Bulletin staff report

HERMISTON – Bend High’s Kari Cox set a school record in winning the shot put and Summit’s Melissa Horton finished first in the javelin to lead Central Oregon’s showing during the first day of the Intermountain Conference Girls Track and Field Championships.

Cox, a Bend High senior, uncorked a throw of 40 feet, 1.5 inch to break her own school record and win the district shot put title for the Lava Bears. Mykael Bothum of Hermiston was second with a throw of 39-11.

Horton, who last week set a Summit school record of 131-8 in the javelin, fell short of that mark but still recorded a strong throw of 128-5 to beat out teammate Roxanne Gilbride (124-11). Both qualified for state and led a strong first-day showing by the Storm.

”Our girls had a phenomenal first day,” said Summit coach Dave Turnbull. ”They’re bringing it when it counts the most.”

The top two finishers in each event, plus those athletes meeting predetermined qualifying marks, advance to next weekend’s Class 4A state championship meet at Hayward Field in Eugene.

Sarajane Rosenberg of Pendleton led an impressive display in the girls long jump, winning with a wind-aided meet-record mark of 18-9.5. Pendleton’s Mackenzie Larson also surpassed the 18-foot barrier, leaping 18-4.

Two others, Briawna Mueller of Hermiston and Jackie Herman of Pendleton, met the state-qualifying standard of 17-3, a mark that Redmond’s Amy Sticka (17-1fl) just missed.

In the only other girls final held on Friday at Hermiston High School’s Kennison Field, Jennifer Macias of Hermiston won the 3,000-meter run in 10 minutes, 53.92 seconds. Melissa Kauffman of Hood River Valley was second (11:09.76) and Horton was third (11:15.87).

Hermiston holds a 45-37 lead over Summit in the team standings through four events. Pendleton is third with 35 points, followed by Bend (20), Hood River Valley (13), Redmond (4) and Mountain View (2). Crook County failed to score during the first day of finals.

”Beating Hermiston will take a miracle because Hermiston is so deep, but if we compete like we did (Friday) … who knows,” said Turnbull. ”The girls just competed out of their skulls. It was unbelievable.”

Mountain View has won the past eight IMC girls district team championships, but the Cougars aren’t expected to make it nine in a row.

The two-day meet resumes today at Hermiston High School. Several field-event finals are slated to begin at 11 a.m., with running-event finals starting at 1 p.m.