North Idaho Track Preview
Inland Empire League
Post Falls Trojans
Coach: Wade Quesnell
Top returners: Austin Lee, sr., throws; Josh Mort, sr., sprints/relays; Shaun Michael, sr., sprints/ middle distance; Vance Agte, jr., hurdles; Jennifer Swanstrom, jr., sprints/relays; Jessica Waltz, sr., relays; Cameron Christianson, jr., pole vault; Autumn Nesbitt, sr., relays; Katie Mayberry, sr., throws; Heidi Strobel, sr., hurdles; Shasta Cornett, jr., pole vault; Jeremy McLean, sr., jumps/relays; Cristy Campbell, sr., distances; Amanda Crooks, soph., throws.
Newcomers: Jason Kuntz, soph., distances; Megan Biletz, soph., relays; Bridgette Alderton, frosh., relays; Janelle Ruen, soph., jumps; Seline Hotchkiss, soph., distances; Jekiah Cornett, soph., pole vault.
Outlook: The Trojans have good numbers out and a lot of returning experience. The girls look like the team to beat in the IEL, despite a knee injury to Caitlyn Brown that will hurt the relays. Lee will be heavily favored to repeat his state title in the shot put, and Mort is a fine sprinter.
Lewiston Bengals
Coach: Wade Hillman
Top returners: Kari Alldredge, sr., hj; Lorien Albright, jr., hurdles; Jessica Anderson, jr., hj; Brad Rice, sr., sprints; David Six, sr., sprints; Aaron Taylor, sr., distances; Dave Taylor, sr., distances; Rick McCreary, jr., sprints; Mickey Hewitt, jr., hurdles; Chris Reineke, jr., middle distances.
Newcomers: Hallie Warnock, frosh., distances; Josh Wilund, soph, sprints/relays; Colin Jasper, frosh., sprints; Michael Rogers, frosh., sprints; Alaina Phillips, soph., distances; Reionda Hogaboam, soph., distances.
Outlook: A lot of league coaches are pointing to the Bengals as favorites. The boys will be tough, with the Taylor twins anchoring the distance races. The girls could be thin in the sprints. The Bengals host the first big meet of the season this weekend, which should provide an early clue to who is tops in the IEL.
Lake City Timberwolves
Coach: Donna Messenger
Top returners: Katie Hawn, jr., sprints/relays; Mike Duff, soph., hj; Cassandra Gulam, sr., hurdles, Shannon Conley, soph., sprints; Scott Bushnell, jr., pole vault; Casey Clabby, sr., hurdles; Ivory Carr, sr., throws; Christie Tackett, sr., middle distances; Cheryl Kilde, sr., pole vault.
Newcomers: Charlie Miller, soph., distances; Josh Johnson, jr., distances; Jamie Cole, jr., pole vault; Mike Keith, jr.; distances.
Outlook: The T-Wolves have 105 athletes out for the team, but most have little experience. Messenger feels there is a lot of talent on the team and it will continue to improve throughout the season.
Sandpoint Bulldogs
Coach: Tom Albertson
Top returners: Megan Collins, sr., relays/hurdles; Steve Palmer, sr., hj; Jeremy Thielbahr, sr., sprints; Justin Beck, sr., throws; Carson Jeffres, jr., Natalie Ward, soph., throws; Matt Smith, jr., throws; Matt Hicks, sr., distances; Shawn Hicks, sr., distance.
Newcomers: Ryan Knowles, sr., throws; Francie Piehl, soph., distances; Stacy Bolstead, frosh., sprints/hurdles; Mark Allen, jr., distances.
Outlook: The Bulldogs graduated a good majority of the girls team. The boys, however, should be strong. The addition of football standout Knowles could be a plus if he gets his throwing technique down. Of all the IEL schools, Sandpoint was hit hard by snow and probably won’t see a practice track soon.
Coeur d’Alene Vikings
Coach: Bryan Duncan
Top returners: Brenda Nipp, jr., sprints; Colleen Frei, jr., relays; Sarah Ambrose, jr., relays; John Foxx, jr., distances; Kyle Hart, sr., distances; Eva Unruh, sr., middle distances; Kari Newby, sr., distances; Anna-Kate, Ambrose, soph., jumps/ hurdles; Joe Lockhart, sr., sprints; Kelsi Luhnow, soph., distances; Steve Pilkington, sr., sprinter/ relays; Brent Richmond, sr., sprints/jumps; Cami Roeller, soph., throws; Kira Thompson, soph., sprints/hurdles; Clint Young, jr., sprints.
