Numbers add up to a state title for Priest River girls in 3A track

BOISE – Priest River High track coach Jared Hughes didn’t know his girls team had a chance to corral a 3A state title until the seedings were posted last Sunday.

According to seedings, Priest River was positioned to win by three points.

Hughes’ Spartans more than made the seedings stand up Saturday, speeding to the school’s first major state title in a girls team sport at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

Priest River finished with 87 points to pull away from 4A-bound Middleton (62).

Defending boys champ Timberlake didn’t have enough to defend, but the Tigers didn’t go home empty-handed as they captured third with 60. Kellogg, behind double sprint state champ Seth Patton, finished tied with Kimberly (46) for fourth to earn a trophy. Payette became a first-time state winner with 88.

“These girls are awesome,” Hughes said. “They’re awesome individuals, they’re awesome competitors and they’re awesome talents. I can’t say any more. We thought it would be close, but they surpassed (my expectations).”

All seven of Priest River’s state qualifiers scored points and earned, at the least, a second-place individual medal.

Junior AshLee Rey, who captured state titles in the 200 and 400 meters, easily put the Spartans’ feat in perspective. She put her team before herself.

“It’s (the team title) way better than being an individual state champ because it’s the whole team and not just one person,” Rey said.

The speedy Rey more than did her part, too. She pulled away from talented sprint fields to win in the 400 in a personal best 57.5 seconds and the 200 (26.2). She also anchored the runner-up 1,600 relay (4:12.83) that came from the middle of the pack behind final legs by freshman Lacy Hopkins and Rey. And Rey took third in the 100 (13.1).

Rey knocked off defending state champ Jamie Brower of Kellogg in the 400. Brower, who finished second, ran a faster time Saturday (58.6) than she did in winning a year ago (1:00.37).

“I can’t even say how excited I am,” Rey said moments after the 400. “I was so nervous before the race.”

Rey said the pace started much faster than she anticipated.

“The beginning of the race is usually my weakest part,” she said. “I was starting to get really sore with about 40 to 50 meters to go.”

Hughes said the state meet was chock-full of stressful moments for him.

“You’re nervous because you want them to do their best because you don’t want them to be that girl that tears up,” Hughes said.

Hughes will take some time to revel in his team’s accomplishments this year, not the least of which included the Spartans breaking 10 school records. Six of the seven girls return next year.

Patton not only won the 400 and 200 titles, but he ran a leg on Kellogg’s winning medley on Friday. He wanted to break 50 seconds in the 400 (50.2), but he was more than content. His 22.81 in the 200 nipped Adam Smith of Fruitland by one-hundredth of a second.

In the 400, Patton and runner-up Casey Dabney of Filer were side by side with 40 meters to go.

“I knew he was coming on me early so I figured I’d just maintain,” Patton said of an early surge on the backstretch by Dabney. “I figured if he came out even with me from the corner (100 meters), I’d be OK. Then I’d take him from there.”

Patton was a picture of relief as he awaited his medal.

“It’s so much relief. I’ve been wanting this for so long,” he said. “Last year when I got sixth, I said right then I’m winning the state championship next year. That’s all I’ve been working for this year.”

Patton sensed he gained extra energy from his victory in the 400. With the stress gone, Patton just poured on the gas in the 200 and emptied his tank.

“This was just a bonus,” Patton said, holding his gold medal in the 200. “I’m on cloud nine right now.”

Patton’s teammate Tyler Powers, the defending champion in the 800, never had a chance to defend. First, meet officials messed up and started Powers in the lane for the lowest-seeded qualifier instead of the best lane for the top-seeded runner.

Powers had to fight through an initial box of congestion. Still, he was fourth going through the first lap. But he faded quickly in the final 300 meters, finishing 11th.

Kellogg coach Todd Howard voiced his displeasure with meet officials. But the race had been contested and nothing could be done.

“It cost us a chance to get a trophy,” Howard said to one of the officials.

Patton’s two titles secured a trophy in the end.

Other medal winners Saturday were: Jake Fulwiler of Timberlake, second in the 800 (2:00.38); Nick Puckett of Timberlake, fourth in the 400 (51.83); Frank Lagrimanta of Timberlake, third in the 1,600 (4:33.17); Adam Hall of Bonners Ferry, fifth in the 1,600 (4:36.98); Levi Powers of Timberlake, fourth in the 300 hurdles (42.27); Amanda Corning of Priest River, third in the 300 hurdles (48.94) and fourth in the 100 hurdles (17.32); Chelsea Cazier of Timberlake, fifth in the 400 (1:00.79); Whitney Payment of Priest River, second in the 1,600 (5:29.59); Jenna Robinson of St. Maries, third in the 100 hurdles (16.99); Kristi Luther of St. Maries, fifth in the 800 (2:26.13).