meter Run - Kristin Potter, 9th, 27.94

Girls 300 Meter Run - Ronnie Hulce, 11th, 50.98

Girls High Jump- Ronnie Hulce, 9th, 4'8"

Girls 4x100 Meter relay, Potter, Hulce, Huxoll, Harris;

11th , 54.52