Greg Lee

If familiarity means anything, Heather Gollnick would be the odds-on favorite to capture the Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene women's professional title today. Gollnick is the lone returning top placer in the previous two Ironman events at Coeur d'Alene. She won the inaugural race in 2003 and followed up with a runner-up finish in 2004. The event was a men's pro only race last year.

It's likely that when Heather Gollnick splashes into Lake Coeur d'Alene for the start of Ford Ironman Coeur d'Alene early Sunday morning, she won't be thinking about who she has to beat. Most likely, Gollnick's thoughts will be about her three children back home in Bradenton, Fla., who couldn't accompany Mom this time because of their various summer activities.

Jessie DePell had to be true to herself. She figures she's a small-school girl for life. The Freeman High multisport standout had opportunities to play college basketball at NCAA Division I schools, including close to home at Eastern Washington University. But the prospect of going to a smaller school and being near family eventually were the deciding factors in her choosing Montana Tech, an NAIA Division I school in Butte, Mont.

They discovered their athletic calling, perfected it at the high school level and now will receive a mostly-paid-for college education to compete for another four years. If things go as well athletically in college as they did in high school, perhaps the next dreams for Adam Hall of Bonners Ferry and Kayla Stiegemeier of Lakeland could open a door to an Olympic opportunity. Both desire as much.

BOISE – Kootenai girls track coach Shannon LaFountaine dashed down the cement stairs from the first concourse at Boise State University's Bronco Stadium and out the north gate looking for Darcy Collins. LaFountaine was seeking to console Collins, who had just done something other than win in her final event of a gold-laced career. But the coach also wanted to make sure that Collins understood that by finishing second in the 200 meters she had clinched the Warriors' fifth consecutive State 1A track and field championship Saturday afternoon.

BOISE – Post Falls High track coach Wade Quesnell came to the State 4A meet not expecting much. So imagine his bliss in carting home two team trophies before the school moves to 5A next year. The Trojans girls captured second behind champion Moscow, and the Trojans boys took fourth as the State 4A and 5A meets concluded Friday evening at Boise State University's Bronco Stadium.

After every state championship game at Idaho high school tournaments, the coach of the runner-up team is handed a microphone and shares a few words about his team's season before handing out medals to his players. Following that speech, the microphone is handed to the coach of the state champion.

The Timberlake High boys track team suffered a minor hiccup on its way to a fourth straight 3A District I championship Saturday afternoon. It's nothing that should get in the way of the Tigers' pursuit of a state title next week, though.

Forgive Lake City High softball pitcher Stephanie Saadoun if she's felt like the other pitcher in town this season. For a while midway through the year, Saadoun also felt like the other pitcher on her team.

Sandpoint High senior Joey Lovell has had a bad case of senioritis this spring. He shook off the "ailment" Wednesday afternoon, capturing his first 4A Region I boys medalist title and qualifying for state for a fourth time by knocking off Moscow freshman Chris Williams in a one-hole playoff under sunny skies at Prairie Falls Golf Club in Post Falls.

Jenna DeLong did something she's never done before Tuesday afternoon. The Coeur d'Alene High junior pitcher chomped on a piece of gum from opening pitch to final pitch. It seemed appropriate, as things turned out, considering DeLong chewed up Lake City's hitters, too. Coeur d'Alene captured its fifth consecutive 5A Region I softball championship by blanking the Timberwolves 2-0 at CdA.

Early in the season, Coeur d'Alene High baseball coach Brian Holgate thought his team was capable of earning a berth to the state tournament. The problem, Holgate said, is his team got caught up talking too much about it.

Kaitie Poston broke the magical 150-foot barrier in the discus earlier this week. The Bonners Ferry High junior throwing standout was out to prove that the eye-popping effort wasn't a gas-aided heave Thursday afternoon at the seventh annual District I Meet of Champions at Post Falls High School.