A5
THE ASTORIAN • SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2022
SPORTS
OBITUARIES
James Robert Lessard
Cody, Wyoming
Dec. 17, 1932 — March 7, 2022
Lydia Ely/The Astorian
Boys race in the 800-meters at The Astorian Invitational on Thursday at Astoria High School.
Athletes compete at The Astorian Invitational
By GARY HENLEY
The Astorian
The track meet noto-
rious for its bad weather
made its big return Thursday
afternoon, as Astoria High
School hosted The Astorian
Invitational, which made its
fi rst appearance since 2019.
With the pandemic can-
celing the 2020 and 2021
meets, the 2022 meet had
seven schools competing in
the 32nd edition of the meet.
The
meet
included
fi ve Clatsop County high
schools, plus Naselle and
Tillamook.
Wet and windy weather
off the bay made for some
challenges at the start, but
the clouds eventually parted
for a good day of track and
fi eld.
“It’s so fun to see the
local kids out on the track
competing together,” said
Astoria coach Garrett Parks,
who still holds part of a meet
record when he was an ath-
lete at Seaside. “It’s been a
long time since the last one,
and especially since Asto-
ria hosted. We had some
great volunteer support, and
things ran smoothly.”
Early rain and wind did
not deter the big-name ath-
letes, a list that included
thrower Colton McMaster,
Astoria’s Dartmouth-bound
senior.
The heavy favorite to
win the discus and shot put
at the state meet exactly one
month from now, McMas-
ter broke two long-standing
meet records on Thursday.
In the discus, McMaster
said the wind was aff ecting
his throws.
“It was blowing a bit too
hard right in my face, so
(the discus) went out, then
straight down.”
Unfortunately, many fans
missed his meet record dis-
cus toss, since McMaster fi n-
ished his throws before other
events offi cially got under-
way, so meet offi cials could
block off the bleachers and a
portion of the outer parking
lot, which are always in play
when McMaster throws.
James Robert Lessard
passed away on March 7,
2022, in his family home in
Cody, Wyoming, with his
family present.
He was born on Dec.
17, 1932, in Calumet, Min-
nesota, the son of Frank
C. and Celina Prudhomme
Lessard.
James graduated from
the California Maritime
Academy in 1953,
spent two years in
the U.S. Navy serv-
ing as a second lieu-
tenant, and went on
to a career in the maritime
industry.
As he worked, he passed
up through the positions
to attain the rank of cap-
tain of ocean-going vessels.
He ultimately served as a
Columbia River b ar p ilot
from 1979 to 1999.
The Lessard family
lived in Jackson, Wyo-
ming, from 1972 to 1979. It
was this love of Wyoming
that brought him back in
retirement.
James married Helen
Cowan in 1959, in St.
Dominic’s Church in San
Francisco, and they cele-
brated 62 years of marriage
on June 13, 2021.
OBITUARY POLICY
Maddie
Sisley
competes
in the
100-meter
hurdles at
The Astorian
Invitational.
Throwing into a stiff
wind, McMaster set sail with
a winning toss of 175 feet, 1
inch — 56 feet further than
the second-place mark. A lit-
tle later, McMaster recorded
a 56-3½ eff ort in the shot
put.
Both
marks
broke
32-year-old meet records
(previously 162-0 in the dis-
cus, 55-11½ in the shot put)
that had stood since 1990.
McMaster said he is
“really hoping to get over
60 in the shot. Toward mid-
season you’re trying to
improve, then right at the
end you’re trying to go for
the really big stuff .”
As usual, weather always
plays a part on the North
Coast for most of the season.
“Obviously the weather
was not ideal today,” he said.
“The discus ring was slicker
than goose snot. But I have
fun doing it. I’m no stranger
to it being wet around here.”
Elsewhere,
Naselle
senior Trenton Stephens
won the 200 (24.54), cleared
6-4 in the high jump, and
won the long jump at 20-5.
Both jumps were personal
records.
