Football players boost Meadowdale track team

  • By David Pan Enterprise sports editor
  • Tuesday, April 13, 2010 9:19pm

One of the top football players in the Western Conference South Division is returning to the track.

Senior Naji Moore-Taylor is back for the Mavericks and should bolster the 400-meter relay squad. Moore last ran track his freshman season.

“He’s looking good in practice,” Meadowdale coach Tony Perkins said.

Moore-Taylor is scheduled to compete in his first meet against Glacier Peak on April 15 at Snohomish Veterans Stadium.

Moore-Taylor will join fellow senior football standout Connor Hamlett, Danny McDonald and Kyle Gage in a potentially strong 400 relay squad. Moore-Taylor is a welcome addition to a team that is relatively inexperienced and lacking in veteran talent.

“It’s another young team,” Perkins said.

Meadowdale does have a solid distance runner in junior Matt Crichlow, who is undefeated in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 races. Running right behind Crichlow is senior James Oliver.

The girls team is led by junior Stephanie Bidondo, a transfer from Lynnwood. Bidondo advanced to the Class 3A state championships in the 200 last season. Another sprinter to watch out for is junior Hannah Landerholm. The 400 relay team is shaping up well.

“We should be good,” Perkins said.

Senior Julia Young was close to advancing to state in the triple jump last year and could also be a threat in the pole vault. Senior Shelley Koehn is another strong pole vaulter, who also does the high jump and distance races. Another talented athlete is junior jumper Lindsay Hatch.

Meadowdale’s 3A rival Lynnwood also sports a young team that is building for the future. The Royals have fewer than 24 athletes out for the girls team. The boys squad includes a lot of talented freshmen and sophomores.

At last weekend’s Davis Invitational, 12 of the 18 boys were underclassmen.

Freshman Andrew Basham was a standout for the Royals. His throw of 44 feet, 7.5 inches was the second longest throw for a freshman at Lynnwood behind Ben Lindsey, a five-time state champion in the shot put and discus.

“You’ve got to be pretty good to be pushing him,” Lynnwood coach Duane Lewis said. “He’s a pretty good talent.”

Basham’s throw of 113 feet in the discus was the best throw of a freshman at the Davis Invitational.

“Next to Ben he’s maybe the best freshman discus thrower we’ve had,” Lewis said. “He’s got a lot of range yet to go.”

Freshman Ryan McArthur finished third in the 800. McArthur was buried way back in the pack and had to make his way through a number of runners to end up third.

“His last lap was the fastest of any runner in that race,” Lewis said.

Sophomore Tim Darby finished second in the freshman/sophomore 100 and was fifth in the 200. Freshman Ben Pace was third in the 110 hurdles.

Typhis Cochran is not yet eligible but when he is, the senior will be a top sprinter for the Royals. Cochran’s sister Tajah, also a sprinter, leads the girls team, which is thin on top talent.

Once senior Mawa Ali is healthy, she should be among the elite distance runners in the league.

“This may be one of the best group of freshmen we’ve had in the last 20 years,” said Lewis, who is entering his 44th year of coaching.

The Mountlake Terrace boys produced a victory in an invitational at their own Terrace Twilight on April 10. The Hawks scored 158 points to beat North Kitsap, which had 147.

Coach Russ Vincent and his staff can’t remember the last time a Hawks squad won an invitational.

“That was pretty cool,” he said. “It’s a good stepping stone.”

Mountlake Terrace did not have any winners in the running events but posted first place finishes by Dakota Red Cloud (discus), Alex Martin (javelin), Nolan Ast (high jump) and Zach Karels (triple jump). Other strong performances were by thrower Owen Fritz (second in discus) and Hunter Rook (third in pole vault, second in 110 hurdles),

“We’re surely not a great team but we pick up those places here and there that make a difference in meets,” Vincent said. “We’re just a good basic team.”

Freshman Mason Stone is an emerging presence in the sprints and senior Josh Ursino should do well in the long jump, where he finished second. Senior Brandon Hines is doing well in the 800.

The 400 relay team of Casey Ellersick, Max Wicklander, Brandyn Eckhart and Stone ran a 45.53 and took second.

“They’re showing some good stuff,” Vincent said. “We’ve got some potential there.”

The girls team doesn’t have as many top individuals, though sophomore Nina Penner definitely should be a top contender in the postseason. Penner is the fastest Hawk in all of the running events (100 to 3,200).

“She’s a great little athlete,” Vincent said.

Senior Amanda Grantham is the team’s top thrower and Kaitlyn Boseck looks to be the top jumper.

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