New events, same results for Hewitt
BOISE – About halfway through the season, Clark Fork junior Bailey Hewitt decided to dabble in the long and triple jumps. She hadn’t done the long jump since junior high and had never attempted the triple jump.
Why would the defending State 1A 100- and 300-meter hurdles champion try events that could interfere with her hope of pulling off hurdles repeats?
Simple answer, it turns out.
“My coach thought I would be good at them,” Hewitt said.
Imagine her surprise and elation when she captured state titles in both jumps Friday.
Hewitt went 17 feet, 5 inches in the long jump, eclipsing her best by a foot. She followed by jumping 35-6 3/4 in the triple jump – and knocked off pre-meet favorite Sabrina Ewing of Coeur d’Alene Charter in both events.
“It’s beyond my wildest imaginations,” said Hewitt, who has given an oral commitment to Idaho to play soccer after she graduates in 2010.
Hewitt beat her previous best in the triple by more than a foot.
“I’ve never done the triple jump in my life until this season,” Hewitt said. “My coach told me he thought I’d be good at it. So I just gave it a shot.”
Her first long jump this season was 16-5, her PR until Friday.
Hewitt finished second at regionals behind Ewing.
“She’s awesome,” Hewitt said of Ewing, who had won the high jump Thursday. “I’ve been trying to beat her all year. She’s just a sophomore and she’s jumping farther than anybody here. I was lucky enough to beat her. If I win (four titles), I won’t be able to stop smiling for a week.”
The Coeur d’Alene Charter girls got off to a fast start in their pursuit of a state title. The medley of Heidi Ronningen, Sarah McHugh, Dominque Billingslea and Elizabeth Stadley zoomed to a state title in 1:54.50.
Stadley ran a strong anchor leg, but thought she may have started her kick too soon.
“Normally, I kick at the corner (with 200 to go),” Stadley said. “It was a full adrenaline rush. Our team really wanted it.”
Through seven events, Charter leads with 37 points, 10 ahead of Raft River.
Kootenai pole vaulters Cody Parker and Bruno Mayne finished 1-2. Parker vaulted 12-6 while Mayne went 12-0.
3A
Bear hunting or track? Bear hunting or defending a state championship?
It was an easy decision for Kellogg senior Adam Furlin, who may not have impressed himself or overwhelmed the shot put field, but at least he defended his title. Furlin put the shot 48-6 to secure a second straight state title. As soon as he gets back home, he’s headed to the hills to hunt bear.
Defending his title was a big feat considering in January it was questionable whether he would be able to do track this spring. He broke his foot in football and it was slow to mend.
“The doctor told me I wouldn’t be doing track, so this completely surprised me,” Furlin said. “I wanted to get the school record (52-0). The place is what counts. Forget Disneyland, I’m going bear hunting.”
The Priest River girls medley team defended its title as Tristan Troudt, Sabrina Johnson, Tabitha Clark and Lacy Hopkins combined to win in 1:51.94.
Hopkins thought she might have started kicking too early.
“I had two girls in front of me and I didn’t want to pass too early, but I couldn’t help it,” Hopkins said. “I’m really sore.”
Bonners Ferry senior Samantha Hiatt defended her title in the pole vault, winning at 10-0. But she had to win a jump-off with Shelby McNeal of Payette.
Both missed at 10-6 and 10-3. McNeal went first at 10-0 and missed before Hiatt made it.
“I’ve always said you’re really not a champion until you come back and prove it,” Hiatt said. “I proved it. That’s exciting.”
Bonners Ferry’s girls lead through eight events with 41.5 points. Buhl is next at 36 and defending champion Sugar-Salem is third with 30.
In the boys, Payette leads through eight events with 56 points, eight ahead of Homedale. Defending champion Timberlake is third with 31.