One more time

Eureka competes in its final 8-B event

Eureka's last sporting event in District 8-B takes place today in track at Legends Stadium.

The Lions will be competing in the district meet along with Arlee, Plains, Thompson Falls and Troy as runners, throwers and jumpers begin their quest to qualify for state.

Eureka will move up to Class A this fall.

"It will be interesting," said Eureka track coach Joe Lewicki.

"Thompson Falls, Plains and Troy (our main rivals for years), we'll be losing out on that."

Thompson Falls and Plains are expected to battle for the boys title today while the girls trophy is "up for grabs," said Lewicki.

"Kind of wide open."

Thompson Falls and Plains will have two of the state's best throwers competing, all classes. Nate Bache of Thompson Falls has the second best distance in the javelin this spring, 206-6, while Brandon Thompson of Plains is third in the discus, 164-2.

Bache won the district title last year with a throw of 198-6 while Thompson won the discus with a distance of 147-10.

The Eureka girls and Thompson Falls boys are defending district champions.

"We only have six girls out, six talented girls," said Lewicki.

"At the district level, a lot depends on how deep you are. We just don't have the numbers competing where we can get a lot of thirds and fourths (to be successful)."

The Lions will not have girls competing in six events. Two of those are the 100 and 300 hurdles.

"That's unusual," said Lewicki of having no hurdlers.

"We've had them for years and years. It's kind of a blank spot right now for us."

Eureka does have more depth on the boys side, however, with 12 athletes competing.

"We're still a pretty small team," said Lewicki.

"Usually we have 20 boys and 14 girls. We're way down numbers wise, but we have some great talent out there."

Today's action begins at 10 a.m. with the field events; 11 a.m. the running events.

"We're looking forward to some good competition," said Lewicki.

"We've had a few little injuries, but we have worked our way through them. We're relatively healthy going in."

Only the top five places will be scored in the team totals, but the top six finishers advance to the Western B Divisional in Missoula, May 19-20.

Eureka's District Lineup

Girls

Melanie Finch, so., 200, 400 and both relays; Jonna Yost, fr., 200, 400, high jump and both relays; Megan Hannay, so., shot put and discus; Eryn Adams, sr., pole vault, 200, triple jump and both relays; Heather Stewart, jr., 1,600, 3,200 and both relays; and Mandi Truman, jr., 3,200 and 1,600

Boys

Alan Owen, so., shot put and discus; Tanner Newell, so., javelin, 1,600, 300 hurdles, 1,600 relay; Cory Greenwood, so., 110 and 300 hurdles, relays; Caleb Padgett, jr., 200, 400 and both relays; Ryan Jurjans, sr., 100, 200, long jump and 400 relay; Matteus Hartley, fr., 1,600, 3,200 and 400 relay; Theron Truman, sr., 800, 1,600, 3,200 and 1,600 relay; Luke Truman, fr., shot put and discus; Spencer Satori, jr., shot put, discus and javelin; Cyle Cook, fr., shot put and discus; Lucas Hofste, fr., 100, 200, 300 hurdles and 400 relay