5A track preview
Coeur d’Alene Vikings
Coach: Tim Burnside
Top returners: Boys – Scott Lind, senior, sprints/relays; Lucas Pope, sr., pole vault/hurdles; Jake Rhodes, junior, s/r; Austin Brown, sophomore, pv/hur; Lloyd Steele, jr., distances. Girls – Anna Stone, jr., dist; Kristin Palmer, sr., middle distances; Chelsea Lawhead, soph., s/r; Katie Woodard, sr., throws.
Top newcomers: Boys – Travis Ewert, freshman, jumps; Justin Goodwin, fr., s/r. Girls – Jamie Myers, sr., s/r.
Outlook: Coeur d’Alene’s boys and girls lack the quality and proven depth to challenge Lake City and Lewiston. Pope will challenge for a state title in the pole vault. The girls will be led by distance standouts Stone and Palmer.
Lake City Timberwolves
Coach: Kelly Reed
Top returners: Boys – Kyle Ferebee, sr., s/r; Chris Delport, sr., s/r; Robert Glasson, sr., s/r; Wilson Bowlby, jr., s/r; Patrick VanHoose, sr., j; Luke Bryan, sr., dist; Mike Vickhammer, sr., t; Dave Bobbitt, sr., t. Girls – Kristi Holte, sr., j/s; Jamie Tart, sr., t; Arica Johnson, jr., h/s; Andrea Bordelon, soph., high jump; Brenna Lawson, jr., pv/s/r; Hailey Meyer, jr., mdist/sprints; Emma Hawn, soph., s/r.
Top newcomers: Boys – Logan Frederickson, fr., dist; B.J. Palmer, soph., s/r. Girls – Kendall Watts, soph., hur/s; Lauren Ong, fr., hur/s.
Outlook: The Lake City boys and girls are the defending 5A Region I champs, and for them to repeat they’ll have to stave off serious challenges from Lewiston. LC’s girls have had a terrific run at state the past four years, finishing second, first, first and second in that order. They were just 31/2 points shy of capturing three straight titles last year in a season they were supposed to be down. They could challenge for a state trophy again, but all the returners and then some will have to contribute. LC’s boys also could contend for a state trophy.
Lewiston Bengals
Coach: Keith Stuffle
Top returners: Boys – Matt Grogan, sr., hur/s/r; Dominic Schmidt, jr., s/r; Brooks Reynolds, sr., s/r; David Blinn, sr., s/r; Cody Hays, soph., t; Ryan Bowen, soph., j; Jeremy Kinzer, sr., hj; Derek Cooper, sr., s/r. Girls – Kacy Wessels, jr., s/r; Jayme Doeringsfeld, jr., s/r; Mariah DeBacker, soph., r; Vickie Hokenson, soph., dist; Danielle Hanbey, sr., dist; Krystal Griggs, sr., t.
Top newcomers: Boys – Andy Perez, soph., s/r; Emerson Follett, jr., s/r. Girls – AshLee Rey, sr., s/mdist/r; Janie Perez, soph., hur/s; Sandy Martin, fr., r/mdist/j.
Outlook: LC snapped the Lewiston boys’ stranglehold on regional titles last year, but the Bengals are poised to return to the top behind a solid corps of sprinters. The big news, though, is Lewiston’s girls, who have historically struggled, could threaten LC’s regional dominance . That’s what the addition of a talented transfer can do. Senior AshLee Rey, who led Priest River to a 3A state title last year, will do big things for the Bengals. Stuffle, an Orofino grad, takes over for longtime coach Wade Hillman, who retired from teaching but has stayed on as assistant coach.