Two Loggers competed in the Decathlon conference this week. Sophomore Myles McDonald (Vancouver, Wash.) and freshman Joe Cerne (Ravensdale, Wash.) competed in the 10 event meet that lasted two days.
After the first day, McDonald was in 11th place with 2568 points, with the lead held by George Fox’s David Dollow who had 3433 points. McDonald recorded a personal best in the long jump with 17 feet, 6.5 inches on Monday.
Cerne was forced to drop out of the competition due to an ankle injury he sustained after the fourth event on Monday.
Tuesday was a great day for McDonald. He recorded a personal best in discus (120 ft. 7 in.), placing second, and then he threw the javelin 177 ft. 1 in., which was a 20 foot personal best. This javelin throw pushed him all the way to first place for that event and also qualified him for conference in that event. McDonald ended up placing 10th overall in the Decathlon.
“Attention to detail and technique is what got me where I am now,” McDonald said. “But I am lucky to have a coach like Randy Moon.”
More success came for the men’s track team at the Spike Arlt Invitational at Central Washington University. Not only did McDonald stay on his hot streak of personal bests, but sophomores Lukas Diesing (Longmont, Colo.), Chris Morrison (Lakewood, Wash.), Michael Haas (Cupertino, Calif.) and freshman Kupono Park (Waimanalo, Hawaii.) all ran personal bests in the 100 meter dash. Haas used this event to qualify for the Conference meet next week.
McDonald recorded personal bests in 110 meter and 400 meter hurdles; these times were fast enough to qualify him for Conference. Matt Heflin also had a personal best in the 400 meter hurdles.
One of the best days was had by newcomer freshman Daniel Berendsen (Brier, Wash.) who made the Loggers’ all-time list with his high jump of 6 ft, 6 in. This was a personal best for Berendsen by over five inches.
The women’s team ended up placing 6th overall in the meet with junior Andrea Leiken’s (Portland, Ore.) personal best in the 100 meter and freshman Rebecca Belvin’s (Lake Stevens, Wash.) seasonal best and Conference qualifier also in the 100 meter.
Next up for the Loggers is the climax of a long season: the Northwest Conference Track & Field Championships, hosted by Linfield University. With a chance to stand on the podium in sight, every Logger athlete will be putting forth their best effort, and great results are sure to follow.
[PHOTO COURTESY / DANIEL PENDLETON]