Kamiakin girls, CV boys win Strandberg
The Central Valley girls track team met its equal Saturday at the Strandberg Relays.
Featuring quantity and quality, three-time defending State 3A champion Kamiakin posted 175 points to capture the event at CV on a gorgeous afternoon.
CV took second with 139. Coeur d’Alene, with a handful of competitors, took third (92).
“They’re one of the best teams in the state and have been the last four, five years,” CV girls coach Geoff Arte said. “So for us to be around them is rarified air.”
The Stapleton sisters led Kamiakin. Andrea took first in the high jump (5 feet, 6 inches) and Allison was second (5-2); Allison captured the triple jump (37-6) and Andrea was second (36-5); and Allison took first in the long jump (17-6) and Andrea was third (17-3¼). Sandwiched in between in the long jump for the Braves was Lindsey Schauble (17-4).
“We’ve been here before years ago and we just love to get to see kids we never compete against,” Kamiakin coach Cheryl Schauble said. “We had a ton of PRs. And this was good for us to be on the bus with regionals up here so we could see what bus legs are like.”
Kearan Nelson and Briegan Bester led CV. Nelson won the 800 meters (2:17.79) and Bester took the 1,600 (5:09.44).
CdA’s Kaitlyn Gunnerson had a terrific day, surging to a personal best in winning the 100 hurdles (14.67) and another best in the 300 hurdles (44.05) behind winner Heath Donais (43.24) of Kamiakin.
Gunnerson anchored the winning 1,600 relay, taking the baton behind Donais and outsprinted her as the Vikings broke their school record (3:56.96).
“I felt really prepared,” Gunnerson said. “I knew I had to stay on her tail (Donais) and I would get her. It was nice to have competition.”
Lewis and Clark freshman Anna Rodgers continued to impress, winning the 100 (12.14) and 200 (24.96). She also anchored the winning 400 relay (1:43.32).
“On the relay we finally got our handoffs down,” Rodgers said.
In the boys, CV won with 120 points and Chiawana was second (84).
The best races of the day came in the boys 100 and 200 where Rogers’ Khalil Winfrey and Chiawana’s Dre Dorton had photo finishes.
Winfrey put up a personal best to win the 100 (10.74) while Dorton (21.84) edged Winfrey (21.85) in the 200.
“All I’ve been working on is my starts (in the 100) and my drive phase,” Winfrey said. “You have to stay low out of the blocks and use your arms and core.”
Ben Craig led CV, winning the 110 hurdles (14.51) and leading a 1-2-3-4 CV finish in the high jump.
“The thing I love about it is we get so busy working it (the meet) and I turn around and see the kids do so well and celebrating and it’s a great feeling,” CV boys coach Chuck Bowden said. “We’re not coaching them like we would every invite or other meet. It was a really good day and we weren’t nearly loaded like we could have been.”