Muddling Through The Puddles Track And Field Athletes Seek Dry Practice Turfs As Season Approaches

It’s the year of the shovel in North Idaho high school track.

Throughout the region, teams are trying to find any track time they can, and some have come up with clever solutions for getting in shape.

“We’ve got a little valley in town where the road stays dry, so we set up hurdles on the side of the road and practiced right there,” said Bonners Ferry coach Harry O’Dell.

O’Dell is lucky to have his valley, because the Badgers track is buried along with the rest of the town. Kootenai, where North Star League standout Annie Goodson is high jumping in the gym, takes a more dangerous approach to training.

“We’ve got a big mud puddle for a track, so my all-purpose track so far has been the highway that runs next to the school,” said Warriors coach Scott Shafer.

Shafer is also planning to put some mats on the gym floor, so Goodson will get a chance to practice jumping in her spikes.

In Sandpoint, where it seems the snow never ceases, the distance runners are currently the most respected, and loathed, members of the team.

“The only thing we can do is run on the roads, so the sprinters and throwers are getting needled by the distance kids who run this hard all the time,” Bulldogs coach Tom Albertson said. “The throwers are throwing into snowbanks in the parking lot and we’ve got the snowblower out on the track. Still, we haven’t got out yet.”

The less creative coaches have gone to the old standby of running in the halls and gym, but the athletes are ready to get outside.

“I’ve got a good turnout this year, but I’m hoping I don’t lose any of them because they get so bored practicing in the gym,” Wallace coach Dave Rounds said.

Some of the area track athletes will get a chance to shake off the rust this weekend at the Lewiston Invitational. All of the Inland Empire League schools will be there in one form or another.

“We’re sending down about 35 kids,” said Lake City coach Donna Messenger, whose 105-member squad finally got some track time in this week.

One event that can’t be practiced in a gym or on a highway is the pole vault. This will mark the first season where girls pole vault will be an official event at the state tournament. Shasta Cornett of Post Falls placed second in the event last year, when it wasn’t officially scored, and she will be one to watch this season.

The weather is warming up, and most schools south of Sandpoint have gotten on the track this week. With the exception of Goodson, Amber Jamison of Lakeland and Austin Lee of Post Falls, there are few athletes that stand out. Depth and experience will be the key to regional titles this season.

Preparation won’t be a key.

Even in Lewiston, where the Bengals usually get on the track long before the rest of the IEl, coach Wade Hillman hasn’t been blessed with sunshine.

“We’ve only had one really good day on the track, which won’t give us much of an advantage this year,” Hillman said.