3A track preview
Bonners Ferry Badgers
Coaches: Travis Hinthorn (boys), George Hays (girls)
Top returners: Boys – Kyle Behrens, senior, sprints/relays; John Heigel, junior, sprints/pole vault; Adam Hall, sr., distances; Sam Botkin, sr., s/r; Daniel Botkin, jr., jumps/hurdles/r; Matt Carey, sr., throws. Girls – Kaitie Poston, jr., t; Shantel Schirado, sr., pv/hur/r; Camille Robertson, soph., pv/hur; Casey Hampton, jr., dist; Melody Braden, soph., dist; Samantha Hiatt, soph., pv/hur/r; Becky Lowther, jr., j/r; Miranda Neu, sr., middle distances; Samantha Kelly, soph., pv/hur/r; Rayanne McLeish, soph., dist; Amethyst Aitken, jr., t; Bethany Bortz, sr., t.
Top newcomers: Boys – Kurt Carey, soph., t; Don Dinning, sr., t; Javi Sale, freshman, s/r. Girls – Ashley Winkleseth, fr., r.
Outlook: Bonners Ferry’s girls will be right on Priest River’s heels. In fact, the Badgers could overcome the Spartans for a district title based on depth alone. The Badgers will contend for a state trophy with Poston a possible double winner and Schirado out to defend her state title in the pole vault. The Badger boys have better numbers than recent years, but not enough to challenge resident power Timberlake.
Kellogg Wildcats
Coach: Todd Howard
Top returners: Boys – Ty Ketchum, soph., s/j; Adam Furlin, soph., t; Jon Fuller, soph., mdist. Girls – Lynsey Seltenreich, sr., mdist; Sarah Campbell, jr., t; Alyssa Weingart, sr., j/s; Brittany Harris, jr., t.
Top newcomers: Boys – Cole Lewis, fr., s. Girls – Amanda Seeling, fr., t/j.
Outlook: Howard has appropriately called this a rebuilding year for his girls and boys. In fact, with a turnout of just 10 among the boys, it’s the thinnest number with which Howard has had to work. A handful of Wildcats will earn state medals.
Priest River Spartans
Coach: Jared Hughes
Top returners: Boys – Cory Johnson, sr., t; Tim Redick, soph., dist. Girls – Amanda Corning, sr., hur/r; Angela Storro, sr., j/r/hur; Whitney Payment, jr., dist; Amber Zieske, sr., t; Jesse Ward, sr., mdist/r; Lacy Hopkins, soph., j/s/r.
Top newcomers: Boys – Richie Morales, jr., s/j; Alex Maxwell, jr., s; Ryan Ewing, fr., j/s. Girls – Katie Swanson, jr., s; Kelsi McDonald, soph., mdist.
Outlook: The Spartans girls’ hopes of a repeat state title were damaged significantly when standout AshLee Rey moved to Lewiston. She was involved in 32 points last year. But Priest River has enough returning talent to contend for a trophy behind Corning, Storro, Payment and Hopkins, to name a few. Hughes has his best turnout among the boys.
St. Maries Lumberjacks
Co-coaches: Shannon Cloud and Rusty Riberich
Top returners: Boys – Luke Samford, sr., mdist; Joe LaPlante, sr., dist; Caleb Cox, sr., j/hur/r; Zach Cox, jr., j/hur/r; Ian Boyle, jr., s/r. Girls – Jenna Robinson, sr., hur/j/r; Emily Mavity, jr., j/dist/r; Amanda Ratcliffe, soph., s/r; Elisa Krier, soph., j/hur.
Top newcomers: Boys – Jacob Odekirk, sr., dist. Girls – Kelcie Harvey, fr., s.
Outlook: This is the third year of the combined coaching effort of Cloud and Riberich and this is the third year they’ve seen a spike in the turnout. St. Maries isn’t ready to challenge for league or district honors, but the Lumberjacks are making strides. They will host their first league dual meet in history on their 3-year-old track. Robinson will contend for state titles.
Timberlake Tigers
Coach: Brian Kluss
Top returners: Boys – Jake Archer, sr., pv/r; Tyler Zwiers, sr., dist; Frank Lagrimanta, jr., dist; John Macklin, jr., hur/pv; Casey Denton, jr., s/r; Nick Puckett, soph., s/r; Levi Powers, soph., hur/r/j; Patrick Neal, jr., r; Chris Anderson, jr., r; Josh Malloy, soph., j. Girls – Chelsea Cazier, jr., s/r; Lynsie Powers, sr., j/r; Kelly Kincella, sr., dist; Tara Oster, soph., s/r/j; Tarra Tymesen, jr., j; Nichole Corn, sr., pv/r; Nicole Malloy, jr., t; Elizabeth Mercer, sr., t.
Top newcomers: Boys – Taylor Fulwiler, sr., dis; Cody Jones, jr., s/r. Girls – Melanie Andrews, fr., dist.
Outlook: The Timberlake boys have been a player at state since crashing onto the scene and winning a state title two years ago. They will challenge for another state title. The girls are solid but will find themselves chasing defending state champ Priest River and Bonners Ferry.