Astoria’s Trey Woodrich
had a personal record win-
ning mark (37-5) in the tri-
ple jump; and Warrenton’s
Zander Moha set a personal
best 2:04.25 to win the 800.
In the distance races,
Knappa’s Isaiah Rodriguez
SEVENDAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TODAY
SUNDAY
MONDAY
(4:21.56) and freshman
Joshua Peterson (4:37.23)
fi nished 1-2 in the 1,500; and
Rodriguez (9:48.46) outdu-
eled Astoria’s John Clement
(9:54.07) in the 3,000. Both
runners are juniors.
On the girls side, Asto-
ria’s Maddie Sisley could
also be on the podium at state
— possibly in four diff erent
events — and the senior ath-
lete for the Lady Fish contin-
ued her unbeaten record this
year in the long jump (15-
11¾) and triple jump (34-4)
with Thursday victories.
“I have goals in mind,”
said Sisley, Astoria’s biggest
point-scorer. “Right now
with the triple jump, I PR’d
last weekend at Banks. I’m
going for 36 feet. My best
right now is 35-2.”
In the long jump, “there’s
a big goal there,” she said.
“I’m trying to beat the
school record (Charlene
Harber, 18-3¾).”
Sisley’s third win came
on the track, in the 100-
meter hurdles (17.22).
Astoria sophomore Har-
lie Wiedmaier (30.23) edged
Warrenton’s Grace Duncan
(30.51) in the 200 meters;
Warrior freshman Payten
Buckelew took fi rst in the
800 (2:41.61) and second
behind Seaside’s Elise Seppa
in the 1,500 in 5:31.73. Both
times were PR s.
The Astoria girls did
not enter a 400-meter relay
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
squad but won the long relay
with freshmen Eva Espelien
and Aster Dean and soph-
omores Ashley Sisley and
Wiedmaier in 4:56.97.
Astoria sophomore Lily
Meadows was a winner in
the shot put (33-2); and Til-
lamook’s Makayla Tuiol-
emotu was a double winner
in the discus and javelin.
The Astorian publishes paid obituaries. The obituary
can include a small photo and, for veterans, a fl ag sym-
bol at no charge. The deadline for all obituaries is 9 a.m.
the business day prior.
Obituaries may be edited for spelling, proper punctua-
tion and style. Death notices and upcoming services will
be published at no charge. Notices must be submitted by
9 a.m. the day before publication.
Obituaries and notices may be submitted online at
DailyAstorian.com/obituaries, by email at ewilson@dai-
lyastorian.com, placed via the funeral home or in person at
The Astorian offi ce, 949 Exchange St. in Astoria.
For more information, call 503-325-3211, ext. 1257.
facebook.com/DailyAstorian
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Tickets include your entry into the
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Astoria Staycation Gift Certificates to Hotel Elliott-T.Pauls Supper Club,
2 bottles of Wine valued at $300 donated by Firenze Wealth Management
50 Free Coffee Drinks with an assorted Gift Basket of Goodies,
Donated by Big Creek Coffee House, valued at $300
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
REGIONAL FORECAST
Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.
Seattle
55 42
Partly sunny
56 45
54 41
51 40
54 38
52 39
A shower
A shower in the
a.m.
A couple of
showers
Cloudy with a
shower
A passing
shower
53 41
A shower
Aberdeen
Olympia
57/42
60/42
Wenatchee
Tacoma
Moses
Lake
ALMANAC
UNDER THE SKY
TODAY'S TIDES
Astoria through Thursday
Tonight’s Sky: The Lyrid meteor
shower peaks.
Astoria / Port Docks
Forecasts and graphics provided by
AccuWeather, Inc. ©2022
Time
6:42 a.m.
9:01 p.m.
7.7 1:03 a.m.
6.4 2:20 p.m.
3.7
0.2
Cape Disappointment
6:19 a.m.
8:51 p.m.
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
Hammond
SUN AND MOON
Sunrise today .................. 6:15 a.m.
Sunset tonight ............... 8:13 p.m.
Moonrise today .............. 3:28 a.m.
Moonset today ............ 12:07 p.m.
