LC boys, CdA girls lead the way

Despite a 30-minute suspension because of lightning – and considering the forecast earlier in the week called for Noah-like conditions – the Idaho 5A and 4A Region I track meets got underway with expected results Friday afternoon at Coeur d’Alene.

The Lake City boys and Coeur d’Alene girls were tabbed as heavy favorites, and they didn’t disappoint in the first of two state-qualifying days. The final running finals will be held today at Lewiston’s Vollmer Bowl.

The LC boys and CdA girls are expected to confirm their dominance today.

Lake City’s 800-meter relay team, featuring seniors Chris Baker, Nathan Newby and Rikki McCaw and junior Jerry Louie-McGee, cruised to victory in a time of 1 minute, 29.51 seconds. They ran an intelligent and swift race, not pushing the envelope and understanding it’s better to be safe and qualify for state than be sorry and do something to crazy. They’ll be among the favorites to win a state title next week when the state meet is held at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.

The top three individuals and top two relays in 5A earn state berths. The top two individuals and winning relays advance to state in 4A.

In the boys, LC has 59.5 points and is followed by Lewiston (31.5). In the girls, CdA has 45 and is followed by Lewiston (37.5).

LC junior Kyler Little ran by himself in the 3,200. He won in 9:40.32 – 38 seconds ahead of the runner-up.

The Timberwolves’ distance relay – which consists of four 800 segments – took first (8:15.68) behind Little, Jake Finney, Marcus Ross and Max Evans.

“The weather was a lot better than anybody anticipated, but the wind played a significant role,” LC coach Kelly Reed said.

Meet officials used runways for the boys and girls long jump and triple jump that ran away from the wind, not into it.

The CdA girls, meanwhile, swept the first three places in the 3,200. Freshman Caitlyn Conway won (11:43.71).

The Story twins, Krista and Kara, teamed with Noelle Ball and Jaycee Rade to win the distance relay (10:05.68) for CdA.

CdA coach Linda Lanker took sprinter Victoria Goetz out of the 100 and 200 and put her in the 800 relay, and the move paid off as Goetz, Carmen Duffy, Emily Callahan and Brittany Tackett beat LC for the first time, finishing in 1:44.84 – a season best by nearly 3 seconds.

Goetz will run in two more relays and the 400.

“She can win a state title in the 400,” Lanker said.

In 4A, the Sandpoint boys (46) and girls (35) were in front.

Sam Levora led Sandpoint by winning the 3,200 (9:46.01) while Mikhaela Woodward of Sandpoint was a runaway winner in the 3,200 (11:47.54).

3A District I

As expected, the Timberlake boys and girls cruised to championships Friday at Spirit Lake.

The Timberlake boys finished with 150 points, outdistancing runner-up Bonners Ferry (62). It was Timberlake’s 12th straight district title.

“We got everybody through we expected to get through and had no major mishaps,” Tigers coach Brian Kluss said.

“We put ourselves in position to be a trophy team at state.”

Quinton Reese led Timberlake with wins in the 100 (11.56) and 200 (23.72). Teammate Preston Rhodes won the 400 (52.17) and pole vault (14-2).

The Tigers’ girls finished with 100 points while Kellogg was second with 64.

Emily Risoldi-Guy led Kellogg with wins in the 100 (12.88) and 200 (26.89).