The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

PASCO - Last Saturday when the majority of the WP track team was competing in Moscow, a few select athletes were competing in the Pasco Invitational.

In this big meet, WP's Seth Deal, a middledistance runner, and Eshom Estes, the Cardinal's all-star thrower, went up against the toughest athletes in the region.

Middle-distance coach Joanna Lanning said Deal placed 26th out of 42 of the state's best 3,200 athletes from all classifications.

"What was so terrific is that it was a personal record for him," Lanning said.

Deal ran 2 miles on Saturday in 9:58.49, besting his previous best time of 9:59.30 posted at the state meet last year.

"He looked really good the entire race, steadily moving up the ranks during the race to pick off his competitors," Lanning added. "I was very pleased with his performance and I'm looking forward to the meets ahead."

WP's Estes also had a successful day and has been working hard with his eyes on a state title.

Estes took seventh place on Saturday in the shot put with a throw of 50 feet, 10.5 inches. This is a personal record for him and a new record for the school.

"This was a huge accomplishment as this meet is the premier meet of the year in the state," said head coach Jeff Bartlow. "With 1,500 athletes entries are one per school and minimum standards exist. (There was) just a huge number of athletes with a lot of talent."

Bartlow said about 36 men competed in the shot put and most were from larger, 4A schools. Estes is now the top 2B shot put guy in the state, he added.

Lanning said Estes is just a half inch away from breaking the school record that James Lehr set. Lehr is now a collegiate track athlete.

Estes also placed 24th in the discus, throwing it 127 feet; and placed 28th in the javelin with a throw of 140 feet, 10 inches.