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Sports

August 16, 2011

Guthrie rolls up his sleeves for Clark College

New Clark College Athletic Director Charles Guthrie is on the opposite side of the country from his hometown of Albany, N.Y., but he said living in Camas feels strangely like being back home. "I love how kind and genuine people are here. They are really passionate about this institution and this community. It's a nice change of pace after working in bigger metropolitan areas such as Los Angeles and San Diego, where people don't have that same sense of community," Guthrie said. "This area is more similar to where I grew up, where everybody knows your name. I feel like I have come full circle."

August 16, 2011
The view from the brand new Nancy Russell Overlook at Cape Horn. Friends of the Columbia Gorge generated more than $4 million to cover the costs of removing two homes and the construction of a circular, Americans with Disabilities Act accessible viewpoint.

An undying wish

If Nancy Russell was still alive today, looking out at Columbia River Gorge from her new viewpoint at Cape Horn would have given her chills. More than 300 guests felt her presence during a dedication in her honor Saturday. The morning mist hitting their faces felt like tears of joy. And as each guest shared their story about Nancy, the fog lifted and everybody could see east for miles.

August 16, 2011
The Lacamas Headhunters are gearing up for the 2011 Ironman Canada event Aug. 28, Penticton, B.C. Pictured in the front row (left to right): Denise Edmiston, Terri Anderson, Natalie Aten, Julie Seale, Denise Croucher, Sonjia Chandaria, Deborah Skalbeck, Anita Burkard, Sondra Grable, Lisa Wourms, Nadine Taylor; back row (left to right): Stacey Lake, Karen O'Quinn, Andrew Kallenberger, Jason Saunders, Alan O'Hara, Mike Gilbert, Tom Wortman, Lori Saunders, Chris Clay, Ian Rogers, Mark Chandaria and Bob Croucher.

Lacamas Headhunters are aiming for Ironman Canada

Thirty-four club members from Lacamas Swim & Sport had no idea what they were getting themselves into when they signed up to do a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile run in one day. That is a total of 140.6 miles. Most people would call that pure torture, but this tight group of Camas, Washougal, Vancouver and Brush Prairie residents have caught the rush. After nearly a year of training, these Headhunters are aiming to cross the finish line at the 2011 Ironman Canada Aug. 28, in Penticton, B.C. "You have to have some sort of internal craziness to try something like this," said Lisa Wourms of Camas. "I think we all have a touch of that."

August 9, 2011
Cody Hudson of Camas placed sixth in the first round of the High School National Finals in Gillette, Wyo., recently. Hudson is seeking sponsorships from the community, so that he can continue bull riding after a series of economic hardships that hit his family.

Eight seconds

Eight seconds. It doesn't seem like much, but that is the amount of time when a bull rider must hold on for dear life, or risk being injured or killed. Eight seconds of joy, bliss, anticipation, dread and triumph. "It's really hard to describe," said Cody Hudson, a 15-year-old bull riding champion. "There's this excitement, anticipation, adrenaline rush and thrill that goes with it. As a bull rider, you have to accept that at all times you may be injured or die. So you accept it, and you move on."

August 9, 2011

A pool is Beale’s sandbox

Some 2-year-olds play in a sandbox. Tommy Beale jumped into a swimming pool. "I thought I better put him in swimming lessons so I wouldn't have to jump in and save him," said his mother, Linda. "He was able to swim across the pool by the time he was 3, and he joined the swim team when he was 4." On July 15 to 17, the 8-year-old from Camas captured four gold medals for the Columbia River Swim Team at the Oregon Swimming 10-and-younger Long Course Championships, in Bend, Ore. Beale snatched first place in the 50-meter breaststroke, with a time of 47.97 seconds. He also finished first in the 50 butterfly in 44.99. the 50 backstroke in 45.51 and the 100 freestyle in 1:24.51.

August 2, 2011
The Washougal cross country runners arrive at the Steens Mountain Running Camp. Pictured (left to right): Darian Tierney, Danny Riat, Sean Eustis, Isaac Stinchfield, Brooke Croeni, Kendall Utter and Dylan McNeil. Not pictured: Collin Manning.

Conquering the mountain

Far away from civilization, six Washougal Panthers and two Canyon Creek Cougars spent the week of July 17 to 23 conquering the eye-opening challenges of the Steens Mountain Running Camp, in Burns, Ore.

August 2, 2011
Brian Humphreys won the Future Champions of Golf Boys 13-14 Division July 17 to 19, on the PGA West TPC Stadium Course in Palm Springs, Calif.

A champion of the future

Looking across the water at Alcatraz, Brian Humphreys wondered how he was going to land his golf ball in the center of that famous island green on the PGA West's TPC Stadium Course, in Palm Springs, Calif.

August 2, 2011
University of Northern Colorado wrestling coach, and former Evergreen High School wrestler, Ben Vom Baur (far left) directs kids on the the mat Friday, during the final day of the Clark County Coach-A-Roo wrestling camp, at Skyridge Middle School in Camas.

Wrestling with passion in Clark County

Clark County wrestlers of all ages look up to Ben and Cory Vom Baur. Between 1996 and 98, Ben compiled a record of 102 wins and 0 losses, and captured three state championships, when he wrestled for Evergreen High School in Vancouver. He also won two Pac-10 championships and became a two-time NCAA All-American, at Boise State University.