Spsl Track And Field -- Three-Sport K-M Athlete Qualifies In Four Events

KENT - This time next year, Gerald Harris won't be worrying about how to scale a hurdle or pass a baton. Instead, he'll be coming off his first dose of spring football practice at the University of Washington and still trying to decipher the massive Husky playbook.

As a speedy wide receiver for the Kent-Meridian High School football team, Harris earned a scholarship to play football for Washington. But that comes later, in August, when he reports to fall practice.

"It's still a long way away, but I'm already looking forward to it," said Harris. "I'm going in there hoping to get some playing time right away."

For now, though, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound Harris is biding his time with the K-M track team - and he's proven to be one of the top three-sport athletes around (football, basketball and track).

Yesterday at the South Puget Sound League championship meet at French Field, Harris qualified for the West Central District in four events - two individual and two relays.

Harris qualified in the 110 high hurdles (15.3 seconds) and 300 intermediates (40.0) as well as running a leg on the 1,600 relay. He also found time to qualify in the long jump.

Harris will be busy at the West Central meet next weekend at Federal Way Stadium, but that's just the way he likes it.

"I've always liked track," said Harris. "I just wish I had started at an younger age."

As good as Harris is on the football field and the track, he might not even be the best hurdler at Kent-Meridian.

Paul Graham has become one of the state's best high hurdlers and also runs the intermediate hurdles as well.

Yesterday, Graham qualified for West Central in four events - advancing in both of his hurdles races as well as the 1,600 and 400 relays.

"We've always been good competitors," said Harris. "Even when we went to different junior high schools. I'm glad we're teammates now."

It's no surprise that Graham qualified in four events. What may be surprising is how he has become one of the top high hurdlers in the state after failing to qualify for state last year.

This season, Graham has zipped to a 14.5 in the highs and won the 110 high hurdles at the Pasco Invitational - beating a star-studded field in the process.

Along with Harris, Graham gives Kent-Meridian big-time firepower in the hurdles. And not just the hurdles. The Royals put together one of their best track seasons on record this year, going undefeated in dual meets and scoring an average of over 100 points per meet.

"This is the best group we've ever had at K-M," Coach Roger Erickson said. "We have solid kids up and down the lineup."

SPSL CHAMPIONSHIPS At French Field (First of two days) BOYS

Team scores (through four events) - 1, Auburn 36; 2, Spanaway Lake 30; 3, Kent-Meridian 17; 4, Federal Way 13; 5, Puyallup 10; 6, Kentwood 7; 7, Clover Park, Jefferson and Bethel 6; 10, Decatur, Curtis and Sumner 5; 13, Kentridge 4. Yesterday's finals

1,600 - 1, Travis Price, Puyallup, 4:24.5; 2, Frank Ceniceros, Spanaway Lake, 4:28.8; 3, Jason Meyer, Auburn, 4:28.9; 4, Andy Clark, Decatur, 4:30.2; 5, Josh Bigler, Curtis, 4:30.3; 6, Andy Gist, Kent-Meridian, 4:30.2; 7, Julian Aquire, Rogers, 4:32.0; 8, Rob Sundine, Curtis, 4:35.5.

Discus - 1, Denny Starr, Spanaway Lake, 148-0; 2, Ryan Ruiz, Federal Way, 145-1; 3, Pat O'Brien, Jefferson, 144-9 3/4; 4, Pat Gist, Kent-Meridian, 144-9; 5, Brian Millam, Kentwood, 143-11 1/2; 6, Mike Blumenstein, Auburn, 143-3 3/4; 7, Bryon Chinneth, Clover Park, 142-11 3/4; 8, Scott Studerus, Auburn, 136-4.

Pole vault - 1, Kyllan Tower, Auburn, 14-0; 2, Jason Eaton, Auburn, 13-6; 3, Brian Treece, Auburn, 13-0; 4, Joel Hill, Sumner, 13-0; 5, Rob Mayzak, Kentridge, 12-6; 6, Aaron Smith, Kentwood, 12-0; 7, Travis Stombaugh, Auburn, 11-6; 8, Tony Bedard, Rogers, 11-0.

