Thursday, May. 08, 2008

Track notebook: Pasco girls add 'track' back to repertoire

By Rene Ferran, Herald staff writer

The last time the Pasco girls qualified a runner to the 4A state meet was 2003, the first year Star Track was held at Edgar Brown Stadium, when Nicole Elliott placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles.

Perhaps it's fitting then that as Edgar Brown will hold Star Track for the final time later this month, the Bulldogs have several candidates to end their state drought.

"We've so heavily relied on the throwing events recently, it's nice to see us getting the runners out," said coach Kirston McBride.

One of those runners is junior Yesenia Ortiz, the top seed in both the 100 and 400 for Friday's CBL 4A district meet at Fran Rish Stadium in Richland. Her bests this year are 12.68 seconds in the 100 and 59.24 in the 400.

"For Yesi, it's a matter of finally getting some confidence in what she can do on the track," McBride said. "She's gone up against some good competition at the (Pasco) Invite and at Lake Washington, and she's a little more driven this year to get up there with them."

Another top-seeded Bulldog is sophomore Janette Rodriguez in the 800 (2:21.52), part of a young distance corps that two years ago virtually didn't exist at Pasco.

"Janette is so strong, I don't count her out against anyone," McBride said. "She's so mentally tough, if there's someone right there in front of her, she's going to get them."

Both Ortiz and Rodriguez run legs on the Bulldogs' 4x400 relay, which is the No. 2 district seed with a season-best of 4:09.05. Three others -- freshmen Shelby Ellsworth and Shaunice Townsend, and junior Nicole Grigg -- are battling for the other two spots.

"We haven't had choices before, and it helps to have them battle just to be on the team," McBride said.

Sophomore Marisa Vander Malle is the No. 3 seed in both the 1,600 and 3,200, although McBride thinks her best shot at a state berth is in the 3,200.

In fact, none of them have easy roads to state. Ortiz has the third-fastest 4A time among eastside runners in both the 100 and 400, and the 800 always seems to produce a surprise or two at regionals.

Right now, though, their focus is on districts. Richland is the heavy favorite to win its fourth straight title, but the Bulldogs -- who went 5-1 in league duals -- are shooting for second, which would be their best finish since 1999.

"We finished second in league (in duals) and beat teams we hadn't beaten in a long time," McBride said. "To finish second at districts would be tremendous for the girls."

-- The postseason continues Friday for everyone in the Mid-Columbia except Hermiston.

The CBL 3A districts are at Southridge, with Kamiakin looking to defend its boys and girls team titles.

The CWAC subdistricts are in Prosser and Othello, while the SCAC East meet is in Royal City.

The Oregon district meets (3A in Burns, 2A at Riverside in Boardman, 1A in Moro) are state qualifying meets.

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