Ken Roberts
Sports Writer
Twenty of Sweet Home’s best track athletes qualified for the French Prairie Invitational in Woodburn, a meet that attracted thirty-six 3A and 4A schools from Oregon and Washington.
In a competition that is more individual in nature rather than concerned with team scoring, the Huskies had their share of individuals in the spotlight. Lisa Brocard placed in all four events in which she was entered and reestablished her school triple jump mark at 34-11.75, which is bettered by only one other girl in the state at the 3A level, Kelsey Kahle of North Marion, who finished first at the meet with a jump of 35-2.
“With 36 schools, the competition was tremendous,” said coach Billy Snow. “For her to place like she did is certainly an indication of her athleticism in track.”
Brocard’s day started with an eighth place in the long jump with a mark of 15-9.75, a jump she would have been satisfied with earlier in the year but not after having jumped 16-9 the week before.
“My mark wasn’t on at all,” said Brocard of her earlier efforts in the long jump. “I was moving around all over the place. I knew I could jump better, so it was frustrating for me.”
At the triple jump, it was a matter of putting that frustration aside.
“I had to completely put the long jump out of my head,” she said. “I just focused on each jump as they came up.”
Brocard also fared well on the track as she finished her long day by setting her personal best in the 300 low hurdles with a 49.52 for 4th place. Earlier she was edged out in the high hurdles at the finish line by teammate Hannah Swanson, who finished third. Swanson PR’d with a 17.12 as did Brocard with her 17.15, both using a three step approach to improve their times.
“They are both on the verge of a breakthrough,” said Snow. “Once they become comfortable with three stepping, they will run in the 16’s without a problem.”
Swanson also PR’d in the 200 meters, one of 13 total personal records set by Huskies during the day. First year track athlete Ricky Howe, a senior, and steady all-around performer Seth Graves both set bests in the long jump with Howe at 19-05.5 and Graves right behind at 19-02.75. Howe also improved his 200 meter mark to 24.07 while Graves took sixth place with his 157-02 toss in the javelin to become number two in school history with the new javelin.
Mike Severns, after suffering a hamstring pull in the long jump, came back to take third in the javelin with another throw over 170 feet. Junior Krystle Streight had a good day in the weight events, taking 4th in the shot put with a mark of 34-09.5 and then PR’ing in the discusat 101-08, good for 7th place.
In the final individual event of the day, the 3000 meter run which started after 8 p.m., all three Huskies entered had personal bests. Megan Snow and Anne Helfrich ran their races close to the 12 minute mark while John Lovik took sixth with his 9:19.45.
“Each of them can run even faster,” commented Snow. “When they hold the pace the whole way, they will drop a ton of time.”
The Huskies hosted their second home meet this past Tuesday against Sisters and Stayton.