Smith spears district javelin record; Wolverine boys finish 2nd

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Smith spears district javelin record;
Wolverine boys finish 2nd

Story and photos by Matt Pranger

posted 05/19/03
Senior Nathan Smith shattered Friday Harbor High School and District 1A Meet records by flinging the javelin 182 feet, six feet Saturday, May 17. Smith and eight of his teammates advance to the Tri-District Championships Thursday May, 22 and Saturday, May 24 at King’s High School.

Friday Harbor tallied 82 team points and finished second at the district meet. Archbishop Murphy won the competition with 133 and host La Conner was third with 69. Concrete was fourth with 31 and Coupeville fifth with 8.

Smith, who also won the long jump and placed second in the high jump, was the only athlete to break a record during the often blustery and cool conditions. The previous District mark was 165-1 set by Butch Matter of Watson Groen Christian. Luke Holstein, who finished fourth in state in 1991, held the Wolverines record of 176-0 for a dozen years.

"Where that throw came from, I don’t know," said Friday Harbor coach Greg Hertel. "It was 20-feet longer than anything he’s done. It was a phenomenal throw."

Smith snapped the records on his third and last attempt in the finals. He threw in the 160s on his first try but scratched on his second throw. Using perfect technique, he pushed "through the tip" in his last effort, Hertel said. The Wolverine fans erupted when the javelin landed well past of the field’s previous attempts. "It was just a perfect throw.... I had no clue I’d throw 180," Smith said. "It was sweet. I was amazed."

Junior Lucas Franco was the other Wolverine claiming gold medals at District: He topped the field in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs.

The Friday Harbor fans also broke out in applause for junior Andrew Teasdale, who kicked at the beginning and the end of the race. "It was a good finish," Teasdale said.

Teasdale, sporting Friday Harbor’s purple and gold, was sandwiched at the start by Archbishop Murphy runners wearing red and white. He was a bit intimidated but remembering Assistant coach Clark McAlpine advice, "went a little faster on the start and kept up with the big guys."

"His time has come down almost 30 seconds during the season," Hertel said of Teasdale.

The best four district finishers advance to the state-qualifying Tri-District Meet. Friday Harbor’s top district finishers are:

110-meter Hurdles
4. Tad Sooter :19.36
Javelin
1. Smith 182-6
100 Dash
2. John Marsh :11.85
1600 Run
1. Lucas Franco 4:54.65
4 x 100 Relay
2. Friday Harbor (Danny Johnson, John Marsh, Tyler Roberts, Nathan Smith) :46.60
400 Dash
2. John Marsh :52.49
300 Hurdles
4. Tad Sooter :46.57
800 Run
2. Andrew Teasdale 2:11.65
3200 Run
1. Lucas Franco 10:32.36
5. Johannes Paul 11:44.72
High Jump
2. Nathan Smith 5-8
Triple Jump
3. John Fyrqvist 37-5.5
Long Jump
1. Nathan Smith 20-11
Discus
1. Drew Allen 128-0
3. Tyler Roberts 116-0
Shot Put
5. Drew Allen 36-9.75

EDITOR'S NOTE: more photos are being developed

Franco, Marsh shine in league meet

posted 05/20/03
Friday Harbor junior Lucas Franco won the 1600- and 3200-meter runs and senior John Marsh zipped to a win in the 100 sprint as the Friday Harbor boys track team at the Northwest A League Championships Tuesday, May 13 at Burlington-Edison High School.

The Wolverines tallied 115 points. Archbishop Murphy scored 181 to win the meet. La conner had 118. Concrete finished fourth with 43 and Coupeville was fifth with 15.

Friday Harbor’s top finishers are:

110-meter Hurdles
5. Tad Sooter :19.61
100 Dash
1. John Marsh :11.9
1600 Run
1. Lucas Franco 4:48.2
400 Dash
2. John Marsh :51.8
800 Run
2. Andrew Teasdale 209.7
300 Hurdles
4. Tad Sooter :47.3
Shot Put
5. Drew Allen 36-3
Discus
1. Drew Allen 119-9
3. Tyler Roberts 117-5
Javelin
1. Nathan Smith 149-10
High Jump
1. Nathan Smith 6-2
3200 Run
1. Lucas Franco 10:39.5
Long Jump
1. Nathan Smith 20-11.5
Triple Jump
4. John Fyrqvist 34-11
6. Scott Baumann 34-6
4 x 200 Relay
2. Friday Harbor (Chase Norvich, Andrews Teasdale, Jon Fyrqvisth, Scott Baumann)3:57.2

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Smith spears district javelin record;Wolverine boys finish 2nd

Franco, Marsh shine in league meet

Smith spears district javelin record;
Wolverine boys finish 2nd