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Sophia Aldous
NEWPORT — The Spartans had a busy week, attending the Lakeland Invite on Thursday, April 24 and then on to Newport for the Barry Sartz Relays Saturday, April 26.
“Saturday’s Newport Relays was more of a fun, lowkey meet,” coach Jared Hughes said. “We took a lot fewer kids due to grades, injury and other things.”
Priest River boys were still able to come away with the victory at Barry Sartz, making it the team’s third first place trophy of the year. Brayden Lamanna seemingly cannot be stopped, winning the 1600-meter race at 4:31.12. Carter Korff, Peyton Whitehead, Ian Lamanna and Brayden won first place in the boys’ 1600-meter relay with a time of 3:49.1. Priest River boys Doug Ezell, Kellen Smith, Jack Zalewski and Daniel Gunkle took first in the 4000-meter relay at 12:43.5.
Niki Porinchok won first in discus, throwing 151 feet, 1 inch. He went on to take third in the shot put, throwing 41’, 2.5”. Ryan Bell won fourth place in javelin with 118’, 5”.
Ian Lamanna won first place in pole vault at 12’, 1”. Korff was the first-place winner in both the long jump and triple jump, with 19’, 5” and 37’, 1’, respectively.
The Spartans only had five girls compete, yet they were able to hold their own in the middle of the field. Haley Braae, Averii Meek, Ashlyn Korff and Kylee Swoboda won first in the girls’ 800-meter relay at 2:07.4. Swoboda had a great day in the high jump equaling her lifetime best of 5 feet, while also anchoring the winning sprint medley.
“Brayden Lamanna and Niki Porinchok continue to be the top of their class in their events,” Hughes said.
Only a few Priest River athletes competed in a limited number of events last Thursday at Lakeland. Brayden Lamanna won both of his races capped by what Hughes called “an amazing run” in the 3200-meter just one second off his school record while lapping the field. His brother Ian Lamanna moved up the ranks in the pole vault by tying the third best jump in school history. Chase Smith improved on her school record again while jumping a personal best in the triple jump.
“Both teams competed well with many personal bests as we continue to work hard and see improvement,” Hughes said.
Next up for the Spartans will be the Post Falls Meet of Champions on Thursday, May 1. There will be a limited number of athletes as this meet is for only the top 16 in all classification in North Idaho. This will be Priest River’s last regular season meet before Districts at St. Maries on May 9 and 10.
SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT RANGE MEDIA AND THE NEWPORT MINER NEWSPAPERS THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.
