Hopkins, Puckett go for gold with 4 medals each

BOISE – Seniors Lacy Hopkins and Nick Puckett were near mirror images of each other Saturday at the State 3A track meet.

The sprint standouts ran so fast that:

A) Nobody could catch them and, B) nobody could push them to the times they desired to run.

Rather than complain, Hopkins of Priest River and Puckett of Timberlake each collected four gold medals at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium.

The Montana State University-bound Puckett zipped to titles in the 100 (11.10 seconds), 200 (22.32) and 400 (49.55) meters and then finished by running a stirring anchor leg on the 1,600 relay (3:29.36).

Hopkins, who will call BSU home beginning in the fall, won the 200 (25.67) and 400 (57.71) and anchored the state-record setting 1,600 relay (4:05.93). On Friday, she anchored the winning medley.

Puckett led two-time state champ Timberlake to second. The Tigers finished with 94 points – a respectable total most years – but it was a distant second behind Payette (110).

Hopkins led Priest River (55) to fourth – the Spartans’ first trophy since they won the state title Hopkins’ freshman season. Bonners Ferry took second (64.5) behind Sugar-Salem (90), which easily defended.

The sun seemed to shine appropriately on Puckett and Hopkins.

It was the most fatigued Puckett has been at the end of a state meet. This was the first year he added the 400 to his repertoire, and that meant he had three preliminary heats on Friday to go with his four races Saturday.

Puckett was pleased to prove head football coach and assistant track coach Roy Albertson wrong Saturday. Albertson warned Puckett earlier in the week that sometimes athletes who have locked up scholarships don’t perform as well in their final state meet.

“I told him I was hungry for this,” Puckett said. “It was nice to prove him wrong.”

Of all the sprints, the 100 is Puckett’s least favorite because it generally takes him about half the race to reach peak speed. It’s also just a straightaway race. He prefers sprints with corners.

Puckett didn’t leave any doubt in the 100, though, the first race of the day.

In his second race, the 400, which requires equal parts speed and pace, Puckett was at his usual standard. Then he defended his state title in the 200 and closed out his career by anchoring the 1,600 relay. He teamed with his brother, Derek, Patrick Lagrimanta and John Shaffer.

“I don’t like to use this as an excuse, but there’s still nobody to run with,” said Puckett, who was hoping he’d be pushed. “To win four gold medals is a phenomenal way for me to go out.”

It may take Timberlake coach Brian Kluss awhile before he stops grinning about Puckett.

“I’m going to miss him,” Kluss said. “He’s had a great career. He became our first athlete to win four gold medals.”

Hopkins was hoping to break the school record in the 400 (57.5). She had to take consolation in coming close.

“It’s tough I didn’t get it, but I did all I could to get as far as I could,” she said. “This is the way I wanted to finish my senior year.”

Hopkins was wearing the widest grin after the 1,600 relay, especially when she and teammates Tabitha Clark, Tristan Troudt and Whitney Hill took nearly 10 seconds off their season best and set a state record.

“My teammates ran better than they usually run,” Hopkins said.

Bonners Ferry senior Melody Braden, who was second in the 3,200 on Friday, added another second in the 1,600 (5:29.45) to lead the Badgers.

Timberlake’s boys were hoping to get their third title. But Payette made a statement.

“Payette had a great meet,” Kluss said. “I’m not disappointed at all. We got (personal bests) all over the place. We asked our kids to do their best and they did.”