Wednesday, May 5, 2004

Hailey girls ring up gold at Shay meet

Five track teams do their best

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Winning was always important to legendary Wood River coach Bob Shay—as long as you gave it your best effort. All coach Shay wanted was your best, wherever you finished.

Wood River won the girls’ 800m relay Thursday with, from left, Charlene Fields, Rebecca Schwartzenberger, Casey Fahey and Jennifer Spinelli. Express photo by Willy Cook

That kind of attitude is the reason they’re still running a track meet in the memory of Bob Shay, four years after his death in March 2000 at age 73.

The Bob Shay Memorial returned to Phil Homer Field in Hailey Thursday, and it was a beautiful day for running, jumping and throwing.

And it was a fitting first-place finish for the Wood River High School girls, who won the team title 138-126 over the Valley Vikings, with Kimberly third (87), Glenns Ferry fourth (78) and Wendell (60) fifth.

Alex Hamlin, a Wood River senior, was a 31-second winner in the 3200m run (11:01). Express photo by Willy Cook

Coach J.C. Nemecek’s Wolverine girls (58 points field, 29 distances) had good balance in the 17 events and got golds from Syringa Stark (long, triple jump), Casey Fahey (200-meter dash) and Jennifer Spinelli (300m intermediate hurdles).

In addition, Wood River won the 800m relay with Spinelli, Charlene Fields, Rebecca Schwartzenberger and Fahey. Top Wolverine point producers were Stark (36 points), Fahey (34) and Schwartzenberger (30).

The Valley Vikings won two relays but fell 10 points shy of Wood River in the field event totals despite gold medals by Jessica Kowitz in shotput, Mindy Malone in discus and Lindsy Wood in the high jump.

Critical second-place efforts by Jessica King in the shotput and discus, by Stark in the high jump and Fahey in the long jump carried the Wolverines to the team championship of the five-team track and field meet.

Senior sprinter Matt Pruett shrugged off Kimberly’s hordes of speedy runners and captured the 100m and 200m dashes Thursday at Phil Homer Field. Express photo by Willy Cook

Also, junior Rachael Richards posted a pair of second places at 800m and 1600m, and senior Lindsay Niedrich recorded crucial third places at 1600m and 3200m for Hailey.

The female sprinters all had a chance to move up a notch in Hailey, because Wendell’s state champion Jaynie Goodbody was off in Boise winning the 100m, 200m and 400m at the 2004 Outback Invitational meet.

Wood River and Valley dominated the girls’ headlines, but the outstanding athletes of the afternoon came from Glenns Ferry. Alicia Phillips swept all three distance events and Sheila Olsen won the 100m and 400m plus a second in the 200m dash.

Syringa Stark, WRHS junior, was Hailey’s only double gold individual winner, taking the long and triple jumps. Express photo by Willy Cook

Coach Jeannie Bradshaw’s Wood River boys also had a successful day, just missing out on third place. Although the Wolverines had no points in relays, they amassed 72 points including four individual gold medals.

The overwhelming boys’ winner was Kimberly with 217 points including 71 in the field and 53 sprints.

Senior Matt Pruett, a singular green-shirted sprinter surrounded by Kimberly’s powerful red-shirted runners, powered to golds in the 100m dash (11.5 seconds) and 200m (22.9).

Alex Hamlin was a 31-second winner in the 3200m run (11:01), while Steve Fields jumped eight barriers and ran his way to first place in the tough 300m intermediate hurdles (47.1).

In all, Wood River’s boys and girls ended up with nine golds for the day.

Jessica King, another Hailey senior, put valuable points in the bank with seconds in the shotput and discus. Express photo by Willy Cook

Another Wood River highlight was Chris LeBlanc’s second place in the 800m run, just a fraction behind winner Michael Grant from Valley. LeBlanc was also second in the triple jump, and Corbin Miniard ended up second in the shotput for Hailey.

Wood River goes to the Filer Invitational meet Thursday, May 6. Here are Hailey placings last Thursday from the Shay Memorial:

Girls’ standings: 1—WR 138 (58 field, 10 hurdles, 29 distances, 23 sprints, 18 relays). 2—Valley 126 (48 field, 4 hurdles, 28 distances, 16 sprints, 30 relays). 3—Kimberly 87. 4—Glenns Ferry 78. 5—Wendell 60.

Boys’ standings: 1—Kimberly 217 (71 field, 16 hurdles, 39 distances, 53 sprints, 38 relays). 2—Valley 82. 3—Wendell 73. 4—WR 72 (23 field, 10 hurdles, 18 distances, 21 sprints, 0 relays). 5—Glenns Ferry 32.

WRHS placings:

1—Syringa Stark triple jump (33-3 ½) and long jump (15-3); Casey Fahey 200m (27.4); Jennifer Spinelli 300m intermediate hurdles (52.4); Matt Pruett 100m (11.5) and 200m (22.9); Alex Hamlin 3200m (11:01.2); Steve Fields 300m hurdles (47.1).

Girls’ 800m relay (Jennifer Spinelli, Charlene Fields, Rebecca Schwartzenberger, Casey Fahey) in 1:52.8.

2—Jessica King shotput (31-8 ½); and discus (100-1); Syringa Stark high jump (4-8); Casey Fahey long jump (15-2); Rachael Richards 800m (2:35.1) and 1600m (6:03.9); Chris LeBlanc 800m (2:13.3); and Corbin Miniard shotput (40-10 ¼).

Girls’ 1600m relay (Charlene Fields, Syringa Stark, Jennifer Spinelli, Rebecca Schwartzenberger) in 4:38.5.

3—Rebecca Schwartzenberger 100m (13.7) and 200m (28.1); Lindsay Niedrich 1600m (6:17.6) and 3200m (13:07); Casey Fahey triple jump (31-5).

5—Corbin Miniard discus (113-1); and Scott Bartlett long jump (18-4 ½).

6—Jenni Borda 400m (1:13.9); Tess Dahlgren 1600m; Steve Fields 100m (11.9); Craig Werley discus (110-0) and triple jump (34-7); and Matt Pruett long jump (18-3 ½).

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