N. Idaho 1-2 In Discus

State A-2, A-3, A-4 track

You wouldn’t pick Dirk Bortz out of a crowd of discus throwers. Put Bortz with most of the competitors in the State A-2 field Friday for a group picture and the photographer would politely ask him to stand aside. The Bonners Ferry High senior proved Friday - as he did all season - that bigger doesn’t necessarily mean farther.

Bortz threw the platter a personal-best 161 feet, 7 inches to capture a state title as the 83rd annual high school track and field championships began Friday at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

Bortz’s winning throw came on his first attempt in the finals. It came on the heels of another great throw from St. Maries junior Paul Sotin.

Sotin claimed the lead when he broke his own school record by more than 2 feet with a toss of 157-9. Seconds later, Bortz overshadowed it with his throw. The unassuming Bortz eclipsed his previous best of 159-10. He fell short of his season goal to break the school record (164-3), but he wasn’t about to trade in his gold medal.

“It went real smooth,” the 5-foot-11, 185-pound Bortz said of his low-rising throw. “It went smoother than I thought it would. I knew it was going to be in the high 150s at least. I couldn’t wait for them to measure it. I was like `Let’s go.”’ Todd Christiansen of Wood River led going into the finals at 156-4. But he scratched on all three of his attempts in the finals.

So how does Bortz get the lift out of the discus since he packs around considerably less beef than his opponents?

“It’s my form and my speed,” he said. “I’ve always liked to throw things.”

It was a particularly satisfying end to Bortz’s career. Especially after he “choked” at state last year, throwing 127-2 and making a quick exit.

“I just dedicated myself this year and decided to go all out,” said Bortz, who plans to throw at North Idaho College.

Sotin was as pleased with second as Bortz was with gold. The Lumberjack, who broke a 33-year-old school record last week, finished with another PR.

“My only goal was to make it to state,” Sotin said. “Now I want to win next year and throw 180.”

Heather Hoeck of Kellogg just wanted to crack 17 feet in the long jump. Where she placed would be a bonus.

She fell an inch shy of her goal and 2 inches short of a state title.

Hoeck described her effort as “bittersweet.”

“If I’d gone over 17 feet, I probably would have won,” said Hoeck, who broke the school record with a jump of 17-4-3/4 as a sophomore. “Second is good, but …”

Hoeck will be out to win a third straight state title in the 200 meters today.

Piper Hope of Orofino won easily in the discus and shot put, but Desirae Crocker of Lakeland took a mildly surprising second in the shot (36-0). Tambi Cork of Priest River finished fourth (34-1-3/4).

Crocker said she was pleased with second despite poor form.

“I wasn’t impressed with my throw, but it got me there,” Crocker said.

Other medal winners Friday: St. Maries’ boys medley, led by a strong anchor finish from Mica Kunkel, took third (3:42.6) and Bonners Ferry was fourth (3:44.1); Taylor Cady of Bonners Ferry took fourth in the discus (119-8); Andy Rice of Bonners Ferry took fifth (6-2) and Roger White of Priest River was sixth (6-2) in the high jump; Doug Cash of Priest River was fifth in the discus (149-4); Seth Brundige of Lakeland took sixth in the triple jump (42-1/4); Josh Tebbe of Timberlake was fifth in the long jump (20-4-1/2); Forest Braden of Bonners Ferry placed fifth in the 3,200 (10:02.87); Ashley Jamison of Lakeland was fourth (16-5-3/4) and teammate Stacy Douglas fifth (16-5) in the long jump; Jamison followed with fifth in the triple jump (34-0) and Sarah Hansen of Lakeland was sixth (33-5-1/2).

Payette’s boys led after six events with 29 points and Bonners Ferry was next at 25.

The defending champ Bishop Kelly girls led with 31 points. Orofino was next with 28 and Lakeland was fourth with 24.

In A-3, Craig Zanetti of Wallace took sixth in the long jump (20-3-1/2).

In A-4, Ben Danforth of Falls Christian took third in the long jump (20-1-1/2); Russ Baker of FCA took sixth in the high jump (5-10); the Kootenai girls medley relay placed fourth (1:58.69).