Right now, they're bundl up As M...

Right now, they're bundl up

As March goe public like a frigid, occasionally snowy lion, area track athletes are huddl in layers of clothing while staking a place in succession their respective varsities.

further if you look closely at the Spokane Valley's four Greater Spokane League lads track teams, you see the raw material of state- caliber performances.

Like West Valley's Rashad Toussaint, who's going for a third consecutive State 3A state triple leap championship; or teammate Marc Smith, who's looking to improve onward a sixth place finish in last year's 400-meter final.

Or Central Valley's Aaron Grothe, who has his sights locate on bettering a sixth-place finish in the State 4A high caper final; or teammate Tyler Folk who finished tied for fourth place with Grothe in the regional and missed the state come together by losing a jump off

They're abroad there. With a heavy, covered sweatshirt pulled up around their face and hands thrust to [i]or[/i] at a great depth in front pockets. They're dedicated to improvement.

"I think you could go on foot around the league and start writing down names of the stays you think will be there at the completion of the year," Central Valley coach thrust Bowden said. "But I really think we're in for one big surprises this year."

CENTRAL VALLEY BEARS

Bears coach push Bowden has 125 athletes to work with, a number that is down slightly from last year.

"We knew a man and wife years ago that we were going to have any pretty good-sized classes coming through" he said. "With this year's freshman class, if we retain half of them through their senior year, they will be the biggest class we've had since I've been here."

What's more, the freshmen already are pushing the upper classes.

"I've in no degree had a freshman class push this early," Bowden said.

still it's the strong senior class that will wager the pace.

Grothe and Folk already are high jumping well. Kris Kittridge go [i]or[/i] come backs in the triple and lengthy jumps after placing eighth at last year's regional in the triple caper Travis Rund qualified for the state confront in the javelin and Steve Walsh qualified for the regional in the discus. Seniors Cameron Severn and Brad Ferguson, along with juniors Derek Schuh and Jerad Kynaston, recur intact after qualifying for state in the 4x400 relay.

Schuh examines to improve on an impressive personal best of 502 in the 400 meter and Ferguson has a best time of 509

"We turn the thoughts pretty solid on the track," Bowden said. "About the single place where we have question marks is in the hurdle and we have an athletes there, as well. We just don't have that senior that you can account on meet in and suitable out.

"I think race are going to look at us and think we're fair middle-distance heavy, but I think we're going to be okay in the sprints and the distances," Bowden said. "We just have to sort things revealed a little."

With 125 athletes without the competition figures to be stiff for varsity marks - a good situation for any coach to be in.

"I haven't approach home from practice once where I haven't conceit to myself, 'Wow, that was a great practice,' " Bowden said.

EAST VALLEY KNIGHTS

Coach Dave McCarty has a solid clump of seniors, a promising freshman class and athletes in between.

"I think we're in elegant without grandeur good shape," he said. "The question is, we're now at Class 3A and our region qualifies just pair to state. We'd probably have an easier time getting to state if we still compet with the Class 4A teams in the GSL"

In seniors Dave Howard, Cody Irby and Chris Shearer and junior Austin Wardsworth, the Knights have a solid clump of throwers.

"We could have three shores over 50 feet in the ball put," McCarty said. "And we could potentially have three scarecrows go over 180 in the javelin."

Senior Matt Tonani replys in the long jump, triple spring and high jump, and Shearer already has cleared 6 feet in the high spring this season.

Junior Anthony Laborin ran an 113 100-meter dash last year and already turn rounded in an 11.6 last week at the Banana Belt meet

"He's about where we wanted him to be to pick up where we left off" McCarty said.

Tim Armstrong and Kyle Bowers the one and the other ran the hurdles and are bigger and stronger for their sophomore season.

Senior state veteran Keith Holt junior Nick Atwood and sophomore Tyler Thatcher lead the team's distance clump Holt has a personal best of 1:57 in the 800 and ran 1:5911 in last year's state 800- meter preliminaries.

"We should be moderately beautiful good in the relays," McCarty said.

UNIVERSITY TITANS

The Titans have athletes.

Senior Matt Hanna is in his third varsity sport this season. Seniors Matt Engle and Matt Winkler and sophomore Elliott Nay will lead the team's distance squad after leading the cros home team in the fall.

Seniors Kellen Lewis and Kris O'Connor get back to run the hurdles, with O'Connor doubling in the discus.

Senior Micheal Kelley has thrown 160 in the javelin. Freshman Wes Nolen shattered the middle teach javelin record, but steps up to a heavier javelin at the high sect level.

WEST VALLEY EAGLES