Idaho high school track and field preview
5A Inland Empire
State placers
Boys: Chris Baker, Lake City (100 meters, 2nd; 200, 3rd); Jerry Louie-McGee, LC (400, 7th); Kyler Little, LC (3,200, 5th); Jake Finney, LC (3,200, 7th); Zion Stuffle, Lewiston (110 hurdles, 3rd; 300h, state champ); Scott Cummings, LC (pole vault, 7th); Mason Schumaker, Lewiston (triple jump, 5th).
Girls: Maddison Ward, LC (100, 2nd; 200, state champ); Brittany Tackett, CdA (200, 4th); Emily Callahan, CdA (400, 5th); Krista Story, CdA (800, 2nd; 1,600, 7th); Josie Brown, CdA (3,200, 6th); Kaitlyn Gunnerson, CdA (100h, 3rd; 300h, 6th); Megan Ralstin, Lewiston (long jump, 3rd; tj, 5th); Kassie Whitcomb, LC (discus, 3rd); Kasey Widmyer, LC (tj, 7th).
Regional outlook
Lake City’s boys are the runaway favorite, and the Timberwolves could challenge for a top state finish. Lewiston is next followed by CdA and Post Falls. “If everyone stays healthy, the boys could have a shot at the state title,” LC coach Kelly Reed said. “This is maybe the best boys team we’ve ever had.” In the girls, CdA is favored to win a sixth straight title. Following the Vikings will be LC, Lewiston and Post Falls. CdA took third at state last year and will be in the hunt for a trophy again.
4A Inland Empire
State placers
Boys: Matthew Burgstahler, Sandpoint (800, 6th); Sam Levora, Sandpoint (1,600, 2nd; 3,200, 2nd); Grant Kennaly, Sandpoint (hj, 5th; pv, 5th); Alex Lewis, Moscow (lj, 4th; tj, 2nd).
Girls: Lily DeAragon, Sandpoint (200, 5th: 400, 3rd); Mikhaela Woodward, Sandpoint (1,600, 2nd; 3,200, 2nd); Nikole Alamillo, Sandpoint (shot, 6th; discus, state champ).
Regional outlook
Sandpoint’s boys and Moscow’s girls are the defending champs and both are favored this spring.
Intermountain
State placers
Boys: Sam St. Mars, Timberlake (800, 4th); Kyler Rice, Bonners Ferry (hj, 2nd); Jacob Cunningham, Timberlake (hj, 3rd); Ben Austin, Timberlake (300h, 2nd); Preston Rhodes, Timberlake (pv, 3rd); Tyler Badertscher, Timberlake (pv, 4th); Daniel Buck, Timberlake (lj, 4th); Bob Cronnelly (discus, 8th).
Girls: Emily Risoldi-Guy, Kellogg (100, 5th; 200, 2nd); Anna Gardom, Timberlake (200, 4th; 400, state champ); Jasmine James, Kellogg (hj, 3rd); Jill Weimer, Priest River (100h, 5th; hj, 6th); Lily York, BF (pv, 3rd); Kendra Urbaniak, BF (pv, 5th); Amber Trantum, PR (lj, 5th); Natalie Herring, Timberlake (1,600, 7th; 3,200, 7th).
Outlook
The Timberlake boys and girls should continue to rule the IML, and the boys could contend for a state title. The boys were state champs in 2004, ’06 and ’07. They’ve won 11 straight league titles and 45 consecutive duals. Timberlake’s girls, state champs in 2011, have captured six straight IML titles.