Titles Find Home On Lakeland Track

Prep track

Is there such a thing as home-track advantage?

Lakeland head coach Lee Libera may become a believer as his boys and girls teams claimed titles at the A-2 District I-II meet held Saturday at Lakeland’s Corbit field in Rathdrum.

The Lakeland boys edged Moscow 166.5-154 points for the team title. St. Maries finished a distant third with 76.5.

The girls meet was even closer as Lakeland edged Moscow 128.5-120. Bonners Ferry, expected to be in the thick of things, placed third with 84 points.

Facing what most coaches thought to be one of the tightest fields in recent years, Lakeland used a combination of superior depth and key individual performances to hold off the Moscow Bears. Moscow finished second in both boys and girls competitions.

Libera would be the first to admit that he didn’t really expect a sweep by his Hawks, who have had to battle injuries to key athletes in recent weeks.

“That was a complete surprise,” Libera said. “But we competed really well today. We had a good week at practice and at districts - sometimes you never know. I can’t think of anyone who didn’t do as well or better as planned.

“Our field-event people just did excellent. Coach Mike Normand has done a great job with those kids.”

The top three finishers in each event and first-place relay teams qualified for the Idaho A-2 State meet to be held next Friday and Saturday in Boise. In addition, there could be at-large berths available to top finishers.

BOYS

The boys meet went pretty much as expected.

Lakeland, behind strong performances by seniors Jim Noble and John Bierne, dominated the field events and held off a strong showing by Moscow in the distances.

Noble picked up firsts in the high jump, long jump, and the triple jump, and ran a leg on Lakeland’s second-place 400-meter relay team.

Noble, shooting for a school record in the high jump, missed on all three attempts at 6 feet, 4 1/2 inches.

“I really wanted that (the record) today, too,” Noble said. “I just cut my legs off as soon as I jumped.

“There’s still state, though,” Noble said, referring to the six chances he’ll get to break the record in Boise. “All it takes is one jump.”

Bierne, despite nursing a sore hamstring he injured in practice Thursday, outdueled a tough field in the weights to pick up firsts in the shot and discus. He also ran a leg on the 400 relay. Bierne threw for a personal best in the shot at 52-11, but was not extremely pleased with his overall effort.

“I just didn’t have a very good day. I just had a bad release,” Bierne said. “I threw a couple of 160s (discus) in warmups and hopefully, I’m saving my best for state.”

As expected, Tony Smith led Moscow with wins in the 800 and 1,600-meter runs and anchored a leg on a winning relay team.

Smith, sporting scrapes and bruises suffered Friday in a bicycle accident, had a chance to try for a fourth first-place finish but elected to bypass the 3,200 to rest himself for his other events.

GIRLS

Lakeland really took advantage of its depth. The Hawks only picked up four first-places on the day to Moscow’s eight, but picked up most of their points off of second and third-place finishes to edge the Bears.

Lakeland’s Amber Jamison was one of four double winners, placing first in the long jump and the triple jump.

The meet’s other double winners were Moscow’s Melissa Mills in the shot and discus, Bonners Ferry’s April Near in the 110 and 300 hurdles, and Moscow’s Brandi Becker in the 100 and 200.

Lakeland’s Teresa Viebrock had another outstanding day, placing in four events, including a first in the high jump.

Libera was also pleased with the effort of freshman Sarah DeBoer, who qualified for the state meet in all four of her events.

“I didn’t know if she’d make it in all four, but I thought she’d have a shot,” Libera said. “She’s worked real hard.

A-3

A pair of Wallace athletes earned invitations to state in the District I-II meet at Kamiah High School.

Miners junior Dana Streeter captured the 100 in 13.2 seconds, while junior Mike LaBau took second in the shot put (42-10 1/2).

A-4

The Deary girls dethroned District I-II champion Falls Christian Academy in the District I-II meet at Kamiah High School.

Deary posted 97 points to runnerup FCA’s 94. Kootenai finished third with 92.

The North Star League will send several athletes to state, which will be held Friday and Saturday at Boise State University.

FCA’s Ami Millsap took first in the 100 hurdles (18.4) and Becky Straw zipped to victory in the 100 (13.2). Straw also ran anchoring legs on the winning 400 (54.7) and 800 (1:53.2) relays.

Kootenai’s Annie Goodson took first in the 200 (27.3).

Highland’s boys captured the regional title with 122 points. Troy was second with 76 and Lakeside took third with 47.

Leading Lakeside was Brendon Nelson, who took first in the high jump (6-1) and second in the triple jump. Lakeside also had wins in the 400 (47.8) and 800 (1:39.5) relays.

Clark Fork’s Mike Gow was victorious in the 400 (52.9), Mullan’s Greg Reed took the triple jump (39-3 1/2) and Kootenai’s Dan Usdrowski prevailed in the 300 hurdles (43.2).