Croswhite takes second place medal

Grizzlies show up strong at state

YAKIMA – Newport track and field ran, vaulted, jumped and threw their way into the top ten at the annual 2B track and field championships at Zaepfel Stadium at Eisenhower High School in Yakima May 29-31.

Lucas Croswhite won second place in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal record of 15.55. He also took eighth in pole vault at 11-feet. Damien Hamberg placed sixth in high jump at 5 feet 10 inches.

Joelle Brandtner won fifth in girls’ long jump with 15 feet 10.5 inches, and fifth in triple jump at 34 feet 4.75 inches. Dusty McDaniel was ninth in girls’ discus, throwing 100 feet 6 inches.

“State is full of ups and downs, but our athletes did a great job and earned their placings,” coach Levi Litowitz said. “All but one of our athletes got into the finals of their events, which is a big deal.”

All but one of the Newport qualifiers were sophomores.

“So, there were definitely some nerves this go around,” Litowitz said. “After Lucas’s prelim race, he was seeded in the eighth-place runner going into finals and he ended up finishing second, which is a rarity in track going from eighth to second.”

Hamberg was able to match his season record in high jump of 5 feet 10 inches. McDaniel had an exceptional throw of 100 feet 6inches to get her into state finals in discus. Joelle Brandtner had two fifth place finishes including a personal record in long jump.

“You can’t ask more from an athlete than to PR at state,” Litowitz said.

On the first prelim of the 4x100 relay race, the Grizzlies were set to achieve their own PR, but on the fourth leg a team in lane five fell into Newport’s lane and Aidan Kramer had to hurdle over that competitor. According to Litowitz a do-over on the race was granted the same day at about 5:45 p.m. During finals, a wind gust picked up hitting at Newport’s second and third leg hand off which caused the two runners to go outside the exchange zone, causing them to be disqualified.

“But this team is amazing and to be honest was a surprise, that fought hard for their place in finals and earned it, we are very proud of them,” Litowitz said. “Overall, this is the most athletes we have taken to state and the most successful state meet we have had since I have been here.

“And we are an incredibly young team; this team will be a powerhouse in the coming years. Thank you to everyone who has supported us this season we couldn’t do it without you.”

The Freeman boys team won overall with 75 points, while Newport was 18th with 11.5.

In girls’ team competition, St. George’s won with 103 points and Newport was 23rd with eight points.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.