Newcomers: Janee Andre, frosh., sprints/relays; Kari Eggleston, sr., relays; Paul Criswell, sr., sprinter; Carter Copeland, sr., sprints; Ben Davis, sr., relays.
Outlook: Duncan feels the program is still developing, but is pleased with the turnout. He’s hoping that his more experienced athletes help his large group of young talent develop. Nipp placed in two events at state last season and is one of the top sprinters in the league.
Intermountain League
Moscow Bears
Coach: Chris Tarabochia
Top returners: Yvone Shea, jr., distances; Kenny Benjamin, sr., distances; Drew Owen, sr., throws; Shai Workman, jr., distances; Andy Spencer, sr., distances; Andrea Thomas, jr., middle distance; Kevin Chin, jr., sprinter; Maurice Williams, soph., sprinter.
Newcomers: Lamar Williams, soph., hurdles; Pat Armstrong, soph., throws.
Outlook: The Bears’ goal is to repeat as district champions, despite graduating a lot of key runners. Moscow will dominate the distance races behind Shea and Benjamin. Many league coaches have tabbed them as favorites.
Lakeland Hawks
Coach: Lee Libera
Top returners: Amber Jamison, sr., jumps; Sarah DeBoer, jr., hurdles/jumps; Jessica Banbury, jr., sprints/relays; Melissa Hanenburg, sr., middle distances, Mike Larsen, sr., sprints/relays; Paul Kowalczyk, sr., jumps; James Primmer, jr., distances; Alyssa Douglas, jr., relays; Kimi Dengel, sr., distances; Jamie Harwood, sr., jumps; Natalie Meyer, jr., distances.
Newcomers: Matt Corsi, soph., distances; Levi Cushman, soph., throws; Harrison Bertsch, soph., relays; Lacie Berger, soph., pole vault; Tama Bassett, soph., middle distances; Caleb Weller, soph., distances.
Outlook: Jamison is a returning state champ in the triple jump and should anchor a solid girls team. The boys are more of a question mark as Libera hasn’t had any practices on the track.
Kellogg Wildcats
Coach: Dale Hunt
Top returners: Tyrell Hendrix, sr., shot put; Jason Frank, sr., throws; Tyler White, sr., sprints; Pauline Costa, sr., jumps; Alecia Derbyshire, sr., shot; Brian Carlson, jr., sprints; Angie Hathaway, sr., jumps/sprints; Amy Lemon, sr., sprints/relays; Christa Getz, sr., sprints; Ali Leeds, jr., distances.
Newcomers: Heather Hoeck, frosh., middle distance; Lynelle Longley, frosh., sprints; Chelsea Leeds, frosh., distances; Tim Bush, soph., pole vault; Brady Bircher, soph., sprints; Eric Malley, soph., jumps; Amos Frisbee, soph., distances.
Outlook: The Wildcats should be a contender because of returning experience in both teams. The boys don’t have much depth, but Hunt feels they will be in the mix at regionals. The girls team has 12 seniors, which should help.
Bonners Ferry Badgers
Coach: Harry O’Dell
Top returners: Adam Hiatt, sr., jumps; Kenny Yount, jr., sprints; Brian Meeker, sr., hurdles; Meg Moir, jr., distances; Katie Mormon, sr., throws; Amber Paulson, sr., sprints; Lany Dowell, jr., distances; Abby Dinning, soph., sprints; Rachel Downing, sr., hurdles; Rosie Decker, sr., jumps.
Newcomers: Kim Carey, soph., throws; Winter Braden, jr., distances; Andy Rice, frosh., middle distance.
Outlook: No school was hit by snow harder than Bonners Ferry. The Badgers have good individuals, but O’Dell has no way of judging his team prospects because his track is buried. The Badgers could be the league spoilers by the end of the season.
Priest River Spartans
Coach: Bruce Blaser
Top returners: Missy Ennis, sr., jumps/relays; Tenneall Lean, jr., distances; Cheyenne Ward, soph., distances; Adam Merrifield, soph., distances; Christy Coyle, sr., throws; Nikki Farr, jr., sprints/middle distance; Anthony Marinell, sr., sprints; Joey Young, sr., throws.
Newcomers: Josh Queen, sr., throws; Josh Adams, soph., 400m.
Outlook: Ennis is the standout on a young team. The Spartans have 50 athletes out, but most have little experience. Priest River’s depth will help score well at meets. Blaser said Ennis plans to compete in heptathlon in college, so he’ll use her in a variety of events throughout the season.
