Compiled by Lucas Clark, Staff Intern

Former North Bend High School standout Ally Romanko is having a successful sophomore season on the Air Force Academy women’s track and field team. At the Drake Relays in late April, she contributed to the 4x800-meter relay team that clocked the second-best time in Academy history with 9:16.94. At the recent Mountain West Conference championships, Romanko ran her way to a third-place finish in the 800 meters with a personal-best time of 2:08. Her time set a new sophomore class record and was the second-best time in Academy history. In doing so, Romanko became the first all-conference selection in a running event from the women’s track team since 2005, and only the second since 2000.

University of Oregon track

Former North Bend High School standout Ashley McCrea took fourth place in the javelin at the Pac-10 conference championships with a throw of 156 feet, 7 inches. Her teammate, Rachel Yurkovich, won the competition with a mark of 175-9. Former Marshfield star Leah Worthen also had a solid day for the Ducks, finishing in seventh place in the 400-meter hurdles in 1:00.48. The women concluded the meet with a third-place finish, while the men won their second straight conference title.

University of Nevada track

Former Brookings-Harbor standout Inger Appanaitis had an impressive showing at the Western Athletic Conference championships last weekend. Appanaitis scored 23 points for the Pack on her way to being named the women’s high-point winner. She scored in the javelin, shot put, discus and hammer throw — the same four events that she has qualifying marks for the regional championships. Former Gold Beach standout Amanda Boice also had a big day in the high jump, taking third place overall with a mark of 5-83⁄4 inches. Former Marshfield High School standout Muriel Roberge competed in the pole vault but ended up no-heighting for the day.

Colorado State University track

Former Brookings-Harbor standout Scott Sanders helped the Colorado State University men’s track and field team finish fifth at the Mountain West Conference Championships last weekend. Sanders ran the 10,000-meter race in a time of 32:35, which earned him a 10th place finish. The Rams will next compete at the Midwest Regional Championships in Lincoln, Neb., on May 30, though Sanders did not qualify for the competition.

Oregon State University crew

Former Myrtle Point High School star Kaylie Towne helped the Oregon State University women’s crew team to sixth place in her event at the recent Pac-10 Championships. The championships featured some of the toughest competition in the country with No. 1 California, No. 4 Washington State and No. 12 USC. Towne, a senior team captain who earned second-team All American honors last season, helped the Varsity 8+ squad to a sixth-place finish. They completed the course in 6 minutes and 52 seconds. The NCAA Championships will be held on May 30, at Rancho Cordova, Calif. Towne also was named to the Pac-10 Scholar Athletes team.

Western Oregon University softball

Former Siuslaw High School standout Miranda Little had a solid season for Western Oregon University’s softball team, which won its first conference title. Little was used as a utility player for the Wolves, who finished the season 33-18 overall, the most single-season wins in the program’s history. She started 15 games and finished the season with a .381 on-base percentage, and made only one error in the field with a .989 fielding percentage. The Wolves won three straight games at the NCAA West Regional Tournament and reached the championship round, before dropping their last two to Humboldt State. Western Oregon finished second in its first-ever NCAA regional appearance.

Western Oregon University baseball

Former Myrtle Point High School star Scott Buche has concluded his first season on the Western Oregon University baseball team. Buche made six appearances for the Wolves, who finished the season 39-19. Buche picked up one win in six total innings of pitching, and also has batted 24 times with three doubles. He hit .333 in his limited outings. Western dropped its two games at the NCAA West Regionals, first a 5-3 loss to UC San Diego followed by a 4-1 defeat to Nebraska-Kearney. Buche did not play in either contest.

Arizona State University tennis

Former North Bend High School star Kelcy McKenna has had a big couple of weeks for the Arizona State University women’s tennis team. In the opening round of the NCAA Tournament, the Sun Devils defeated Sacramento State in dramatic fashion — without losing a single match on the day. McKenna and her doubles partner, Lauren Megale, won their No. 3 doubles match and McKenna also defeated Anastasia Lyssenko in the No. 2 singles match. After the tournament McKenna was one of three Sun Devils to earn Intercollegiate Tennis Association honors. McKenna was name the Wilson/ITA West rookie player of the year, while head coach Sheila McInerney was honored as the West coach of the year and Josh Goffi was named the West assistant coach of the year. But the No. 21 Sun Devils’ season came to an end when they faced Fresno State in the Sweet 16. McKenna and Megale lost their No. 3 doubles match, then McKenna fell to Anastasia Petukhove (6-3, 4-6, 6-1). ASU finished the season with a 15-8 record overall. McKenna then represented ASU in her first NCAA Individual Championship tournament where she matched up with No. 4 seed Maria Mosolova from Northwestern University in the first round. McKenna grabbed the first set 4-6 before Mosolova took the next two, 6-2 and 6-0, for the victory. Mosolova reached the quarterfinals before she was eliminated.

Northwest Conference Championships

Five former South Coast standout athletes recently competed in the Northwest Conference Championships held at George Fox University. Three competed for Willamette University and two others represented Linfield College. Former Siuslaw High School standout Kyle Kotaich had two big performances for Willamette in the middle distance races, taking fourth in the 800 and winning the 1,500-meter race in a time of 3:59.26. He totaled 15 points for the Bearcats. His twin brother Adam also competed for Willamette in the 10,000-meter run, placing 17th overall. Former Myrtle Point High School star Chris Platano also had a solid day taking fifth in the 1,500 and 14th in the 5,000. Two other Siuslaw standouts competed for Linfield College at the championships — Trevor May and Gabe Haberly. May earned a seventh-place finish in the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 16.22. He also competed in the 400 hurdles but did not qualify for the finals. Haberly continued his success in the pole vault, clearing a height of 14-feet and 3⁄4 inch, which was good enough for second place. He also finished 10th in the javelin. Whitworth won the men’s conference title, with Linfield second and Willamette third.