One of the aspects of the Pasco Invitational track meet on which director John Crawford prides himself is having some of the best small-school talent included in the field, getting perhaps their only chance to test themselves against top-flight competition.
This year's 48th edition taking place Saturday at Edgar Brown Stadium is no exception. Crawford not only has some top local small-school athletes in the field -- headlined by last year's Female Outstanding Athlete, Whitney Leavitt of Kiona-Benton -- but he also has scoured the Northwest for elite performers.
For example, Annie Wright (Tacoma) junior Li Murphy has the top time in the girls 400 meters among the 48 entrants, and Kaylee Uhlenkott of Prairie (Cottonwood, Idaho) is the top girls shot putter of 46 throwers.
The final heat of the boys 300 hurdles will spotlight three small-school speedsters in top seed Dana Wells of Riverside Christian (Yakima), No. 2 Mitch Simmonds of Cole Valley Christian (Meridian, Idaho) and No. 4 Morgan Baker of Waitsburg-Prescott.
The meet begins at 9:30 a.m. with the boys distance medley and pole vault. Opening ceremonies are set for 12:45 p.m., with the final event -- the 4x400 relays -- scheduled for 6 p.m.
Leavitt (100) and Richland senior Jessica Christian (girls pole vault) are two of nine returning champions in what is billed as the largest one-day high school invitational in the country.
Also back are Selah senior Brett Blanshan (100), Hockinson senior Colton Dunn (400), Central Valley senior Brad Whitley (800), Hazen senior Andrey Levkiv (shot) in the boys, and Benson (Portland) senior Kayla Smith (200), Mead sophomore Baylee Mires (1,600) and Mount Rainier sophomore Kathleen Mulligan (triple jump) in the girls.
Last year's girls champion, Bellarmine Prep, is not among the 96 teams scheduled to have entries in the field, but Central Valley's boys will defend their title.
This year's dedication is to the Pasco community for its "commitment to excellent schools," including the passage of the $83 million bond to remodel Pasco High and build Chiawana High, which opens next fall.
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Strong field set for 43rd Richland Invite
Strong field set for 43rd Richland Invite
RICHLAND -- Some terrific battles have taken place on the 3-mile cross country course that loops about Carmichael Middle School.
Today's 43rd edition of the Richland Invite promises to rank among the best, with star power, powerhouse teams and top-flight individual talent on both sides of the ledger.
In the boys race, Kamiakin senior Anthony Armstrong is the defending champ and course record holder after last year's time of 14 minutes, 53.36 seconds.
Armstrong, Kamiakin lead talented pool of runners
Armstrong, Kamiakin lead talented pool of runners
RICHLAND -- The sport of running will never rival the likes of football for attention.
Tonight's football game between Kennewick and Kamiakin high schools figures to fill up the 6,800-seat Lampson Stadium.
The Richland Invite -- the area's biggest regular-season cross country meet -- likely will draw several hundred spectators, mostly family and friends. And even the all-classes state event at Sun Willows Golf Course in Pasco can't compete with a regular-season showdown between city rivals.
Here are this week's top sports events
Here are this week's top sports events
Looking for something to do this week besides watch the baseball playoffs? Here’s a quick primer.
Tonight, take in either the West Valley at Hanford volleyball match (7 p.m., Hanford High), or the West Valley at Kamiakin girls soccer match (7 p.m., Lampson Stadium).
Both feature matchups between top teams in the CBBN 3A.
Seattle's Meyers running for history (w/ race-by-race preview)
Seattle's Meyers running for history (w/ race-by-race preview)
PASCO -- Fifty-two years, 297 races. Some 245 individual champions, 45 of them repeat titlists, and seven of those three-timers.
But not once a four-time individual state cross country champion in Washington.
That likely will change today.
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
WSU's new hire tops memorable year in Mid-Columbia
Has another year gone by already?
Time does seem to fly when you're watching sports, and the Mid-Columbia has certainly done it's share to fill the news cycle during 2011.
A couple of local athletes made a splash on the national stage, and all three Tri-Cities' sports franchises made a push for league championships. A few high school teams reached the pinnacle of their sport by winning state titles.
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