Armon gladly accepts second in the 3,200

BOISE – Coeur d’Alene High junior Michael Armon will wear his silver medal as proudly as any of his gold medals.

Armon, running not only months ahead of his schedule but also in a way his doctors never dreamed could happen, captured second in the State 5A 3,200-meter final Thursday afternoon at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

He finished in a time of 9 minutes, 51.38 seconds. Boise junior Nick Bolinder, who led start to finish, dethroned the defending state champ (9:43.42) in humid conditions for which none of the athletes was prepared.

“This is definitely bigger to me than winning state last year,” Armon said. “No comparison. I’m extremely happy with second. I wasn’t even supposed to run again.”

Armon didn’t have enough kick to close the 50-meter gap on Bolinder. Capital’s Ryan Saunders drew even with Armon with about 50 meters to go, before Armon held him off.

“I’m not sure there’s a better way that I could have run that race,” Armon said. “To lose something you love to do and to think you’ll never be able do it again, but then come back and compete at that level again, it means a lot. For me to get on the (awards) stand and receive the silver medal – no complaints here.”

Bolinder shook his head in amazement at Armon’s comeback this season.

“I can’t believe it,” Bolinder said. “It’s crazy.”

Armon will try to defend his state title in the 1,600 tonight when the running finals for 5A and 4A are held.

CdA fans had a lot to cheer for as Vikings senior Lucas Pope captured the title in the pole vault. But it didn’t come without a little drama, and Pope likely gave his father, Kent, his personal coach, a few worries.

Pope prevailed with a vault of 15 feet. But it was an entry height along with a couple of other stops that caused some minor alarm. He missed his first two attempts at 13-6, his entry height, before nailing it on his third attempt. In fact, he scaled down to a smaller pole just to make the height.

“I was having trouble getting depth on my pole because I started on a bigger pole than I normally do,” Pope said.

Then he was down to his final attempt at 15-0, and he needed it to secure the state title.

Pope had an uncanny presence of mind. He stopped on the runway because a sudden brisk of air lifted his poll. He regained his focus and took another run.

Finally, he nailed the last attempt, almost as if he were suspended in air a couple of feet above the pole before finishing the jump and landing softly below and equaling his career best.

“I knew I had to make it. It was all or nothing,” Pope said. “I was all over the place.”

He took three attempts at 15-3, twice barely nudging the bar with his chest.

Pope has three scholarship offers pending from Utah State, Idaho and Idaho State. For now, he’ll relish the state title.

“There’s no way to describe it,” Pope said of his emotions. “It’s indescribable. You just have to go through it.”

The only other 5A champ from North Idaho was sophomore Cody Hays of Lewiston, who captured the shot put with a toss of 49-9 3/4. Lake City junior Carson York was second (48-11).

Other area placers were: Jamie Tart of LC, who took third in the discus (119-9) and fourth in the shot (34-6); LC’s boys, taking third in the medley relay (3:34.83); and Kyle Ferebee of LC, fourth in the triple jump (42-9).

In 4A, Moscow’s girls found themselves in first with 38 points after a pair of victories.

Senior thrower Kelsey Taylor won in the shot with a heave of 43-10 1/2, a personal best by 20 inches, and she took second in the discus (124-5).

Sophomore teammate Ariel Johnson won the pole vault (10-0).

They were the lone area winners.

Other area placers were: Post Falls freshman Angie Whalen, who led for 7 1/2 laps, was caught from behind with 50 meters remaining before slipping to third (11:35.43); Casey Schooley of Post Falls took third in the pole vault (13-0); Charlie Hirning of Sandpoint took third in the high jump (6-4); and Brooke DeMers of Sandpoint tied for fourth (5-0).