Highland, Pocatello Champions

A-1 track

Idaho’s capital city may be the permanent host of the state high school track and field championships, but the A-1 powers reside for a second straight year in Pocatello.

The Highland boys, who left the field in the starting blocks last year when they won by 80 points, defended their state title, but by a much closer margin. The Rams piled up 76 points to finish ahead of Centennial (72), a runner-up two years in a row. Borah (53) followed in third and Capital (50) took fourth.

Post Falls’ bid for a top-five finish fell short as the Trojans earned 36 points to tie for sixth with Caldwell.

Pocatello’s girls, meanwhile, sprinted to a second straight championship with 117 points. Highland (73) finished a distant second, followed by Boise (58) and Rigby (50).

North Idaho was represented by several placers, but no winners Saturday under ideal conditions at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

Post Falls’ 6-foot-6 senior Darick Pope easily took second in the 110-meter high hurdles as Highland’s Rex Grange zipped to victory.

Grange’s winning time was 14.76 seconds and Pope posted 15.51. The third-place finisher was .49 behind Pope.

Pope praised Grange, conceding he was racing for second.

“Rex had a great race,” Pope said. “He’s real fast out of the blocks and was a full hurdle ahead after the first hurdle. He’s a great runner.

“He was a full second ahead of everybody all year,” added Pope, who failed to qualify in the 300 intermediate hurdles Friday. “Overall I had a decent race. I had a bad start, but that’s always the case for me every race. My speed comes in between the hurdles because I’m so long and lanky.”

After a short break, Pope teamed with Josh Mort, Keith Shepherd and Mike McLean to take fourth in the 800 relay (1:32.41). McLean ran a strong anchor leg to secure the placing.

Post Falls coach Wade Quesnell may not have taken a trophy home, but he left Boise more than pleased.

“We’re definitely not disappointed with our kids’ efforts,” Quesnell said. “We’ll take (tied for sixth) and the record of (Ian) Waltz home.”

Quesnell was alluding to the statemeet record Waltz set Friday in the discus. Many attending the meet Saturday were still talking about Waltz’s 203-foot, 9-inch toss, a mark that will likely stand for years to come.

First-time state qualifier Bryce Knight of Lake City became the first Timberwolf to earn a state medal by capturing third in the 800 in a time of 1:56.97. It was a personal best by nearly 2 seconds.

“That’s kind of neat,” Knight, a junior, said when told of his place in LC history. “I hadn’t thought about that.”

Knight attributed his performance to being fresh.

“I was nervous, very nervous, but I didn’t have to run Friday so I felt good,” he said.

Lewiston senior sprinter Josh Raymond had to scratch from the 100 final after pulling a hamstring during his preliminary Friday. Raymond pulled the muscle halfway in the prelim, but gutted out a second-place finish to qualify for the final. He had to scratch from the 200 preliminary and 400 relay.

Other medal winners Saturday from the Panhandle were: Sandpoint’s Amber Lauritzen (fourth, 100, 13.0); Coeur d’Alene freshman Brenda Nipp (fifth, 400, 1:00.98); the Sandpoint girls 400 relay (fifth, 51.03); and in the 1,600, Sandpoint’s Chris Blood (fourth, 4:28.67) and Coeur d’Alene’s Chris Cole (sixth, 4:31.09).

Centennial’s Billy Herman won the fast-paced 1,600 in 4:23.3, nearly 4 seconds ahead of teammate Justin Atkins.

The Highland boys were represented by three individual victories, a winning relay and 10 other placers.

Pocatello’s girls won seven events and had five runner-up finishes.