Beaver track squads warming to season

By Dean Wong

With spring temperatures on the rise, the runners, jumpers and throwers of the Ballard Beavers track and field team are just warming as the 2008 season progresses.

Head coach Bruce Drager's Beavers have developed a reputation for success in KingCo and state in recent years and this current team is no exception.

"We have a lot of good kids. We have a lot of new people; it's a very young team. We have good throwers and pole vaulters. We'll see how they do," said Drager.

Last Thursday the Beaver girls and boys won more than their share of events against Garfield, Franklin and Roosevelt at the Southwest Athletic Complex. The team scores were not available at the News-Tribune deadline.

The boys winners included: Kellen Jones, shot (50 4.5) and discus, (129.11); Carlos Stanley, long jump (19-3); Julian Montante, triple jump (38 9.5); James Mullaney, pole vault (11-0); Linton Rowan and Leo Santana, 200 meters (58.3); N. Howard, 100 meters (11-8); Santana, 400 meters (53.3); Alex Barkley, 3200 meters (9:59.5).

Drager says Barkley is running well so far this year and Santana is putting it all together as a senior.

On the girls side: T. Kellog, discus (72.11); Katherine Landerholm, javelin (86.8); Marimar White-Espin, pole vault (8-6); Katherine McDanold, 100 hurdles (19.0); and Lauren Hammerle, 3200 meters (11:58.4).

On March 27, the Ballard boys finished second to Eastlake by a score of 73-60, while Woodinville was third at 48.

The girls were third in that meet with 27.5 points. Woodinville (85) and Eastlake (73.5) were first and second respectively.

The boy winners in the throwing events were Kellen Jones in the shot (48-4 1/2), Dylan Jones in the javelin (148-4) and Mullaney in the pole vault at 11-0.

Santana earned wins in the 200 at 23.3 seconds and in the 400 at 52.5 seconds.

White-Espin won the pole vault with a 9-3 performance and Mikaela Winter was victorious in the 200 with a time of 27.8.

A number of athletes are competing in more than one event.

They include girls; Winter, 100 and 200; Hammerle, 1600 and 3200; McDanold, 100 and 300 hurdles; and Landerholm, discus and javelin.

For the boys, Santana is leading the team in the 100, 200 and 400 races. Barkley is another three race athlete in the 800, 1600 and 3200.

Jack Brannan competes in the 110 and 300 hurdles. Jones is set in the discus and javelin. Football standout Stanley represents the Beavers in the long jump and triple jump.

The success comes despite a rash of injuries to key athletes.

Another obstacle is the field behind the school is being torn up to make way for a multi-use athletic field to be completed this fall.

Drager has been having problems finding places for his team to practice and is entering more invitational meets to get his kids time on the track.

Ballard takes on Inglemoor and Lake Washington on April 17 at the Southeast Sports Complex at Rainier Beach High School.

On April 24, the Beavers and Lake Washington and Franklin square off at a site to be announced. May 1 is Ballard is a city meet against Franklin, Roosevelt and Garfield at Southwest Athletic Complex at Chief Sealth High School.

Track and field results are found at http:www.ballardathletics.com

Dean Wong may be contacted at deanw@robinsonnews.com