Track and field on board district rankings

The Raiders track and field team competed at the Nike-Van Kuren Invite on Saturday, and one athlete competed at a Pasco meet.

Steven Flowers competed in the shot put event at the Pasco Invite April 13, “an elite meet even more competitive than a state meet,” Head Coach Lori Adkins said. “All classifications of schools go head to head. The qualifying marks to gain entry to the meet are high.”

“When Steven received the invitation back in December to compete in the shot put event, we were elated!” Adkins said. “We couldn’t be prouder of Steven’s hard work up to the event and his performance at such a high-level meet.”

Flowers set a personal record at the event, placing fifth by throwing the 12-pound shot 49 feet, 10.5 inches.

“The mark places Steve in the number-one spot for Washington’s 2B Shot Put currently,” Adkins said, “but I have a feeling he won’t rest on this mark. Hard work lies ahead at practice and meets over the coming weeks. We all know this.”

The rest of the Raiders competed Saturday at the Nike-Van Kuren Invite at Spokane Falls Community College, where 52 schools from all classifications from as far away as Idaho and Canada attended.

“This meet was super competitive plus had the added mental aspects of cooler temperatures, continual downpour rain and wind gusts,” Adkins said. “The conditions were certainly not ideal, and the athletes were right out in it!”

“We were extremely proud of the athletes that endured, and even after hours of waiting for their events, competed well and even performed at personal-record levels,” Adkins said. “That meet was definitely a lesson in competing, and competing well with adversity! If you can do your best on a day like that, confidence is certainly built for the future.”

“We have a ways to go,” Adkins said, “but it is so great to see the Raiders’ hard work become evident as you scan the 2B District 6 rankings. LR is on the board!”

The Raiders also competed in Tonasket on Tuesday, results of which will be reported on next week.

On Saturday the Raiders will compete in Quincy at 10:30 a.m., and on Tuesday, April 23, compete in Peshastin at 4 p.m.