CdA girls, Lewiston boys take titles

LEWISTON – Coeur d’Alene coach Linda Lanker couldn’t have designed a better day Friday for her girls track team.

For Lewiston boys coach Keith Stuffle, though, it was equal parts bitter and sweet.

The agony part involved a season-ending injury to his son, Zion, who is arguably the best hurdler in the state and is headed to the University of Idaho. The elation part came in the final event, the 1,600-meter relay, when the Bengals broke a tie with Lake City and earned the first 5A Region I championship since 2008 at Sweeney Track.

CdA’s girls fell five points shy of doubling the field, finishing with 123 points for their fifth straight regional title. Lake City took second (64).

Running for their wounded teammate in the final event, the Bengals boys ended with 93 points, besting LC by two.

Nearly everything the CdA girls touched was golden. Victoria Goetz and Kaitlyn Gunnerson led the way.

Goetz cruised to victory in the 400 (57.83 seconds) and ran legs on the winning 400 relay (49.53) and 1,600 relay (4:01.07).

Gunnerson breezed to wins in the 100 (14.81) and 300 (44.58) hurdles and combined with Goetz on the relays.

“Right now we have about five girls ranked No. 1 in the state (in their events),” said Goetz, who signed with Idaho two weeks ago. “I think we have a really good chance of winning state.”

State is next Friday and Saturday at Dona Larsen Park in Boise.

Another Viking, Kara Story, won the 800 (2:21.90) and 1,600 (5:31.14).

“All season long the girls have stepped up,” Lanker said. “They’re so competitive with each other. Victoria and Kaitlyn and the leaders. They hold the team to a higher standard.”

The only other 5A girls winner Friday was Maddison Ward of Lake City, the defending state champ in the 100 and 200.

Ward, coming off an injury, had no difficulty winning the 100 (12.84) and 200 (26.00). She’s on pace to defend her title in the 100 and three-peat in the 200.

When Zion Stuffle broke from the blocks in the 110 hurdles, he had a feeling he could have a spectacular race.

“It was my strongest start ever,” he said. “I thought I’d be in the low 14s.”

With four hurdles to go, Stuffle blew his right hamstring.

“I came down with my lead leg and then when my trail leg landed I felt it pop,” Stuffle said. “I went from feeling invincible …. Life’s crazy sometimes. I’m just in disbelief.”

By the way, he managed to gut out a win while wincing in pain.

“It’s the worst day possible,” the elder Stuffle said. “The entire season felt like I was living in a bad dream. Our top kids were snake-bit – either injured the entire season or barely came back. And we finally had everybody back and then boom.”

Father and son seemingly played pingpong through the day with raw emotions.

Even without Stuffle in the 300 hurdles, the Bengals went 1-2-3, cutting into LC’s lead and setting up a showdown in the final event.

After the 1,600 relay, LC coach Kelly Reed hugged Keith Stuffle.

“That was a fitting ending,” Reed told Stuffle. “Keith Stuffle is as classy as they are in this sport. For Zion Stuffle to handle all the success and disappointments with grace and dignity – he’s absolutely phenomenal.”

4A Region I: The Sandpoint boys held off Moscow for the title at Lewiston.

Sandpoint finished with 74.5 points, four ahead of Moscow.

In the girls, Moscow captured the title with 82 points. Lakeland (58.5) finished second.

Sandpoint coach Dave Demers credited his team’s depth for the title.

“We swept the shot put and 3,200 (Thursday). That’s what did it,” Demers said. “What’s so exciting was to see the kids respond.”

Sandpoint’s winners Friday were Mark Kennaly in the 800 (2:01.62) and Jacob Graham in the 1,600 (4:38.51).

Mikhaela Woodward was a double winner for Sandpoint, taking the 800 (2:22.28) and 1,600 (5:14.20, a season-best).

It was Woodward’s third regional title in the 1,600.

3A District I: The Timberlake boys and girls claimed team titles at Spirit Lake.

Double-event winners for the Timberlake boys included Brock Herbert (200, 400), Brayden Menti (1,600, 3,200), Jed Ward (110 hurdles, 300 hurdles), Steven Trantham (discus, shot put) and Daniel Buck (long jump, triple jump).

Taylor Hammond led the Timberlake girls with wins in the 800 and 1,600. Kellogg’s Jasmine James claimed the high jump, long jump and triple jump titles.

2A District I-II: The Grangeville boys lead St. Maries by a slim margin after the first day of competition in Lapwai.

The Lumberjacks’ Logan Feasline won the shot put and Austin Gladden claimed the long jump.

The Orofino girls are in first place, followed by Grangeville, Coeur d’Alene Charter and St. Maries.

1A District I-II: The Logos boys and girls are in first place after the first of two days in Lapwai.

The Kootenai girls are in second place, eight points behind Logos.

Kootenai senior Katey Mae McInturff was the pole vault champion and freshman Madison Napierala took second place.