Trojans Unfazed By Pertussis Scare

All things considered, Wednesday turned out to be a good day for the Post Falls High boys and girls track teams.

The Trojans boys swept a pair of Inland Empire League dual meets, topping Coeur d’Alene 88-57 and slipping past Sandpoint 75-71 at the Post Falls track.

The Trojans girls split, easily knocking off Sandpoint 72-58 but falling to Coeur d’Alene 79-60.

Forgive Post Falls coach Wade Quesnell for counting heads while trying to make sure the meets moved along without a hitch.

Earlier in the day, Quesnell wasn’t sure how many athletes would be able to compete. The Trojans received a scare over the weekend when it was learned that one of the varsity girls had been diagnosed with pertussis.

Sunday night, Quesnell called all of his athletes and to remind them they should see their doctor if they notice any of the symptoms. By Wednesday, the majority of them were taking antibiotics for precautionary reasons. And a handful were home sick with several symptoms.

An ongoing investigation of the region’s whooping cough outbreak confirmed the first cases in Spokane and a surrounding county Tuesday. The Panhandle Health District reported that confirmed cases of pertussis had climbed to 75 in North Idaho.

“We’ve got kids out that have the sniffles and stuff you usually get this time of the year, we’ve got kids who have the symptoms (of whooping cough); and we’ve got kids who are sick from the antibiotics,” Quesnell said. “So it’s been a crazy week. The kids diagnosed are going to be fine. But all of this has thrown us off our usual routine.

“This is when we usually push our kids for regionals (state-qualifying meet) because you want to back off the training when you get closer to regionals.”

Field events carried the Trojans in the boys duals.

Trojans senior and weight specialist Austin Lee had an average day, but his throws in the discus (147 feet, 3 inches) and shot put (53-10) easily won both.

Post Falls swept the discus and shot against Coeur d’Alene and took five of six scoring places against Sandpoint.

Led by junior Cameron Christiansen, Post Falls took five of six places in the pole vault.

Christianson equaled his personal best from last year when he cleared 12 feet by at least two feet.

The standout boy had to be Sandpoint junior sprinter/jumper Caleb Bowman.

Bowman sprinted to easy victories in the 100 (11.1 seconds) and 200 (22.6), anchored the winning 400 relay (45.0) and used just one jump to go 41-3 in the triple jump.

Bowman is seeking school records in his three individual events. To do so in the triple jump, though, Bowman must work on his aerodynamics.

He must better fuse running and flight with the laws of gravity.

“If I can improve on my form - I can’t get in the air, I think I need to lift my hips more - than I should get the school record,” Bowman said.

In the girls meets, Coeur d’Alene junior Brenda Nipp took three firsts and anchored a winning relay.

Nipp’s individual wins came in the 100 (12.7), 200 (26.3) and 400 (1:03.6).

All of the Inland Empire League teams will attend the Moscow Invitational at the University of Idaho Saturday for what promises to be a good midseason measuring stick for the teams.

Most of the Intermountain League and smaller teams will go to the Kellogg Invitational the same day.

Baseball

Lake City 26, Post Falls 18

Andy Potter hit a grand slam in the sixth inning and drove in eight runs to guide the visiting Timberwolves (6-4, 3-2) over the Trojans (4-10, 3-5) in the IEL.

LC’s Tyson Harlin added five RBIs. Mike Heston homered and had five RBIs for the Trojans.

LC trails first-place Lewiston by 1-1/2 games and second-place Coeur d’Alene by one-half game.

Lake City 002 059 (10) - 26 14 5

Post Falls 132 361 2 - 18 16 7

Cohen, Moering (4), Mogilia (6) and Merk; Ownbey, Sharon (5), Shenfield (6), Way (6) and Evey, Mann (4). W-Mogilia. L-Shenfield (1-3).

HITS: LC-Hayes 3, Potter 4, Harlin 2, Merk, Rod 3, Doorsoff. Post Falls-Miller 2, Ownbey 2, Shenfield, Heston 2, Ursillo 2, Pettit 2, McKeown, Cudmoore, Way 2, Evey. 2B-Potter, Rod, Hayes, Pettit. 3B-Rod. HR-Potter, Harlin, Miller (2), Heston (2).

, DataTimes