Grangeville Dominates District

A-2 District I-II track

With few exceptions, the District II visitors outran, outjumped and outthrew the Intermountain League schools in the A-2 District I-II track and field meet.

Grangeville’s boys lapped the opponents Saturday at Corbit Field while the Grangeville girls nearly did likewise.

In the boys meet, the Bulldogs scored 172 points and Lakeland finished a distant second with 85. Kellogg (75.5) and Bonners Ferry (71) pushed Lakeland.

Grangeville’s girls posted 172 points, followed by Orofino (110), Lakeland (76) and Kellogg (64).

The top four finishers in each event captured state berths and the winning relays also advance. State will be held Friday and Saturday at Boise State University. Coaches will learn today whether additional athletes earned at-large berths.

Kellogg’s Heather Hoeck eluded the District II dominance.

Hoeck, the defending state champ in the 200 meters and runner-up in the long jump, zipped to victory in the 200 (25.91 seconds) as she came within one-hundredth of a second of the meet record.

“It’s my career best,” Hoeck said. “Twenty-six has always been the barrier and to break it - I’m really happy.”

Hoeck also took first in the long jump, jumping 16 feet, 8-1/4 inches.

“I’m right there,” Hoeck said, referring to the quality of her jump. “It’s a good jump to enter state with. It’s not my best of the year, but I’m satisfied.”

Bonners Ferry’s Josh Sherven won his second title in as many days with a uncontested time of 4:35.99 in the 1,600 after taking the 3,200 on Friday.

Sherven pulled ahead early and “wasn’t hearing footsteps” after about half of the race.

“As for misfortunes, the race went real smooth,” Sherven said. “I didn’t get boxed in. I’m always kind of leery about staggered starts. I can’t complain. That’s the fastest I’ve ever ran.”

Sherven finished ahead of teammate Forest Braden (4:41.77), who also accompanied Sherven in his record-breaking run in the 3,200.

Sherven said he’s beaten his times at state last year by a considerable margin and he’s looking forward to being pushed by the competition at state.

“They’ve been competing at a higher level of competition,” Sherven said of his upcoming opponents. “My strategy all year, and in both races, has been straight to the front,” Sherven said. “I don’t feel good following people - and mentally, I’d rather have them looking at me.”

Lakeland’s Jessica Austad, a freshman, took the lone title for the Hawks, winning the 300-meter hurdles in 48.83. Austad was instrumental in the Hawks’ second-place finishes in the 800 relay and the medley.

Lakeland’s Levi Cushman took second in the discus to Grangeville’s Cody Edwards. It was payback for Edwards, who lost to Cushman in the shot put on Friday.

Edwards came back in the discus, unleashing a 166-foot throw for first and setting a district record by 20 inches.

“I thought about the title at first,” Edwards said. “I had a problem with my form and finally got one in.”

It was Grangeville’s first season in A-2 competition. The Bulldogs boys won the State A-3 title last year.

Grangeville coach Jim Suhr said his team had something to prove. Of the eight district records broken, six now belong to Grangeville.

The Bulldogs took titles in the boys’ 100 and 200 sprints. Scott McNab won the 100 with 11.51, and took second in the 200 behind teammate Jon Schumacher (22.5).