Cold, windy day can't dampen 14th Undeberg Invitational

Jimmie Snyder Field on the campus of Lind-Ritzville High School was decked out with color and readiness to host the 14th annual Undeberg Track and Field meet.

Grandparents, community members, visitors and track aficionados began passing the ticket booth at about 10 a.m.-just about the same time the heavy clouds spewed hail and a shot of light rain on the grandstand and facilities. But spirits were not dampened by moisture, although a strong wind lasting throughout the day affected into-the-wind performances in nearly every event.

Nevertheless, opening ceremonies saw hundreds of competitors establishing a connected ring around the oval for the national anthem-followed by what could best be described as a "group hug" in the center of the field where a commitment to friendliness and fair play was passed along among all athletes.

The Lind-Ritzville/Sprague Broncos joined athletes from 33 other teams for the day's competition. After leading off with a 4x200 women's relay and women's 3,200 meter run, the starting line filled with men's 100 meter entries. Spencer Gering, Conrad Ziemer and Doug Morris represented LRS sprinters.

At the crack of the 100 meter starting gun, Gering appeared to get off to a perfect start, though a millisecond before the shot. However, the false start was not detected by an official, and he finished his run in 12.98 seconds. Things evened out in a subsequent heat when Morris was called for a false start and forced to withdraw. Later, he thought the competitor next to him was the culprit, but there was no appeal.

Despite the uneasy beginning, both Gering and Ziemer came off the 200 meter curve aligned alike and finished virtually dead-even in the event; Gering timed in 26.15 and Ziemer timed in 25.8 for 10th and 12th place, respectively, among 43 entrants. Both men have been side-by-side all season in events where both compete. This day, in addition to the close 200 meters, Gering long-jumped 14'09" and Ziemer outdid his teammate with a jump of 15'10."

Three Broncos women carried LRS hopes in the sprints: Sydney Kinch placed 7th in the 100 (14.73) and 3rd in the 200 meters (27.94). Kaylee Monroe added a 16.12 second in the 100, and Brinley Moore posted a 17.13 100-meter sprint. Julia Klein joined Moore in the single-lap 400 meter – running the metric quarter in 65.75 seconds for a personal record and a well-deserved fifth place. Moore finished her round in 72.26 seconds.

On the men's side, Conrad Ziemer lined up to challenge the 400 meters, and did so in great style – setting another personal best of 54.65 seconds to nail down third place in that event. Eight hundred meters is nearly a half-mile – one of more challenging races on the schedule. Ziemer continued his season-long fine performances by running 2:11.45 to nail down a 2nd place finish in that event. To keep pace with her Bronco teammate, Julia Klein also took on the 800 and completed her round in 2:42.05 to take 4th place out of 10 entries.

This year's Broncos team has been slight in the longer distance races, but a consistent competitor in both the men's 1,600 and 3,200 has been sophomore Sam Michels. While not yet competitive with top finishers, his recent outings have shown progress in the approach to his tactics – recently staying within striking distance of the lead pack as long as he is able. On this day he turned in his personal record in the 1,600 (5:33.17), then followed up with a run of 12:05.52 to finish 17th of 26 3,200 meter entrants.

Moving across the track to throwers and jumpers, a shining star for the Broncos team has been Kinch when she has a vaulting pole in her hands. The freshman has shaken the tree of the top league vaulters, and she did so again at the Undeberg Invite, soaring 9-00 feet to match the first place vaulter, but having to settle for 2nd place based on the tie-breaking number of misses.

Pole vaulters need to have runway speed, and Kinch brings speed to the sprints as well. In the long jump, Kinch leaped 12-11.75 feet to place 12th among 37 jumpers. Teammate Monroe wasn't far behind at 12-08, and Moore was also nearby with a jump of 12-00.5 and 19th place. Taylor Stromberger jumped 10-10.5 in the event.

Inexplicably, the women's shot put event drew more entries than any other single event in the Undeberg Invite-65! Four Broncos women chased a winning throw of 35-00 feet. Brynne Nelson came closest with a toss of 30-03 for 5th place. Grace Saint John threw 18-11.5 for 51st, and right behind her came Stromberger's 18-07.75. Both Saint John and Nelson also competed in the discus with distances of 58-08 (Nelson-36th place of 47) and 60-01 (Saint John-32nd place of 47).

The women must like throwing things, because LRS entered three more in the Javelin: Nelson completed her throwing hat-trick with a heave of 63-08. Klein and Brooke Koch were entered, but did not place in the javelin.

On the men's side, Doug Morris competed in the high jump, clearing 5-00 for a personal record and 13th place of 24 jumpers. Josh Crouse competed in two events: shot put (23-01.75 and 61st place), and discus (72-01, 32nd of 46).

And finally, the Bronco' designated distance runner, Sam Michels, propelled his javelin 100'10" to place 31st out of 50 spear-carrying entries.

"Amazing" is one word to describe the Undeberg Invitational. Not only that hundreds of athletes come to compete in one of the most efficiently run meets, but also that it honors a man who gave 25 years to high school track and field, and also that the meet directors and officials are all community persons working on track facilities which were constructed by community members who thought that Ritzville should have a first-class quality track. Amazing.