Relay team leaves school mark in dust

The boys 4x400 relay team set a new school record to highlight Saturday’s South Kitsap Invitational – but it’s not likely to last long.

With Luke Speidel running 50 seconds flat in the first leg, the team began the race with a huge lead and clocked 3:27.1 to break the previous Spartan standard by more than two seconds. The time is also perhaps the fastest to date among 3A schools.

Because Eddie Pasquale – who ran the second leg – is new to the distance, he appears almost certain to drop his time as he becomes more accustomed to the race’s rhythms. And Christian Lucier and Tim Freeman, who ran the final two legs, are experienced quarter milers who turned in swift but not all-out efforts with no one to press them. As a result, a time several seconds faster by the time of the district and state meets seems possible.

Freeman also showed his speed in the 800, running 57 seconds in the first lap and winning the event in a lifetime best 1:59.27.

Nolan Amy was sixth in the 1600 (4:39.6), Joe Tarbill finished sixth in the 3200 (10:14.9) and Matt Wauters was eighth in both the shot (44-4) and discus (116-11).

Bainbridge girls who placed were Becca Ivey (second, 800, 2:23.3), Veronica Ivey (fourth, 800, 2:25.3), Audrey Bennett (fifth, 800, 2:30), Christy Lubovich (fourth, 3200, 11:50.2) and the 4x400 relay (second, 4:16.6).

Runners-up

The girls finished second in Thursday’s three-way home meet to Holy Names, the 1998-1999-2000 state champions, 74-64. Lakeside trailed with 21 points.

O’Dea, last year’s state runners-up, easily won the boys competition, scoring 80.5 points to 46.5 for Bainbridge and 42 for Lakeside.

The Bainbridge girls dominated the distance events and won two of three relays, while Holy Names’ strength was in sprints, hurdles and the field events.

Rebecca Ivey won the 400 in 1:01.0, Veronica Ivey (2:26.9) and Bennett (2:28.5) swept the 800, Sarah Grue (5:34.0) and Rachel Belt (5:36) did the same in the 1600, while Lubovich clocked 11:56 to win the 3200. Lizzie Corbin was actually the first runner across the line in the 1600 as she clocked 5:33.6, but Metro requires each school to designate two runners prior to the start as the ones who will score team points.

The 4x100 relay team clocked 54.9, while the 4x400 relay finished in 4:12.4.

Laura Bartunek was the day’s other Bainbridge winner, clearing 4-10 in the high jump.

Matt Wauters was a double winner for the boys, taking the shot (46-6) and discus (113-5). Both marks were personal bests, with his shotput mark more than a three-foot improvement.

Lucier won the 400 in 53.0, with Pasquale third in 53.2 in his first try at the distance. In a situation similar to Corbin’s, Speidel turned in a 51.5, the day’s fastest time. Freeman ran 2:00.3 to take the 800.

The 4x400 relay gave notice of what would come two days later with a 3:30.0 clocking, and a bad pass may have cost the 4x100 relay a win as well, with the team finishing in 44.2 to O’Dea’s 44.0.

The team travels to Seattle’s Southwest Athletic Complex tomorrow for a four-way meet with Blanchet, Chief Sealth and Lakeside. Some athletes will also compete in Saturday’s Shelton Invitational.

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