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Coming
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North Beach's Peter Fry, left, and Devin Timpson each have a Class 1A
long jump title.
SANDY SUMMERS/Yakima Herald-Republic
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With Fry sidelined, Timpson made sure state long jump title
stayed at North Beach
By
SCOTT SPRUILL
YAKIMA HERALD-REPUBLIC
North Beach's Peter Fry is a good nine inches taller, 50 pounds heavier and
two years older than his teammate Devin Timpson.
But they share an athletic achievement that is as unlikely as it is tragic.
The 6-foot-4 Fry has been a football-basketball-track star at North Beach, a
small school on the coast near Ocean Shores, since his freshman year. He's a
two-time league MVP in basketball and his team-high 17-point scoring average
is a big reason the Hyaks survived three straight loser-out district games
last week to get here.
Two years ago as a sophomore, when North Beach was Class B, Fry parlayed his
strength and agility into a state title in the triple jump and he had
designs on finishing his prep career with three such victories.
But last year, less than a month into his junior track season, Fry suffered
a broken leg while long jumping. It was a horrifying injury -- his left
tibia and fibula were broken and sports were supposed to be out of the
question for at least a year.
"I did it on a bad takeoff board and my leg just snapped," Fry said
Wednesday. "I had all my speed and power going and I just collasped into the
sand. It was pretty bad." So bad that a titanium rod -- which remains
clearly noticeable under his skin -- was inserted in his leg to help it heal
properly.
Fry was obviously unable to defend his triple jump title. So Timpson did it
for him.
Just a freshman last year, the speedy 5-foot-7 guard basically came out of
nowhere in the hop, step and jump. Heading to state with a modest best of
only 41 feet, Timpson exploded to 44-7 3/4 on his last jump and overtook
Zillah's Andy Collins for the win. His stunning mark was not only a school
record but the state's fourth-best ever for ninth-graders.
"I really don't know where that came from," said Timpson, who carries a 3.97
grade-point average. "I guess I hit my perfect jumps at the perfect time."
Wobbling around on crutches, Fry coached his protege through last season.
"We have completely different styles -- he's low and fast and I use more
legs," said Fry, whose father, Denny, still holds the school record in the
800 meters. "It was great watching him win state. I laid the foundation for
him."
It's doubtful the two will have a head-to-head showdown for the triple jump
title this spring. While Fry recovered quickly over the summer and was
permitted to play football, he has played all basketball season with the rod
in his leg. The rod will be removed next month and the idea driving his leg
into another takeoff board makes Fry wince.
"We'll see. I'd like to, but the jumps put a lot of pressure on the legs,"
he said. "Plus I want to get as healthy as I can for college football." Fry,
a two-time all-state wide receiver, hopes to play at Western Washington,
Whitworth or Eastern Oregon.
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2003 All photos, content and design are
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