Long jump - 1, Brian Merlett, Spanaway Lake, 22-9; 2, Antoine Sims, Kent-Meridian, 21-11 1/2; 3, Maurice Chambers, Bethel, 21-5; 4, Mike Davisson, Federal Way, 20-10 1/2; 5, Kawan Martin, Clover Park, 20-7 3/4; 6, Nathan Maertens, Rogers, 20-6; 7, Freddie Revenell, Spanaway Lake, 20-4 1/2; 8, Gerald Harris, Kent-Meridian, 20-4 1/2. Preliminaries Leaders going into today's finals

110 high hurdles - Paul Graham, Kent-Meridian and Mike Dwyer, Spanaway Lake, 14.5. 100 - Chris Courtney, Kentridge, and Terry Tharps, Curtis, 10.8. 400 relay - Curtis 42.5. 400 - Bennie Townsend, Kent-Meridian, 50.2. 300 hurdles - Mike Dwyer, Spanaway Lake, 39.7. 800 - Travis Price, Puyallup, 1:59.2. 200 - Sam Gage, Curtis, 22.0. 1,600 relay - Clover Park 3:27.6.

GIRLS

Team scores (through four events) - 1, Bethel 23; 2, Lakes 22, 3, Federal Way 20; 4, Auburn 19; 5, Curtis 16; 6, Kentridge and Spanaway Lake 10; 8, Jefferson, Puyallup and Rogers 8; 11, Kentwood 3. Yesterday's finals

3,200 - 1, Andrea Warner, Curtis, 11:18; 2, Tracy Bullick, Lakes, 11:28; 3, Jessie Brugger, Auburn, 11:47; 4, Kelly Whaley, Federal Way, 11:49; 5, Hilary Pickles, Rogers, 11:50; 6, Paula Pasquier, Puyallup, 11:54; 7, Linsy Nickles, Kentwood, 11:54; 8, Amy Ramsey, Puyallup, 12:04.

High jump - 1, Heather Templeman, Bethel, 5-1; 2, Courtney Morrow, Lakes, 5-1; 3, Danika Dower, Curtis, 5-1; 4, Hilarie Schaefer, Jefferson, 5-0; 5, Staci Nichols, Auburn, 5-0; 6, April Lapthorne, Jefferson, 5-0; 7, Tara Riley, Sumner, 4-10; 8, Abby Harris, Auburn, 4-10.

Triple jump - 1, Wyjuana Startino, Kentridge, 36-0 3/4; 2, Heather Templeman, Bethel, 34-11 1/4; 3, Stephanie Hardin, Federal Way, 34-7 1/2; 4, Milena Huntington, Sumner, 34-6; 5, Tina Tatito, Puyallup, 34-3; 6, Lindsey McNaughton, Lakes, 33-5 1/4; 7, Abby Harris, Auburn, 33-4 1/2; 8, Bonnie Lee, Kentwood, 33-0 1/2.

Shot put - 1, Sesila Thomas, Spanaway Lake, 43-10 (meet record, old record 41-4 by Janet Hammer, Lakes, 1988); 2, Shelby Hyatt, Federal Way, 39-3; 3, Celeste Hill, Auburn, 39-0 1/2; 4, Rosa Leuluaialii, Bethel, 37-2; 5, Sonja Fjetland, Rogers, 35-1; 6, Vania Moe, Kentwood, 34-9 1/2; 7, Becky Steffen, Sumner, 33-9 1/2; 8, Sarah McNiel, Jefferson, 33-4 1/2. Preliminaries Leaders going into today's finals

100 high hurdles - Charnay Thomas, Lakes, 15.7. 100 - Marzette Penton, Lakes, 12.3. 400 relay - Kentridge 51.0. 400 - Sarah Gerlitz, Auburn, 1:00.5. 300 hurdles - Audrey Welch, Rogers, 47.7. 800 - Brigid Byrne, Kentridge, 2:22.9. 200 - Marzette Penton, Lakes, 25.4. 800 relay - Kentridge 1:48.2. 1,600 relay - Kentwood 4:11.4.