Oakesdale ties for state 1B track title

Oakesdale girls tied Mt. Vernon Christian for the state 1B title Saturday, May 28, with 69 points. The Nighthawks were led by Anne Hockett who set a record at 58.3 in the 400 meter run and won both of the hurdle races. Emma Perry also won the 800 for the ‘hawks.

Oakesdale and Mt. Vernon Christian went down to the wire with MVC a point ahead when the team totals were announced near the end of the meet. The Nighthawks gained enough points in the late going to erase the one-point gap and book the tie.

Both teams went into the last running event, the 4x400 relay, with contending teams. Mt. Vernon booked a second-place finish with a 4:28.26, and Oakesdale followed with a 4:28.81 with Logan Reed, Hayden Brown, Amber Jones and Perry running legs.

The ‘hawks booked a late points with Reed placing third in the triple jump at 31-10. That was the last field event of the day. Mt. Vernon did not have a finisher in the triple.

Hockett, a sophomore, booked another load of points for Oakesdale with wins in both hurdle events and a record-setting run in the 400 meter race. Hockett’s 58.30 trimmed a tenth off the 58.40 set by Myisha Valentine of North Sound Christian in 2008. Hockett won the 100 hurdles at 17.03 and the 300 hurdles at 46.64.

Oakesdale also picked up a second by Perry in the 800 meter run at 2:29.10 behind the 2:28.87 win by Bethany Putman of Trout Lake. Alya Rutledge placed third in the javelin with a 110-3.

Oakesdale boys placed in a tie for 18th with Parker Perry placing fourth in the high jump at 5-10 in a duel with SJE’s Cooper Lundberg.

The ‘hawks 4x400 boys team placed sixth at 3:40.8 with Dillon Meserve, Parker Perry, Dustin Warwick and Tanner Dingman running laps.

Dingman placed eighth in the long jump at 19-5.5 and third in the triple at 40-5.5

Katie Holbrook of Garfield/Palouse placed fifth in the 1600 final with a 5:50.57.

St. John/Endicott’s state run was topped by Jaydn Corder who cooked a big win in the discus with a 107-6. That mark was almost a yard longer than the number-two sling, a 104-7 thrown by Brittany Dodge of Pateros. Corder also placed seventh in the shotput with a 30-8.25.

The Eagles had two finalists in the high jump with Lundberg placing third at 5-10 behind the 6-2 win by Nathan Powers of Buckleton. Griffin Parrish finished eighth at 5-8.

Adam Blakeley placed fourth in the long jump at 19-10.25 and eighth in the 300 hurdles at 45.29.