Star Track is back in Tacoma
DOUG PACEY; The News Tribune
Star Track has returned to its Tacoma roots. Yes, the big-school state track and field meet is back, but instead of returning to historical Lincoln Bowl, the site of so many memorable moments and races, thousands of athletes, coaches and spectators will find themselves at a new venue with a new format today for Star Track XXVII.
Mount Tahoma High School is the site for the three-day, three-classification – 4A, 3A and 2A – state meet.
Why Mount Tahoma and not Lincoln Bowl?
Because 4-year-old Mount Tahoma has more parking and better throwing pits than 62-year-old Lincoln Bowl, said Jennifer Kubista, meet organizer and athletic director for the Tacoma School District.
“Overall, Mount Tahoma is better from a facilities standpoint,” she said. “It has some things that will allow for a better state track meet.”
In many ways, Mount Tahoma is similar to Edgar Brown Stadium in Pasco, where Star Track has been held for the previous six years. Both are newer venues with excellent throwing pits, plenty of parking and enough restrooms to accommodate a full stadium. But, long-time track coaches point out, neither can produce the electricity that ran through the crowds at Lincoln Bowl.
If the state meet was going to come back to Tacoma, some in the track and field community wanted it to be at Lincoln Bowl. The huge, steep stands provided the perfect arena and seating space for a state meet, some coaches explained.
“It was a magical place if you can forget about the parking and the lousy throwing areas,” said Tim Irvin, former track coach at Bellingham and Squalicum. “For running events, it was the best. It was just intimate enough to really get the crowd involved, and the runners could and did feed on that energy.”
Bellarmine Prep track coach Matt Ellis even speculated that athletes would record faster times at Lincoln Bowl, noting the strong winds at Mount Tahoma during the West Central District meet last week. Yet, that’s not why he wanted to see Star Track return to Lincoln Bowl, where Elvis Presley once performed.
“Lincoln Bowl,” he said, “has soul.”
New format
When the Tacoma School District put in a bid to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association two years ago to host Star Track, it received a two-year commitment to have the meet at Mount Tahoma. The district was expecting to receive the typical 4A/3A meet that would last two days, not the three-classification event it was given. The addition of a third classification added about 600 athletes, bringing the total to about 1,800, competing in an extra 37 events. Kubista said the group began looking at its options.
Oregon’s state track meets are three-classification events that are completed in two days. But no break is built in to the first-day schedule to separate morning and evening sessions, which has been traditional in Washington.
“Could we get it all done in two days? Yes we could,” Kubista said. “But we’d be starting early in the morning and going until late at night.”
Instead, Star Track has become a three-day affair, with events beginning at 4:30 p.m. today.
Mike Colbrese, executive director of the WIAA, said the meet will be evaluated after its completion.
“I know there are questions about having three classifications,” he said, “but I’ve seen the plans and I think it’s going to work.”
Doug Pacey: 253-597-8271
doug.pacey@thenewstribune.com
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Jumper: Curtis senior Andrea Geubelle
The University of Kansas-signee is a heavy favorite to repeat in the triple and long jumps and has the state’s fastest time (11.75) in the 100 meters, too.
Runner: Beamer boys 4x100 relay
Three runners – Duran Ward, Anthony Hogan and Travis Koch – are back to defend the state title they won last season. The Titans are on top again, with newcomer Dominique Maxie helping them post a state-leading time of 42.38 seconds.
Thrower: Snohomish Senior Marlyn Anderson
Nothing fishy here. Anderson has the best marks in 4A in the shot put (57 feet, 5 inches) and discus (168-10).
Who to watch in 3A and 2A, B7 THREE TO WATCH
CLASS 3A
Runner: Germe Poston, Jr., Franklin Pierce
She’s healthy, and her best times (11.93 in 100, 24.49 in 200) are way ahead.
Jumper: Bryce Borer, Sr., Mercer Island
Defending pole vault champ has cleared 15-4 this year, best by 8 inches.
Thrower: Andrey Levkiv, Sr., Hazen
Levkiv shakes pits, leads state in shot (62-2), second in 3A discus (174-6).
CLASS 2A
Runner: Cherish Morrison, Fr., Blaine
She ranks first in 100 (12.31) and 400 (57.24) and second in the 200 (25.53).
Jumper: Miles Coats, Sr., River Ridge
Best triple jump (49-81/2) gives him shot to be third in U.S. to 50 feet in ’09.
Thrower: Nelson Westlin, Sr., Sehome
Peaking at the right time after state-leading 175-11 discus mark last week.
