Marisa Johnson Edges Out Kimberly Beard In Weight Throw; Kade Brownell Outlasts Zack Cervi-Skinner To Win Mile

By Cam McCann for DyeStat

Ken Martinez photos

RESULTS/VIDEOS

INTERVIEWS

SPOKANE, Wash. — Athletes from the Northwest got 2025 off to a rocking start at The Podium for the Spokane High School Preview on Saturday. 

The meet featured hundreds of athletes opening their 2025 track season, some of whom performed on Dec. 15 at the Spokane Speed Games. It was the second of three high school meets on the The Podium's winter calendar. The Spokane High School Invitational lies two weeks away. 

The first handful of races took place in the center of the track, as the 60m races got underway. The consistency from the preliminary races to the finals was uncanny, as all four prelim winners went on to come out on top of the finals as well. 

Journey Cole of GLS Speed Track Club, a junior from Kent Meridian WA, got her first matchup with Oregon champion Aster Jones, competing for Black Star Athletic Academy, in the 60 meters.

Cole ran the second-fastest prep time in the nation, crossing the line in a personal best time of 7.43 seconds. Jones was next in 7.56, also a personal best. 

Ryan Dierenfield of Billings Skyview MT, competing unattached, ran the fastest 60 in the country back in December when he clocked 6.68 at the Podium. On Saturday he won again, this time in 6.75. 

Avery Coker of Resolute Track Club (da B. Wells OR) won the 60-meter hurdles in 8.95 seconds, notching herself a personal record in the process. Gavin Mow (unattached/Helena Capital) ran a personal best as well, finishing with a time of 8.14 in the boys 60 hurdles final. 

Kade Brownell (Mt. Spokane WA) won a heavy-hitting boys mile in US#5 4:14.45. He made his move with a little under 800 neters in the race and left no doubt, winning by a convincing four seconds. Zackery Cervi-Skinner of CDA Distance (Coeur d'Alene ID) was second in US#11 4:18.24.

Laine McKenzie of GLS Speed (Cedarcrest WA) jumped US#7 19-6.25 to win the girls long jump. She also won the 200 meters, beating Jones and Cole, in 24.35.

On the boys side, Joseph Donnelly of Inner Circle Track Club hit the meet-winning jump on his second attempt, as he went for 22-2.50. 

Marissa Johnson was a major standout from the field, winning both the shot put and weight throw.

Johnson, of SuperThrower TC (Tigard OR) got a marquee matchup with Kimberly Beard of Get Strong/Nike Elite (King's WA).

Johnson threw US#3 54-9.25, getting her best mark on her final attempt.

Beard also connected on her sixth round throw and hit for US#5 53-7.75.

On the boys side, Will Foster (unattached/Prairie WA) threw 58-6 to win the shot put. Landon Reid of SuperThrower (Columbia Christian OR) took home a personal best and a win in the weight throw with 60-7.75. 

Freshman Eleanor Wyatt of Ultimate Speed Athletics wore the crown after the girls mile, finishing with a 5:21.89 to open up her indoor career, beating Katie Lubbe by a little over half of a second. 

Sena Pittman of GLS Speed opened her season with a 57.39 in the 400, winning by almost a second, and Baron Kurland of Ultimate Speed Athletics ran 49.42 and eeked out a win over Eddie Bruner Jr. in the boys division. This was one of the closest races of the day, and came down to a photo finish, with .07 seconds separating the two. 

Macallan Cutsforth of the Inner Circle TC won the girls 800 meters after striking out to a convincing lead before the stagger had ended. She won in 2:20.98.

Reid Bartholomew of Bozeman Track topped Kurland for the closest race of the meet, as .05 seconds was the difference between him and Duncan Frisbie-Smith, winning in 1:57.04.

Sutton Flint of GLS Speed ran the US#3 200 meters in a time of 21.53.

Alexa Anderson (unattached/Tigard OR) won the girls pole vault with 12-10.25. She also won the high jump at 5-5.

Kayden Andre-Van Lith of Spokane Speed Academy (Eastmont WA) won the boys pole vault with his clearance at 14-9.

Trenton Sandborn of Spokane Speed Academy on the boys high jump at 6-6.75, beating Sam Henderson (unattached) on fewer misses after the both cleared the same height.

Kayla Williams of Alpha Speed Academy won the triple jump with a best of 38-10.25, a new PR for the junior from Spanaway Lake WA.

Aayden Simmons of Helena Novas won the boys triple jump on his final attempt, which went 47-6.50.

The final individual event of the night was the 3,000 meters, which saw Regan Thomas of Spokane Speed Academy win in 10:48.51 for the girls and Dylan Rowell (Anacortes WA) win the boys race in 8:43.67. 

GLS Speed TC won both of the relays to close out the night, as the 4x400 relay saw them win in 3:54.93 for the girls and 3:17.76 for the boys.

On Friday, Spokane Speed Academy kicked the high school competitions off with a win in the girls 4x800 relay (10:06.48)  and Bush Track Club took the boys race in 8:30.42. GLS Speed Track Club took home the crown for the girls in the 4x200 relay in 1:39.13 and The Inner Circle Track Club came away with the win for the boys in 1:28.49.