Last
New
First
Full
6:31 a.m.
8:54 p.m.
Warrenton
6:37 a.m.
8:56 p.m.
Knappa
7:19 a.m.
9:38 p.m.
Depoe Bay
Apr 23 Apr 30 May 8 May 15
5:32 a.m.
8:05 p.m.
7.6 12:12 a.m. 4.2
6.4 1:26 p.m. 0.0
7.8 12:34 a.m. 3.8
6.6 1:44 p.m. -0.1
8.1 12:47 a.m. 3.8
6.8 2:04 p.m. 0.3
8.0 2:04 a.m.
6.7 3:21 p.m.
3.2
0.2
7.5 12:57 p.m. -0.4
6.3
none
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Honolulu
Houston
Los Angeles
Miami
New York City
Phoenix
San Francisco
Wash., DC
Today
Hi/Lo/W
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
81/59/s
60/44/pc
82/64/pc
84/68/pc
57/32/c
85/73/s
84/70/pc
73/57/s
83/75/sh
60/51/pc
82/61/s
65/49/s
71/57/pc
81/62/pc
49/44/c
70/48/t
79/59/t
53/31/sh
85/72/pc
87/69/pc
84/59/s
83/75/t
62/49/pc
87/61/s
67/51/s
83/58/s
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,
c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,
r-rain, sf-snow fl urries, sn-snow, i-ice.
56/35
Kennewick Walla Walla
61/41 Lewiston
69/38
63/39
Hermiston
The Dalles 67/38
Enterprise
Pendleton 53/31
62/39
70/41
La Grande
58/32
65/40
NATIONAL CITIES
High (ft.) Time Low (ft.)
Pullman
65/36
64/39
Salem
60/37
Yakima 67/37
Longview
55/42 Portland
65/43
Spokane
65/40
61/37
61/38
Astoria
Temperatures
High/low ................................ 54/44
Normal high/low .................. 57/42
Record high .................. 77 in 1982
Record low .................... 31 in 1985
Precipitation
Thursday ................................. 0.28”
Month to date ........................ 5.38”
Normal month to date ......... 4.34”
Year to date .......................... 30.94”
Normal year to date ........... 30.01”
He was a life mem-
ber of the Catholic c hurch,
the Knights of Columbus,
the Right to Life and the
National Rifl e Association.
He was very supportive of
the police and fi rst respond-
ers, and was instrumen-
tal in promoting blue lights
on homes 8 miles out on
Southfork Road in Cody to
support them.
His avocations
were family, hunt-
ing and fi shing.
James is sur-
vived by his wife,
Helen; son, Michael James
(Carol), of Yoder, Wyo-
ming; son, Thomas Wil-
liam (Kathryn), of Chu-
giak, Alaska; son, Gregory
Joseph, of Astoria; son,
Joel Patrick (Patricia), of
Wasilla, Alaska; 11 grand-
children; nine great-grand-
children; his brother, Frank
Lessard Jr., of Vallejo,
California; and sister,
Mary Momsen, of Napa,
California.
Our family saying for
him: “Home is the sailor,
home from the sea, and the
hunter home from the hill.”
A funeral Mass was held,
and he is interred in River-
side Cemetery in Cody.
Corvallis
64/36
Albany
65/36
John Day
Eugene
Bend
66/38
62/35
57/34
Ontario
65/36
Caldwell
Burns
59/24
62/34
Medford
68/40
Klamath Falls
58/27
City
Baker City
Brookings
Ilwaco
Newberg
Newport
Today
Hi/Lo/W
57/27/s
57/42/s
54/44/pc
64/38/s
55/41/s
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
63/35/pc
55/45/pc
52/46/c
69/47/pc
55/45/pc
City
North Bend
Roseburg
Seaside
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Today
Hi/Lo/W
58/43/s
69/41/pc
56/42/pc
68/38/pc
64/41/pc
Sun.
Hi/Lo/W
59/47/pc
69/47/pc
56/43/c
71/48/pc
67/49/pc