WP Sends Eight to State

CLARKSTON - The WP Cardinal boys came up five points short against a dominant Asotin team, fail­ing to capture the 2B District 9 team championship after six straight winning years. But the team had many out­standing performances, and they'll send eight boys to the state championships in Cheney this weekend.

James Thompkins con­tinued his dominance in the sprints, winning the 100, 200 and 400 meter dashes and anchoring the winning 4 x 100 relay team. Thompkins will be one of the favorites at state in all three individual events, and his relay team posted one of the top three 2B times in the state this year.

"James Thompkins did what we needed him to do in making a run at the District Title," said coach Jeff Bart­low. "He was a big part of 40 total points."

In the relay, Thompkins took the baton with nearly a five-yard deficit, and over­hauled a WWVA runner in the final leg to take victory by 13 hundredths of a sec­ond. Going to state in the re­lays along with Thompkins will be Brendon Donovan, DJ Larue and Alex Dill, with Luke Alexenko as alternate.

Seth Deal prepared to wrap up an outstanding high school distance-running career with second-place finishes in 1600 and 3200 meter races. In the 1600 he set a WP school record. He advances to state in both events.

"His work that he has put into this for the last four years will become evident here in a few days when he competes at State," Bartlow said of Deal. "He is just a great competitor."

Ben Shafer continued his dominance of District 9 shot put, winning Friday's competition with a throw of 47', 11". It was the second longest throw in the state for 2B boys this year. Shafer also had a PR in the discus on Thursday, finishing sec­ond. He advances to state in both events.

WP has also become a new power in the hurdles, with Brendon Donovan and Owen Lanning advanc­ing to state in both the 110 meter and 300 meter hur­dles events. "They looked good have an outside shot at standing on the podium at State next week," Bartlow said.

Lanning will also com­pete in Cheney in the triple jump. He placed second, with a 39 foot jump.

No Cardinal girls ad­vanced to state this year, but Bartlow pointed out one particularly strong perfor­mance. "Our best opportuni­ty to go to State was Maddy Witt in the triple jump," he said. "She brought her 'A' game as she PR's by over a foot, but it was not enough as her 31'11" effort was 7 inches short of second. I was extremely proud of her."

A number of other WP boys also had strong perfor­mances at Districts, includ­ing Luke Alexenko, with a fifth in the triple jump and Dalton Lerue, fourth in jav­elin. WP has an extremely strong sprinting corps, with several performances com­ing up just short. Alex Dill, DJ Lerue and Kobie Brown placed fourth, fifth and sixth in the 100, and Lerue, Brown and Kevin Aquino finished third, fourth and sixth in the 400.

The state championships take place Friday and Satur­day on the Eastern Washing­ton University campus. "It will be exciting in Cheney," Bartlow said.