CdA sweeps IEL track championships

It’s no wonder it was a record-setting day Friday at the sun-splashed Inland Empire League track championships.

Running under a 70-degree temperature with wind out of the west for the sprints, athletes broke nine records and tied one at Lake City.

Coeur d’Alene’s boys and girls captured team championships.

The Viking boys piled up 170 points, outdistancing runner-up Post Falls (107.5). Moscow took third (102). The Vikings girls finished with 143.5 points and Post Falls was second with 101. Moscow captured third (97).

LC’s Chris Baker, a junior, continued to surge in the 100- and 200-meter races, winning in wind-assisted times of 10.86 seconds and 22.33, respectively. Both broke meet records. He was named the meet’s outstanding male athlete.

He also ran the anchor leg on the winning 800 relay with Rhet Damschen and brothers Tucker and Jerry Louie-McGee. Their time was 1:32.41.

Baker did track last year, but his season was cut short when he suffered a hip flexor coming out of the blocks. He’s practicing only twice a week and seeing measurable drops in his times.

“I have a lot more endurance, a lot more energy,” Baker said. “I had no idea I’d do this well.”

LC coach Kelly Reed wonders if it might be a formula that should be used by all sprinters.

“We knew he was fast, but the last two weeks have been amazing,” Reed said.

Makenzie Baker led CdA to the team title. He soared to personal bests in the long and triple jumps. He won with a leap of 22 feet, 4 inches in the long, 5 inches off the school record and tying the meet record, and 43-0 in the triple jump, also a meet mark. Baker, a senior, also ran a leg on the winning 400 relay with Gunnar Amos, Addison Johnson and Anthony Dalhmeimer to win in a meet record of 43.66.

Samuel Lee also had a big day for CdA. He prevailed in the 110 (15.08) and 300 hurdles (41.39) and won the high jump (6-2).

In the girls, Post Falls senior Wednesday Walton was a triple winner in the 100 hurdles (14.94), 300 hurdles (46.16) and 400 (1:00.72) as she broke meet records in all three events.

Maddison Ward of LC was a double winner in the 100 (12.57) and 200 (26.42). She teamed with Meaghan Bare, Camryn Wendlendt and Leanne Asper to win the 800 relay (1:46.37).

Post Falls junior Brenna Meehan had a breakout day in the long jump, leaping 17-2 to win.

The other meet records were Victoria Goetz, Kaitlyn Gunnerson, Emily Callahan and Jaycee Rade of CdA in the 1,600 relay (4:07.95) and Jordan Ward of Lakeland in the high jump (5-5).