St. Maries Lumberjacks
Coach: Gary Krumheuer
Top returners: Jeremy Badgett, sr., distances; Brad Roe, sr., relays/sprints; Ed Coulter, sr., sprints; Melanie Lorenz, soph., distances; Mike Homer, sr., hurdles; Jolie Kunkel, jr., middle distances, Brandy Bartlett, jr., hurdles.
Newcomers: Aree Stone, frosh., distances; Cory Nemeth, jr., relays; Brooke Wolfe, sr., sprints/ jumps.
Outlook: Despite a small turnout, the Lumberjacks have some strong individuals. Badgett and Stone should be tough after stellar cross country seasons. The boys team will have trouble putting relays together because of depth.
North Star League
Kootenai Warriors
Coach: Scott Shafer
Top returners: Annie Goodson, jr., sprints/jumps/ middle distance; Danyel Hunter, sr., throws; Shennelle Kraack, soph., hurdles; Jamie Bornitz, jr., throws; A.J. Lawson, sr., throws; Dallas Passow, jr., jumps/middle distance; Scott Johns, soph., sprints.
Newcomers: Bonnie Dorham, soph., relays/ sprints; Emily Mitchell, frosh., middle distance; Brady Livermore, soph., middle distance.
Outlook: Goodson is the star of the NSL. She is the defending state high jump champ and will be favored to win the 100 and 200 meters after placing second last year. Shafer wants her to try the 400.
Lakeside Knights
Coach: Greg Stutzman, Brad Veile
Top returners: Brendon Nelson, sr., jumps/relays; Ken Pluff, jr., hurdles/relays; Buck Allen, jr., distance/relays; Harmony Hammons, jr., distances; Todd Morris, jr., jumps.
Newcomers: Josh Jerimias, sr., distances; Diego Montehuano, jr., sprints; Dan Hutchins, jr., distances; Joseph Lachnit, soph., distances; Jeremy Cox, sr., distances.
Outlook: The Knights have good individuals, but as with the rest of the league, depth is a problem. Nelson, Pluff, Hammons and Allen are all expected to go to state. Beyond that, it’s unknown who will step up.
Falls Christian Eagles
Coach: Ivan Benson
Top returners: Aaron Moate, jr., hurdles; Aaron Burns, jr., middle distance; Matt Smith, jr., throws; Drew Baker, soph., distances; Meghan Jenkins, jr., hurdles, Melanie Johnson, soph., sprints.
Newcomers: Jared Bligh, soph., distances; Steve Munson, soph., middle distance; Stephanie Jenkins, frosh., sprints/jumps.
Outlook: The Eagles graduated a lot of talent, but could be the team to beat for the boys. The girls team only has three participants. Benson is a likeable first-year coach who is looking to rebuild the program over the next couple of years.
Clark Fork Wampus Cats
Coach: Tim Ross
Top returners: George Klontz, jr., jumps; Marc Dheslic, jr., jumps; Shannon Decker, soph., sprints.
Newcomers: None.
Outlook: The Wampus Cats are struggling to keep the program alive, but Ross is hoping for a few more kids to turn out soon. Ross thinks there will eventually be 12 participants, but heavy snow has prevented practices. . While Clark Fork survives, Mullan won’t field a team this year.
A-3 Independent
Wallace Miners
Coach: Dave Rounds
Top returners: Chris Carlson, sr., jumps/hurdles; Colby Mattila, sr., 400; Chris Carver, jr., distances; Lucia Gregory, sr., jumps; Evan Church, sr., throws; Meghan England, jr., 400/hurdles; Rachael Pommerening, jr., hurdles/jumps.
Newcomers: Heather Gregory, frosh., hj; Renee Sleezer, soph., sprints; Maggie Belfenkamp, soph., middle distance; Heather Branstetter, soph., hurdles; Zack Pennie, frosh., sprints; Craig Zanetti, frosh., sprints.
Outlook: The Miners have their largest turnout in a long time, and Rounds said he’s glad to have so many participating. Rounds feels there aren’t many standouts, but feels his team will compete.
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ATHLETES TO WATCH Annie Goodson, junior, Kootenai, high jump/sprints Austin Lee, senior, Post Falls, throws Amber Jamison, senior, Lakeland, jumps Shasta Cornett, junior, Post Falls, pole vault Brenda Nipp, junior, Coeur d’Alene, sprints Missy Ennis, senior, Priest River, sprints/high jump Sarah DeBoer, junior, Lakeland, jumps/hurdles Kari Alldredge, senior, Lewiston, high jump Josh Mort, senior, Post Falls, sprints Katie Mormon, senior, Bonners Ferry, throws Jeremy Badgett, senior, St. Maries, distances Yvonne Shea, junior, Moscow, distances