Colfax track team wins state para-combo trophy

Colfax High School track season ended with a trophy from the state track meet at Cheney. The Bulldogs received the team para-combined trophy for racking up the most points with finishes in ambulatory and non-ambulatory competition.

The meet wrapped up the first season for Jonathon Kinley who competed in the ambulatory races and the Colfax boys team who had the best state finish in decades.

Kinley's points and the team points landed the para-combo trophy which was presented by the state WIAA. The state meet covered boys and girls teams in the 1B, 2B and 1A classifications.

Kinley won the discus, and the 200 meter sprint and placed second in the 100 sprint. He clocked 51.2 in the 200 with a solo run in front of the huge state crowd at Roos Field.

He set a personal best in the discus at 30-6 and clocked 22.89 in the 100.

Kinley's points were combined with the 24 points compiled by the Colfax boys team which finished in 12th place. That was the best finish for a Colfax boys team since 1981 when the Bulldogs competed in the A division.

Colfax was led by Cameron Hiatt who placed third in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump.

Carson Cloaninger placed fourth in the pole vault, and Bryan Rubin placed seventh in the 110 hurdles.

Gabe Ahmann had eighth-place finishes in the long jump and the pole vault, and the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relay teams placed seventh.

Kinley, also known as JonJon, is the son of Todd and Jamie Kinley of Colfax. His dad is an assistant coach on the track team and his mother is the coach of the Colfax cross country team.

A victim of spina bifida, Jonathon was born in Guatemala and adopted by the Kinleys eight years ago.

Todd Kinley noted Jonathon's dream for years, even before three back surgeries, was to just be able to run.

"It was fun to see him work hard and compete in front of thousands at state this year, seeing that goal accomplished. It was an honor as a coach and a parent to see this team embrace each other with their physical differences and work together with a common goal," he said.

Coach Jason Cooper said he hopes the team's accomplishment will inspire other ambulatory athletes to come out and compete.