Lakeland Has Lead For Now Hawks Won’t Be In Running When It Starts

The Lakeland High School boys track team took the first-day lead in the State A-2 meet Friday at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

But Lakeland coach Lee Libera knows the lead won’t last more than a race or two this morning when the majority of the running finals are held.

“We’re winning until the running starts,” said a smiling Libera, who pointed out that the state meet includes track and field.

Lakeland posted 36 points, 26 of which came in field events. Emmett stood in second with 26, followed by Preston (23) and Jerome (22).

Emmett’s girls, meanwhile, tallied 31 points to take the early lead. Kuna (28), Vallivue (23) and Moscow (22) round out the top four.

Lakeland senior John Bierne led a strong North Idaho showing in the throwing events. He took first in the shot put and fourth in the discus.

He put the shot 51 feet, 6 inches (143-10 in the discus) to finish ahead of Kevin Carey of Bonners Ferry (second, 49-7) and Jeremy Warren of Priest River (third, 48-2).

Bonners Ferry’s Jeff High is an example that good things do work out for those who may have suffered an injustice.

High and Vallivue’s Shawn Tidwell both threw 150-10 in the discus, but High was declared the state champion because he had the second-best throw by 6 feet.

High thought he won last year when his final throw apparently vaulted him into first by a foot. But an official ultimately ruled that his throw landed out of bounds.

Asked if the gusty wind bothered him Friday, High said, “Obviously it didn’t affect me because that’s the best I’ve ever thrown. I’ve never thrown 150 before.”

It was a personal best by nearly 4 feet.

“I really didn’t care if I won, I just wanted to throw 150,” High said.

Lakeland senior Jim Noble supported Bierne off the track with second in the triple jump (42-11) and third in the long jump (21-2). But Noble was disappointed because he was considered a favorite to win both events.

“My legs just felt heavy all day,” said Noble, who also struggled in the high jump to clear 6-0, a relatively routine height before Friday.

Teammate Todd Bruce took second in the 3,200 as he trimmed 2 seconds off his own school record (9:48.32). Kyle Fullmer of Snake River won in a time of 9:45.29.

It hasn’t been a spring to remember for Lakeland senior Teresa Viebrock. A bout with mononucleosis sidelined her early in the season, and she never got back to 100 percent.

Then on Wednesday during Lakeland’s final practice before leaving for state, Viebrock pulled her left hamstring.

Viebrock, a multiple medal winner at state the past three years, tried to do the long and high jumps Friday but was hampered by the injury.

Lakeland coach Lee Libera scratched Viebrock from the 200 and she won’t run on the Hawks’ 400 relay today.

“She tried to jump and that’s all you can ask,” Libera said. “She just couldn’t do it.”

Moscow’s Melissa Mills picked up where former throws standout Heather Owen left off. Mills captured the shot put with a throw of 37-10. Teammate Lisa Scholz (35-1) took third, Kellogg’s Alicia Derbyshire (34-11) fourth and Lakeland’s Cora Christensen (34-1) sixth.

Amber Jamison of Lakeland took third in the triple jump (33-8) and Jaimie Garten of Bonners Ferry was fifth (33-7).

Jamison added a second medal, finishing fifth in the long jump (16-2). Priest River’s Missy Ennis took fifth in the high jump (5-0).

State A-3/A-4

Dana Streeter collected a gold medal in the long jump and will be out to add at least one more today.

Streeter’s gold came in impressive fashion. She leaped a season-best 17-5.

Asked what inspired a 1-foot improvement, Streeter said summed it up in a word: competition.

“It brings out the best in me,” she said. “It’s a real surprise, though. I didn’t expect to win. The (100) hurdles is what I wanted to win.”

Streeter will be out to defend her title this morning.

Other top efforts from North Idaho athletes were:

Falls Christian’s Sarah Peterson took second in the triple jump (34-4); Kootenai’s Annie Goodson was second in the high jump (5-2); and the Clark Fork boys medley relay took third (3:45.43).

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Greg Lee Staff writer Lakeland has lead for now Hawks won’t be in running when it starts -“My legs just felt heavy all day.” Jim Noble, Lakeland senior