Lake City boys 2 points short of title

BOISE – The Lake City High boys track team will wonder what could have been for some time to come.

More specifically, senior long-distance ace John Coyle will wonder what happened as the 5A portion of the state meet wrapped up Friday night at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

The Lake City boys captured second, the first trophy in the program’s 14-year history, as the Timberwolves finished with 73 points, two behind Eagle.

To Coyle’s credit, he owned up to falling short of state expectations. He had a couple of flat tires Thursday in the 3,200 meters where he stumbled in 10th, two spots out of scoring.

He came back later Thursday, though, to anchor the winning medley relay. But on Friday, he struggled, taking second in the 800 (1 minute, 57.62 seconds), which he won last year, and third in the 1,600 (4:24.75) – one place down from a year ago.

“My team put a lot of pressure on me to come through for them and I didn’t do it,” Coyle said just after his final event, the 1,600. “I have no one to blame but myself. Whatever place we get – if it’s first that’s great and it means some guys stepped up and made up for me. If it’s not, I’m going to probably think for the rest of my life what if I wouldn’t have tanked and what would we have got then.”

Lake City coach Kelly Reed was overjoyed for his team.

“There were some couldas and shouldas, but they didn’t happen,” Reed said. “I’m unbelievably proud of their effort. We got a ton of points from guys that maybe we didn’t expect to get points from. I thought we competed our guts out. Sure, first would have been awesome, but to never (earn) a trophy and be two points away – and then leading going into the last event…”

There were so many “what ifs” for LC, including a photo finish in the 1,600 relay in which Eagle slipped past Centennial at the tape. Had Centennial won, Eagle and LC would have tied for first.

LC junior hurdler Tanner Schalk had a big hand in the T-Wolves’ runner-up finish. He captured a state title in the 300 hurdles (39.46) and took third in the 110 hurdles (15.32).

“I just went out there and ran like I did the whole year,” Schalk said of the victory. “I wasn’t nervous. I didn’t think about anything. I just ran my race.”

“He’s such a great kid, competitor,” Reed said of Schalk. “He works so hard.”

It was a tight team race as it turned out. Four-time champ Borah and Capital tied for third (67). Lewiston finished two points out of a trophy.

In the 5A girls, Borah crushed the field with 133.5 while runner-up Centennial finished with 60. Region I champ Coeur d’Alene was tenth (37).

4A

Lakeland’s girls – behind tiny mite Camille Reynolds – captured fourth with 62 points. Rigby was the runaway winner as it defended its title with 126.

Moscow’s boys, meanwhile, pulled out the team championship by finishing second in the final event, the 1,600 relay. The Bears ended with 75 points, edging Jerome by a point.

Reynolds, a junior, was involved in three victories – two of her own and on the 1,600 relay (4:03.13).

Reynolds captured the 100 (12.77) and came back later to win the 300 hurdles (46.27). She teamed with a pair of freshmen, Latecia Howell and Blythe Jones, and junior Kari Rucker to win the 1,600 relay.

“I always wanted to be a state champion,” Reynolds said. “It”s just so amazing to win (three events). The 100 I didn’t expect and the 300 hurdles, this year is my first year doing them. I didn’t think I’d even qualify for state. This is so amazing.”

Lakeland senior Jake Price captured gold in the 400 (50.70), breaking a 26-year-old school record by a tenth.

“I didn’t think a state title was a possibility earlier in the year,” Price said. “I was thinking early in the year I’d be lucky if I went to state. I didn’t have good times and I didn’t feel strong enough.”

Dan Mosman led Moscow with a win in the 110 hurdles (15.11).