8 The Clackamas Print
sportsed@ clackam as.edu
Wednesday^ ‘May 16, 2012
Sports
Track in fine shape for NWAACC championships
By John William Howard
Sports Editor •
1
In the heat of the sun, Lane
Community Colleges Brandon
Nash prepared to make anoth
er attempt at the high jump.
Teammates and fellow athletes
gathered around to watch, clap
ping in unison as Nash dashed
toward the mat. At the last sec
ond, the blustery wind gusted,
causing Nash to hold off for
another try.
Nash went on to win his
event by a fair margin in the
Southern Region Track and
Field Championships hosted by
Mt. H ood Community College
on Saturday, but he was one
of the few who put forth the
effort. Nash and the rest of
Lane’s team catne out and dom
inated regionals as they have
for a number o f years, with the
women winning by 42.5 points
and the men running away
by 159. T hat margin, while it
seems tellingly insurmountable,
doesn’t realty show the whole
story.
“[Lane] is very proud that
they’ve won this meet how
ever many years in a row,” said
assistant coach Jerfet Mantalas,
who mentioned that Lane
makes a point of trying to win
the regional meet every year.
“Last year we were second on
both sides here, lost to Lane on
both sides, and then went to
NWAACCs and beat them on
both sides.”
Caitlyn L ew is plunges into the w ater p i t d u rin g the w om ens 3 0 0 0 meter.steeplechase. T he event, w hich
Lew is won by a f a i r margin, combines distance a n d hurdles to m ake one o f the oddest races in sports.
lost b n Clackamas Community
College athletes, some o f
whom had yet to qualify for
the NWAACC championships,
making Saturday an important
day.
“T his is m y last chance to
| ..............gonna
Shelby G rubb ju m p s fr o m the starting blocks in the 4 x 1 0 0
m eter relay. G rubb competed in f o u r events on Saturday.
try to go all out for this one,”
said Shane Titherington, who
competed in the javelin and
pointed at his teammate Josh
Edens, “If I don’t make it, then
I’ll try my best to support this
guy ”,
, ,
Mantalas • said-"char m u d ro T
the focus for Clackamas was on
preparation for the NWAACC
championships, which will be
held in Spokane, Wash, on May
21-22. Many of the athletes
have already qualified, so they
don’t need to race again and
instead chose to rest and recu
Taylor Ballard warms up before thepole vaulting event begins.
Ballard has the top vault fo r any oflhe Clackamas women.
perate. A thlete that would nor
mally have run in two or three
events competed In just one,
and many or-the throwers threw
just once before, “scratching”
out of the competition.
However despite the relaxed
feel of the meet, Clackamas
did have a few standout per
formances. Sophomore Katie
Higgins won the women’s ham
mer throw by three and a half
meters, and Clackamas took
first, second and fourth In the
women’s javelin event. Caittyn
Lewis finished first in the wom
en’s steeple chase. in a season
best 12:11:25':
Things faired even better on
the men’s side, as Clackamas
took first or second in sev
eral events. Kyle Vuksich and
Badane Sultessa each took first
respectively m the 400 and 800
meter run, while Ryan Adams
finished second in the 200 and
Saril Paz second in the 110
meter hurdles. Shaun Lemafa
won the men’s hammer throw
for Clackamas, making a it
a sweep in the event for the
Cougars.
The one thing that all the
athletes look to avoid is injury,
especially rightat the end o f the
season when things matter the
most. Clackamas didn’t escape
completely unscathed, as- they
lost decathlete Trent Acree to
an ankle injury about halfway
through the meet. Mantalas
said that he didn’t know how
bad it was, h u t that he didn't
think it would be too serious
long term.
R acingthe f i n a l leg N e ttie Wayne looks to fin is h the 4 x 1 0 0
m eter relay strong. C lackam as fin is h e d second in th e event.
Southern Region Track & Field Championships
M ens Scores
**’ %'
y
•
Rank
1 ‘
2 -a
—3 "
4 .
School
Lane Titans
Clackamas Cougars |
Mt. Hood Saints e ?
Clark Penguins
SW Oregon Lakers
Score
33a
174
128
75
30
i
issi
Rank
Schoo,
1
Lane Titans
W ’ 1>; L Mt. Hood Saints
3
'
SW Oregon Lakers
<
Clfeckamas Cougars
5
4 I f , Clark Penguins
B. i r
Score "
251.5
s * 209
120.5
119
37