Iml Track

Bonners Ferry Badgers

Coaches: Harry O’Dell, Tim Cady

Top returners: Josh Sherven, sr., distances; Jared Ekstrom, sr., distances; Andy Rice, jr., jumps; Todd Carey, sr., throws; Drew Hiatt, jr., sprints; Kim Carey, sr., throws; Jennifer Hurst, sr., pole vault; Tamara Faust, jr., distances; Taylor Cady, jr., distances.

Top newcomers: Forest Braden, fr., distances; Aaron Hanson, fr., distances; Lance Dickerson, sr., sprints.

Outlook: The Badgers boys are a lock in the distance races, but they will score few points elsewhere. A handful of boys and girls will challenge for district titles and state medals.

Kellogg Wildcats

Coach: Dale Hunt

Top returners: Brandon Neff, sr., jumps/ sprints; Brady Bircher, sr., sprints/jumps; Ryan Mann, jr., pv/sprints; Ryan Frank, sr., hurdles/relays; John Godwin, sr., throws/jumps; Chris Key, sr., throws; Frank Morden, sr., distances; Bryan Tate, sr., distances; Nate Moe, jr., sprints/ relays; Luke Gibler, jr., throws; David McCorkle, sr., 800; Brad Keene, soph., sprints; Jesse Johnson, soph., sprints; Tony Joy, soph., hurdles; Joe Joy, soph., sprints/hurdles; Josh Smith, soph., sprints/hurdles; Heather Hoeck, jr., sprints/jumps; Wendy Vork, sr., hj/relays; Morgan Stevens, sr., pv; Brandi Mills, sr., shot/relays; Miriam Goodner, sr., throws; Stephanie Baillie, sr., throws; Chelsea Leeds, jr., jumps/relays; Gretchen Goetz, jr., hurdles/sprints; Casey Lewis, soph., throws.

Top newcomers: Luke Smith, jr., sprints/ relays; Kim Bauer, jr., sprints; Joe Jessup, jr., pv; Mike Hawkins, jr., pv; Jaysnte Harris, jr., sprints/hurdles; Rieka Chatfield, jr., sprints; Jody Rose, soph., throws; Amanda McCuaig, fr., sprints/ relays; Jennifer Markley, fr., sprints/ relays; Jennifer Absec, fr., sprints/relays/ hj; Alicia Bush, fr., sprints/hurdles.

Outlook: Kellogg’s boys and girls should breeze to league dual titles. Kellogg is the lone school in the league that doesn’t field baseball and softball teams (that’s expected to change next year). Hoeck (200) and Vork (high jump) hope to defend state titles. Kellogg should challenge for district team titles, too. Neff should be a multi-event state qualifier.

Lakeland Hawks

Coach: Lee Libera

Top returners: Levi Cushman, sr., throws; David Hanner, sr., lj/relays; Harrison Bertsch, sr., sprints/relays; Seth Brundige, jr., jumps/relays; Bobby Smith, sr., jumps; Michael O’Brien, soph., distances; Caleb Weller, sr., distances; Ryan Hansen, sr., sprints/relays; Desiree Crocker, soph., throws; Tema Bassett, jr., hj/400/relays; Anika Duvall, jr., pv/relays; Priscilla Dooley, jr., hurdles; Serena Primer, jr., throws; Beth Markham, sr., jumps/relays.

Top newcomers: Thomas Coontz, fr., jumps/sprints; Jamie Ploetzner, fr., throws/sprints; Ashley Jamison, fr., sprints/jumps; Stacey Douglas, fr., jumps/relays; Sarah Hansen, fr., jumps/ hurdles; Jessica Austad, fr., sprints/ hurdles; Micki Desmarais, fr., throws; Rachelle Dingman, fr., sprints/middle distances; Christine Head, fr., hurdles.

Outlook: The Hawks have the best freshmen girls class in some time, and that could help Lakeland battle for a district title. The boys are talented, too, and should tangle with Grangeville for the district crown. Lakeland should capture several state medals.

Priest River Spartans

Coach: Donovan Roley

Top returners: Jay Zmuda, jr., pv/middle sprints/relays; Roger White, soph., pv/hj/ relays; Brian White, jr., hurdles/200/pv; Doug Cash, soph., throws; Adam Merrifield, sr., distances/hurdles/pv; Wendy Owens, jr., sprints; Jenny Schrempp, jr., sprints; Billie Washburn, sr., middle distances; Emmy Stark, jr., pv/ sprints; Sally Brooks, jr., pv/shot/lj; Tambi Cork, soph., throws.

Top newcomers: James Elliott, fr., throws/jumps; Justin Smith, jr., sprints/hj; Riley Mack, sr., relays; Melissa Booth, fr., jumps/pv; JoAnne Vogrig, sr., jumps.

Outlook: The Spartans lack the depth to battle for district team titles, but several Priest River athletes should contend for state berths. The Spartans’ boys and girls teams could finish as high as second in league.

St. Maries Lumberjacks

Coach: Gary Krumheuer

Top returners: Micah Kunkel, jr., 800/lj; Frank Crier, jr., 800; Paul Sotin, soph., throws; Jodi Coulter, sr., sprints/lj; Liz Badgett, jr., hurdles; Melanie Lorenz, sr., distances; Amy Reinhofer, jr., jumps.

Top newcomers: Jeff Moore, soph., hurdles; Jessica Yearout, fr., 400/hj.

Outlook: Track continues to be an individual sport at St. Maries, which traditionally has the lowest turnout in the league. But the few athletes that do participate contend for state berths.

Timberlake Tigers

Coach: Mike Alt Top transfers from Lakeland: Nick Krause, sr., jumps/relays; Brianne Wickstrom, soph., hurdles/sprints; Leah Street, sr., sprints/relays; Rachel Fletcher, jr., distances/relays.

Top newcomers: Kyle Blagden, jr., sprints/relays; Josh Tebbe, jr., sprints/ relays; Ian McKelvey, fr., sprints/relays; Josh Spurgeon, jr., throws; Jeremy Dunn, soph., throws; Kayla Vyleta, fr., sprints/ jumps; Megan Tallent, jr., hurdles/relays; Jennifer Davis, sr., sprints/relays.

Outlook: Alt has a good base to work with for a first-year program. Three members of the Lakeland girls state-qualifying medley relay are at the Spirit Lake school. Wickstrom is one of the top athletes in the league. ATHLETES TO WATCH Heather Hoeck, junior, sprints/jumps, Kellogg Levi Cushman, senior, throws, Lakeland Josh Sherven, senior, distances, Bonners Ferry Brandon Neff, senior, jumps, Kellogg Brianne Wickstrom, sophomore, hurdles/sprints, Timberlake Wendy Vork, senior, high jump, Kellogg