Prep Track And Field -- Some State Marks Likely To Stand For Years -- But 20-Year-Old Boys Triple-Jump Record Just `Waiting To Happen'

When track expert Scott Spruill looks at this state's all-time best marks by high-school athletes, he sees only one "soft" record and several marks that could last years into the next century.

The mark he considers "soft" is the boys triple jump of 50 feet, 3/4 inch set by Aaron Williams of Tacoma's Wilson High School in 1977.

"That triple-jump record has got to fall," Spruill said. "I'm just waiting for it to happen. . . . That jump would get you a fourth or fifth at the state meet in Texas or California."

Boys records that Spruill considers likely to last for years are:

-- Shot put - 69 feet, 11 inches, Vince Goldsmith, Mount Tahoma (Tacoma), 1977.

Comment: "If Ben Lindsey couldn't beat it, you know it's going to hang out there a while."

Fact: Lindsey, a senior last year at Lynnwood High School, threw 66-8. He now is on the University of Washington track team.

-- 400 meters - 44.69 seconds, Darrell Robinson, Wilson High School, 1982.

Comment: "This is the only national high-school record held by a Washington athlete."

Facts: Ja'Warren Hooker of Ellensburg has an outside shot at the mark but is better at the shorter sprints, where he has more experience. Hooker is the national leader at 100 meters this season with a state all-time best of 10.27 seconds. He has broken the 17-year-old 100-mark of Ron Jackson of Franklin (10.54) three times. Hooker also broke the state 200-meter record this year with a

21.20. Hooker's best 400 time is 46.23.

-- High jump - 7 feet, 4 1/2 inches, Rick Noji, Franklin High School, 1984.

Comment: "This mark should last."

Fact: No one in the state has come within 2 inches of Noji, who cleared the height as a junior.

-- Mile and 1,600 - 4:01.5 for mile, Gerry Lindgren, Rogers High School, Spokane, 1964 (converts to 4:00.1 for 1,600).

Comment: "I think Lindgren's mile mark will last longer than his 3,200 mark (8:40.0 converted from 2-mile mark)."

Fact: The closest anyone has come to Lindgren's 1,600 was John Quade's 4:02.18 in 1985.

Here are the state's other all-time boys records:

800 - Greg Gibson, Connell, 1972, 1:51.0 (converted from 880 yards); 110 hurdles - Cecil Bowie, Rainier Beach, 1987, 13.86 seconds; 300 hurdles - Mark Phillips, Garfield, 1986, 36.57 seconds; 400 relay - Garfield, 1986, 41.34 seconds; 1600 relay - Lincoln, Tacoma, 1977, 3:17.0 (converted from yards); Discus - Ben Lindsey, Lynnwood, 1996, 203-6; Javelin - Tom Sinclair, Peninsula, 1975, 239-1; Long jump - Peller Phillips, Garfield, 1988, 25-9 3/4; Pole vault - Casey Carrigan, Orting, 1969, 17-4 3/4.

GIRLS HAVE 2 `WHOPPERS'

When Spruill surveys the all-time records by this state's girls, he sees "two whoppers" that should last a long time:

-- Javelin - Erica Wheeler, Sequim, 1985, 189-7.

Comment: "This is a monster record."

Fact: No one has come within 17 feet of the mark.

-- 400 meters - Erika Harris, Gig Harbor, 1981, 51.45.

Comment: "Another monster mark."

Fact: It's 3 seconds back to the next runner.

Spruill said one of the most vulnerable marks is one of the newest, the discus record of 165-9 set in 1995 by Aretha Hill of Renton. Hill throws for the University of Washington and competed in last summer's Olympics. The mark is vulnerable because Mount Si's Mandy Borschowa threw 156-7 this year to set the state record by a junior.

A mark that intrigues Spruill because of its longevity is the 51-4 shot-put record set in 1971, one of the early years of girls' track, by Lynette Matthews of Shorecrest.

All-time girl marks not previously mentioned:

100 - Danielle Marshall, Lake Washington, 1992, 11.36; 200 - Donna Dennis, Clover Park, 1982, 23.39; 800 - Deanna Coleman, Issaquah, 1979, 2:04.7; 1,600 - Deanna Coleman, Issaquah, 1978, 4:42.5 (converted from yards); 3,200 - Patty Matava, Bellevue, 1982, 10:08.0; 100 hurdles - Kay Garnett, Kennedy, 1979, 13.77; 300 hurdles - Seville Broussard, Walla Walla, 1994, 42.17; 400 relay - Garfield, 1983, 47.05; 800 relay - Garfield, 1983, 1:39.12; 1,600 relay - Sammamish, 1978, 3:49.6 (converted from yards); High jump - Mary Moore, Issaquah, 1981, 6-2; Long jump - Sherron Walker, Everett, 1975, 21-3; Triple jump - LaShonda Christopher, River Ridge, 1995, 42-9.

Records and best performances

Spruill's 1996 Washington Track Annual is $12 prepaid to: Washington Track, 1525 S. 32nd Ave., Yakima, WA 98902. In addition to its strong record section, the annual lists hundreds of high-school athletes and their best performances last year.