Post Falls Dominates A-1 Region Trojans Boys, Girls Easy Victors At State-Qualifying Meet

Two words summarized the A-1 Region I track meet Saturday at Lake City High School: Post and Falls.

It was a given that the Post Falls boys team would be unchallenged at the state-qualifying meet, but what was surprising was how easy the team title came to the Post Falls girls.

Both the Trojan boys and girls lapped their opponents under sunkissed skies, the boys tallying 126.5 points to runner-up Lake City’s 77 and the girls posting 139.5 to Sandpoint’s 93.5.

Rounding out the boys team scoring were Sandpoint (65), Lewiston (55.5) and Coeur d’Alene (50). Completing the girls meet were Lewiston (50), Coeur d’Alene (42) and Lake City (28).

The top two individual finishers in each event advance to state, which will be held Friday and Saturday at Boise State University. The winning relay teams will also go to state. Several other relays and some third-place individuals may earn at-large berths to state.

The extra berths will be determined today at a meeting in Boise.

BOYS

Several athletes contributed to Post Falls’ win. But none was as impressive as Ian Waltz.

Waltz, who seemingly has had personal bests at every meet this spring, outdid himself Saturday.

Equally impressive was the exactness of his marks Saturday. The Washington State University-bound thrower put the shot 63 feet (eclipsing his previous best of 61-5) and hurled the discus 196 feet (nearly 14 feet farther than his previous best of 182-10).

Waltz didn’t fuss with inches or fractions of inches.

“I’ve been waiting for a day like this all year, really, especially in the shot,” Waltz said. “I had been throwing 190 in the discus in practice, so it was just a matter of doing it in a meet. My concern was the shot.”

Both marks would have easily broken state-meet records (62-6 in shot, 188-1 in discus).

Waltz and his coach, Dan Nipp, think there’s plenty more length from which Saturday’s throws came.

“We’re peaking him for state,” Nipp said of Waltz’s training schedule that calls for one last weightlifting practice on Monday before he tapers off. “We really worked hard on the weights last week. Realistically he should throw better next weekend.”

Post Falls scored points all over the track and field.

“They had everything covered,” Sandpoint coach Tom Albertson said.

Post Falls hurdler Darick Pope collected wins in the 110-meter highs (15.4 seconds) and 300 intermediates (40.1). He also ran a leg on the winning 800 relay (1:31.5) with Josh Mort, Mike McLean and Keith Shepherd.

Trojan Tim Cudmore, who won the long jump on Friday, came back to take the triple jump with a leap of 42-2.

Lewiston sprinter Josh Raymond was a four-event winner. He clocked 10.9 to win the 100 and 22.7 to capture the 200 before anchoring winning efforts in the 400 (44.3) and 1,600 (3:31.8) relays.

Other noteworthy victories were: Preston Martin of Sandpoint in the 800 (1:58.3); Sean Coyle of LC in the pole vault (12-3); Brian Trenholm of Sandpoint in the 400 (50.6); and Chris Cole of CdA in the 1,600 (4:34.8).

GIRLS

Three seniors - Shannon Olson, Willow Stutzke and Christina Finney - appropriately helped lead the Trojans to a fourth straight regional title.

The trio has played an instrumental role on the last four title teams.

Olson took first in the 1,600 (5:36.3) and second in the 800 (2:27.0) after winning the 3,200 the night before. Stutzke ran the opening leg on the winning 800 relay (1:50.3). Finney finished runner-up to Olson in the 3,200.

“It would be difficult to point out the individuals who did well because we had so many kids get PRs (personal records),” Post Falls coach Wade Quesnell said. “What I feel good about is our wins were not against weak opponents. We beat some quality athletes. Area boys and girls in the last few weeks have really stepped it up.”

While the Trojans were getting much-needed points from their veterans, junior standout Shannon Siverson came through with three wins and a second.

Siverson followed up a win in the long jump Friday with victories in the 100 hurdles (16.0) and triple jump (34-4) and a second in the high jump (4-10).

Another standout was Sandpoint sprinter Amber Lauritzen.

Heavily favored in the sprints, Lauritzen didn’t disappoint with wins in the 100 (12.9) and 200 (26.7). She ran a leg on the winning medley relay on Friday and followed that up with a leg on the winning 400 relay (51.9) Saturday.

Other individual wins of note were: CdA freshman Brenda Nipp in the 400 (1:01.9); Sandpoint’s Saskia Neher in the 800 (2:25.6); Post Falls Jessi Downs in the shot (36-5); and Meghan Collins of Sandpoint in the 300 hurdles (49.1).