12
schools
april24
2012
VHS Sports Report:
VHS track team breaks 3 league records at Portland
Christian; Sweeps relays at Banks Invitational
Track and Field--The Vernonia High
School track team set three new 2A
Northwest League records on Thursday
April 12 at Portland Christian. The
Loggers set records in the boys 4x100
relay, the boys 100 meter dash and the
girls shot put.
The Loggers 4x100 team was
anchored by Nathan Fleck when they
set the league record, which was unusu-
how much talent is on this team and the
versatility of Nathan Fleck as a runner.”
Fleck’s main events are the 1500
and 800 meters. “He could very well
make it to state in both, and who knows,
maybe even the 400,” says Brown. “He
is quickly becoming one of the best run-
ners in the state in his events.”
The Loggers have currently
posted the fastest time in the state in the
boys 4x100 relay. In addition, the
Loggers have the second fastest time
in the state in the boys 4x400 relay.
Coach Brown has had to juggle his
lineups for the relays and has used
several different combinations of run-
ners. “Every time out we’ve run fast-
er than the time before,” says Brown.
For the 4x100 and 4x400 Brown has
included Paul Jiranek, Nicolo Casa-
le, Lane Sullivan, Jacob Stevens, Ty
Talantov and Fleck. “We’re pretty
versatile with both relays and every
time out we’re learning to run them
better,” says Brown.
According to Brown the 4x400
relay was one of the most exciting
events at the Portland Christian meet
as Casale came from well over 100
Nicolo Casale has the best time in the state
meters behind in the anchor leg to
this season in 2A in the 100 and 200 meters
and was part of a record setting 4x100 meter finish just short of the runner from
the Damascus Christian team. “It
relay. Photo courtesy of Jon Steward.
was a race that got the crowd to its
al. “Nathan is our best middle/distance feet,” said Brown. “We were behind by
runner,” said Logger head coach, Byron about 130 meters when Nicolo got the
Brown. “Two of our best sprinters were baton, and nobody imagined he could
out for this meet and we really had no come from that far back, but he darned
one else to go to. I really had no expec- near did it. That kid is in a class by him-
tations to win this, but we ended up set- self.”
ting a new league record. It really shows
Casale, an exchange student
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from Italy, is establishing himself as
the best sprinter in the league and
the state. In addition to setting the
league record in the 100 meters on
April 12, he currently has the fastest
posted times in 2A in the state in the
100 meter and 200 meters.
The girls 4x100 relay is
currently the 2nd fastest in district,
but according to Brown, has plenty
of room for improvement. “It’s just
a question of practicing a lot and
working together,” he says. Brown
is still juggling the lineup but ap-
pears set with at least Samantha
Lindauer, Meghan Sullivan and
Vernonia’s Tim Jennings pitched a five inning
Kim Allen.
no-hitter against Faith Bible earlier this season,
Lindauer is currently 2nd
continued on page 13
followed by another excellent outing against
Knappa. Photo courtesy of Tracy Easlon.
Vernonia Students Remove
Invasive Species
On April 19, as part of a SOLV project, Vernonia school students spent the
day learning about and removing several invasive species from around the new
wetland area near Vernonia
Lake.
On hand were staff
from the Oregon Extension
Service, Oregon State Parks
Department, Oregon Fish and
Wildlife Department, and the
Upper Nehalem Watershed
Council.
Students
learned
about tool maintenance and
safety, issues surrounding
invasive species, removal
techniques and then spent
time in the field actually
removing plants from the
environment. Members of
the Vernonia Forestry Class
assisted with the field work.