Chase Smith makes State, Priest River history

MIDDLETON — Priest River’s own Chase Smith made history at the 3A State Track and Field Championships, May 16–17, by becoming the first 3A javelin State Champion in Idaho state history. She is also the Spartans’ first girl to win a State Championship in an event since 2008.

“The Spartans had one of their best performances at the State track meet in school history,” head coach Jared Hughes says.

Spartan Boys and Girls Track and Field team set five new school records and had many personal bests at the competition, which was held at Middleton High School.

“We brought home the most medals since 2010,” Hughes says. “We had 15 of 16 athletes score in the meet. Thirteen of 16 were part of at least one personal or season best. What a great finish on an already great year.”

State medalists include Chase Smith in first place for javelin; Brayden Lamanna in second place for the 3200-meter and 1600-meter; Niki Porinchok in third place for discus; Kylee Swoboda won fourth for high jump; Ian Lamanna was fifth in pole vault; Carter Korff won sixth in long jump and high jump; the boys won fifth in the 1600-meter medley, including Korff, Simcox, I. Lamanna, B. Lamanna; and fourth place in the boys’ 4x200-meter, including Korff, I. Lamanna, Wright, and Simcox.

Spartan boys finished in seventh place, scoring 41.5 points, while the girls finished in 13th, scoring 18 points. This was the best finish, and most points scored at the State meet since 1991 for the boys, and the best finish and most points scored since 2014 for the girls, according to Hughes.

“It was especially satisfying after many of the athletes earning medals this year finished just out of the medals last year,” Hughes says.

Carter Korff finished in 7th place in two events in 2024. This year he came home with four medals. Brayden Lamanna finished in 7th place in the 1600-meter in 2024. This year, he came home with three medals, and three school records. Kylee Swoboda didn’t finish at state in 2024 in the high jump. This year she finished in fourth, tying her personal best and scored in all four of her events. Niki Porinchok finished 7th in the discus in 2024. This year, he finished in third with a new school record. Chase Smith had to wait a year for the first official javelin competition at state.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.