Idaho prep track: Lake City’s Quinn Mitchell wins discus, shot put

Quinn Mitchell can thank an injury for finding the sport that will pay most of his college education.

He also owes a debt of gratitude to Lake City track coach Kelly Reed, who recruited him to be a thrower.

The 6-foot-6, 245-pound Mitchell, who signed last week to continue throwing the discus and shot put at the University of Idaho, captured titles in both events Thursday during the first day of the 5A Region I state-qualifying meet at Coeur d’Alene High.

Mitchell won the shot with a put of 52 feet, 11 inches – a career personal best and 6 inches shy of LC’s record – and he followed it up by throwing the discus 156-7.

“I remember golfing with him and his dad (Jon) when Quinn was in eighth grade,” Reed said. “I told him he looked like he was built like an Olympic thrower as an eighth-grader. He’s so long he can hunt geese with a rake.”

During his freshman basketball season, Mitchell suffered a knee injury requiring surgery. That kept him from turning out for baseball, which he had played for nine years.

Reed kept pursuing him. Finally, Mitchell turned out his sophomore season. He had immediate success, breaking the modest school record (149-10). Earlier this season he extended the mark to 164-4.

5A Region I: The top three individuals and top two relays advance to state.

All the field events were decided Thursday along with three running finals. The rest of the races are this afternoon when the meet concludes at Lewiston.

Lake City’s boys posted 50 points, 12 ahead of CdA and 16 up on favored Lewiston, which will be favored in most of the races today.

Kyler Little played a big role in LC’s good start. He anchored the winning distance relay in a school-record time of 8 minutes, 9.46 seconds, and he won the 3,200 (9:50.38).

He teamed with Alex Ayers, Max Evans and Riley Estes in the distance relay. Later in the 3,200, Little paced himself with the lead pack before building separation with 700 meters to go.

“I have four races in two days, so I was trying to conserve as much energy as possible,” Little said.

Teammate Jake Finney, sidelined for 1 1/2 months with a knee and quad issue, finished third to earn a state berth. It was just the second time he’s done the 3,200.

CdA’s Brian Skinner was a double winner in the long (21-7) and triple jump (42-6½).

In the girls, CdA, expected to run away from the field, put up 56 points, 23 ahead of Post Falls and 27 in front of LC.

CdA’s Josie Brown, nagged by a minor injury lately, had no difficulty taking the 3,200 (11:54.40). Post Falls freshman Ida Mae Grahlman was second (11:56.23).

The best individual feat was put up by Post Falls freshman jumper Melody Kempton.

Kempton, who tied the school’s record in the high jump (5-5, set in 1989) in the first meet of the season, made 5-6 on her first attempt and just tipped the bar with her calf on her second of three misses at 5-7.

After making 5-4 on her first try, she skipped to 5-6.

“There was no sense tiring myself out,” Kempton said. “It’s been frustrating because I’ve been trying to beat 5-5 after the first meet.”

Stephanie Wright of LC won the pole vault (11-3).

4A Region I: The top two individuals and winning relays earn state berths.

Lakeland’s girls had 41.5 points in the meet at CdA, leading Moscow by 7.5 points.

Kathleen Olsen led Lakeland, winning the long jump (15-6).

In the boys, Sandpoint put up 50.5 points, nearly double Moscow (25.5).

Sandpoint finished 1-2-3 in the shot, led by winner Carlos Collado (46-5½)

The Bulldogs also dominated the 3,200 by taking the top six places (for are scored). Jacob Graham led the pack (10:14.54).