Login
Newsletters
July 22, 2012
On the sidelines: Look up in the sky
Dungey, Barcia and Fiolek win big at AMA Washougal National Saturday.
Dungey, Barcia and Fiolek win big at AMA Washougal National Saturday.
An estimated 1,200 runners and walkers will traverse Lacamas Lake and Round Lake Sunday in search of beauty, exercise and the thrill of crossing the finish line. The ninth Fit Right Northwest Lacamas Lake Half Marathon and 4-Miler begins at 7:30 a.m. on the Cardon Field track behind Camas High School, 26900 S.E. 15th St. Race director Dave Sobolik said this event originally started as a launching pad for a new Fit Right store opening in east Vancouver. "It has grown from just a run and walk to a half marathon and a community engaging event," he said. "We have a lot of local companies, vendors and volunteers involved, and we are going to donate the money we raise to local charities. It's just a real great way for all of us come back together and support each other."
The fastest motorcycle riders on the planet are ready to tear through the turns, conquer the hills and soar above the trees when the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Series comes to Washougal Motocross Park Saturday. Gates open Wednesday at 10 a.m., followed by amatuer racing on Thursday and Friday. More than 20,000 racing fans are expected for the Washougal National on Saturday. The women kick off the action at 12:15 p.m., followed by the 450 class at 1:10, the 250 class at 2:10, and then the final three motos at 3:20 (women), 4:05 (450) and 5:05 (250).
Motocross fans might wonder why the project to replace the Cougar Creek Bridge started yesterday instead of waiting one week. The project requires a complete closure of Northeast Washougal River Road, from Milepost 5.1 to 5.2 for an estimated 15 weeks. The bridge is located at Milepost 5.16. During the project, traffic is being detoured around the construction zone. The designated detour route includes 17th Street, Evergreen Highway, 32nd Street, Jennings Road, 357th Avenue and Vernon Road.
An estimated 2,056 soccer fans filled Doc Harris Stadium in Camas to cheer the Portland Timbers U-23 Premier Development League team to a 1-0 victory against Washington Crossfire of Redmond Friday. The Camas-Washougal Soccer Club hosted the game as a featured attraction for its Clash at the Border soccer tournament. The majority of the spectators were from the youth soccer teams playing in the weekend long festival. "The club, town and the facility did itself very proud by hosting this game," said Timbers U-23 head coach Jim Rilatt. "It's a real kick for these guys to be able to play in front of so many kids. They love to stay after the games are over to sign autographs and talk to the kids about soccer. It's a summer they will never forget."
Championship glory tasted sweet for Perri Belzer and several other local athletes who participated in the Clash at the Border soccer tournament this past weekend. "What I'll remember most is being able to play with my team and winning," said Belzer of Camas. "Getting first place was just awesome for us. We were all happy we got the result we wanted" Belzer and Elise Schney both scored goals to lead the Vancouver Timbers 99 Red to a 2-0 victory against the Camas-Washougal Soccer Alliance Valencia in the U-13 Platinum championship game Sunday. Five other Vancouver Timbers teams earned first-place trophies from their respective brackets, and nine more Timbers teams finished in second place.
With heart and hustle, Camas-Washougal Granite Construction is going to the Northwest Regional Babe Ruth Championship Tournament, for 16- to 18-year-olds, in Kent, Wash. "I hope this means something because we are representing the community, and our hats say Camas and Washougal on them," said manager Scott Purkeypyle. "I just want these guys to make the plays they're supposed to make, and to never get out-hustled. That's the one side of the game we can always win."
Two Camas High School alums ran their way to the NCAA West Preliminary Meet in outdoor track and field. Emily Thomas, a current Gonzaga University redshirt sophomore, placed 24th in the western conference, running 10,000 meters in 35:55.98. Kayla Blackford, a sophomore at Weber State in Utah, placed 38th in the same event with the time 37:34.42. Blackford and Thomas happened to see each other at the San Francisco State Invitational in late March when they both qualified for the NCAA preliminaries and again in Austin, Texas, for the NCAA preliminaries race. They both hugged, wished each other luck and congratulated each other at the end of both races.
A record number of 158 teams are expected to participate in this weekend's Adidas "Clash at the Border" soccer tournament. The previous record had been 144 teams, according to Tournament Director Jeff Castagnola. They will be arriving from areas such as Portland, Eugene and Bend, Ore., as well as Seattle, Yakima and Everett, Wash. The 10th annual event will be held Friday through Sunday, at several local fields including Skyridge Middle School, 5220 N.W. Parker St., and the fields surrounding Doc Harris Stadium, 1125 N.E. 22nd Ave., in Camas.
The Future Lady Panthers recently stepped up their "off time" this summer by going to a camp and tournament at UCLA. For the past two years, the FLP went to University of Montana for summer camp. Coach Jason Blankenship was nervous this year sending his team to southern California, but UCLA assured him that his team would do well. They won four out of their five games. "And we definitely outplayed that last team," Blankenship said. In their last game, they lost by only three points, going 2-14 from the foul line.