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THE DALLES-WAHTONKA’S Morgan Czarnecki (right) passes the baton to teammate Lindsey Rose (front) during a relay event last year in this Chronicle file photo. Both senior sprinters are expected to compete at a high level for the Eagle Indians for the 2010 campaign. Mark B. Gibson file photo
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TDW track team exhibits promise
5A state qualifiers primed to make return trip
By Ray Rodriguez
of The Chronicle
From the first time she donned The Dalles-Wahtonka colors as a freshman, expectations have been high for senior track athlete Lindsey Rose.
Unfortunately for Rose, injuries, broken bones and sickness have hampered her ability to make a fruitful move towards a state title run.
The 2010 season is her final shot, and she is hoping for three months of painless competition to show everyone what she is made of.
“I am excited for this year. In the past I have had knee problems and ankle problems and whatnot, so I am really hopeful I can have a pain-free season,” Rose said. “I am really hoping I can live up to the expectations. This way I can feel satisfied with how I did. It is exciting to know that I can possibly reach my potential. I know what I can do, I just want to go out there and prove it to everyone else.”
The senior is penciled in to compete in the 100-meters dash, the 4x100-meter relays, triple jump and long jumps for the Eagle Indians.
Last season, Rose topped out in the 100-meters with a time of 13.64 seconds at the Hermiston Twilight Event. In the long jump, her best distance was 14-feet-6 inches, and her best triple jump distance was 32’-8.5.
She knows those numbers need to climb considerably if she wants to punch her ticket to the final dance.
“I have done a lot of running so I can stay in shape and I have worked on it all year, so I can keep up in my athletic abilities and do my best,” Rose said. “It would be a dream if I can place at state.”
Rose is just one of 15 track athletes TDW volunteer assistant coach Bob Thouvenel feels should rise to the next level.
On the girls side, the long-time coach highlighted field event standout and sophomore Leah Wilson and junior Christina Gillman, along with top junior hurdler and high-jumper, Madisen Whitfield.
On the sprints and jumps, Thouvenel likes the potential for Shirley Allan, Morgan Czarnecki and freshman Anndria North.
At the long distance races, senior Marie Miller has the potential to show some good numbers, as she looks to improve her 2009 800-meter time of 2:27.5.
Miller will not only compete in the 800, but will see action in the 1500-meters and the 4x400-meter relay squad.
Rounding out the girls side is all-around senior Laura Shrum.
Shrum has a hand in many events including hurdles, relays and triple jump.
Last year, in the Dean Nice Invitational, Shrum stopped the watch in the 300-meter hurdles at 48.06 and came close to chalking up a state berth in that event.
The senior feels this could be her chance to complete the task.
“That is where I will focus on this year. There are a few other events I should do well in,” Shrum said. “I am personally hoping I can make it to state because I was pretty close last year and we had some good people graduate in some of my events. Hopefully, I have a chance.”
The Intermountain Conference track scene is where many stars are born and bred, and Thouvenel said the Summit girls team will be a major player.
On the boys side, he said any of the three Bend schools, Hermiston and Pendleton could all be major players in the district meet.
“Right now, I would say we are in the middle of the pack,” he said. “With our returning lettermen, we have between eight to 10 boys and girls that are fairly talented. I am confident they will have a good season.”
James Atoe leads the boys squad in the shot put and discus events and starts the year as one of the top two or three in the 5A ranks.
Last year, Atoe had a shotput distance of 48-9, and topped out in the discus with a distance of 133-5.
Another senior, Ryan Johnston, could make some post-season noise in sprints, hurdles and field events, and teammate Jake Murray is poised to return to top times in jumps, relays and hurdles.
“Both Ryan and Jake should do well again this year for us. They are both competitive kids and will work hard in practice to get some good times,” Thouvenel said.
Joe Bryant, Ray Niko and D.J. Taphouse are the standouts in the sprints and relays with Bryant coming off a state time of 11.04 seconds in the 5A 100-meters.
At the long distances, the trio of Cody Carter, Donnie Coulson and Ben Iremonger are slated to finish at the head of the pack.
Coulson and Iremonger are coming off successful state runs in cross country, so the mark is set high for the two seniors to garner more medals on the track and field circuit.
Last year, Coulson grabbed a 4:24.8 in the 1,500-meters and had a solid time of 9:36.1 in the 3,000.
Iremonger, who enjoyed a quality 2009 campaign, was second in the 5A district meet and had an eighth-place state time in the 800, finishing at 2:00.63.
“I was happy getting eighth, because going in, I was ranked 12th. I wasn’t supposed to place, but I caught a few people.,” Iremonger said. “Around the first lap, somebody clipped the heel of my shoe and it tucked under my foot. I thought the shoe was coming off. I thought to myself, “Should I stop and put it back on and try to adjust it?” I did not have time. It was the state meet and I had to go. I ended up passing three more people before the end of the race. To finish with my shoe halfway coming off and get a medal, I was pumped.”
How fast would Iremonger have finished without an equipment malfunction?
The senior feels he can show his true time this season.
“I am hoping I can finish strong. Only time will tell,” he said.
So many seniors have their final say this year, and at this point, there is no turning back.
Names like Miller, Iremonger, Shrum, Taphouse, Atoe and Rose will make one giant leap, one thunderous throw and one brisk run towards state history.
“I am not going to make any predications, but if everything goes well, we should be very dangerous, I think,” Iremonger said.
TDW’s first event is the Mullen-Leavitt Invitational Track Meet at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Wahtonka High School.
For a complete list of the Spring Sports Schedule for local schools, see the Sports Briefs Page.
.Sports Editor Ray Rodriguez can be reached at (541) 506-4618 or email RRodriguez (at) thedalleschronicle.com.
