CdA relay team third despite school-record effort

EAGLE, Idaho – Coeur d’Alene ran much faster than any girls 4x800-meter relay team in school history.

But the Vikings had the misfortune of going up against Rocky Mountain, which ran a blistering 9 minutes, 12.07 seconds to better the state record by more than 10 seconds on the opening day of the Idaho 5A State track and field meet Friday at Eagle HS.

CdA’s Joslyn Duran, Jaycee Rade, Madison Sumner and Krista Story finished third at 9:27.66, just behind Mountain View’s 9:27.21. Story made up most of a sizable deficit, closing within a stride of Mountain View at the finish.

“I was amazed at how Krista caught up as far as she did,” Coeur d’Alene coach Linda Lanker said.

The Vikings trimmed 13 seconds off their winning time from regionals last week. Lanker said the four broke the school record by at least 5 seconds.

Capital’s girls (24) have a one-point edge over Mountain View. Coeur d’Alene is 10th with nine points. Centennial leads the boys with 46 points. CdA (11) is seventh, Lake City (eight) is ninth and Post Falls (seven) is 11th.

There were no first-day individual champions for North Idaho, but numerous athletes figure to contend for gold when the majority of running finals are held today.

Post Falls senior Wednesday Walton won her heat in the 100-meter hurdles in 15.16. Eagle’s Allison Jeffries posted the top overall time in 14.45.

Walton clipped a hurdle in the 300 prelims, leaving a cut on her knee that she didn’t notice until after the race. She had the top overall time in 44.88. Jeffries was next at 45.06. Coeur d’Alene’s Kaitlyn Gunnerson qualified for both hurdles finals.

Lake City’s Maddison Ward blazed to school records in the 100 (12.2) and 200 (25.02). Eagle’s Brittany Rawlings ran 12.09, just missing the state record of 12.07 set by Highland’s Julie Briggs in 1989. Mountain View’s Andrea Pikes (24.84) led 200 qualifiers, which also includes CdA’s Brittany Tackett (25.79).

LC’s Chris Baker qualified for the finals in the 100 (10.96) and 200 (22.17). Coeur d’Alene’s Addison Johnson (22.53) advanced in the 200. Post Falls Brett Davide (50.46) qualified in the 400.

Post Falls’ Danielle Failor cleared 5 feet to place fourth in the high jump, which was contested in a driving rain that put a temporary halt to the triple jumpers and long jumpers. Earlier, in better weather, the Trojans’ Chandler Smith (6-4) finished third in the boys high jump.