.png)
POST FALLS — The Priest River Lamanna track and field coaching staff has a lot to be proud of after the Meet of Champions in Post Falls, Thursday, April 30.
All the athletes had personal bests or medaled at the meet. Ian Lamanna won the pole vault with an impressive jump of 14 feet, 4 inches, but more impressively was his jump of 21 feet, 8 inches in the long jump to break one of Priest River’s oldest school records. The former record of 21 feet, 4.5 inches was held by Juan Garces and set in 1985.
Niki Porinchok continues to dominate the discus with a 10-foot victory, throwing 164 feet. Porinchok also finished fifth in the shot put. Gunnar Pettit had a great day, finishing with three personal or season bests of his four events. He finished fifth place in both the 400-meter and pole vault. He then joined Daniel Gunkle, Kellen Smith and Peyton Whitehead to finish fourth in the medley relay with a new season best. Last, but certainly not least, Ashlyn Korff had a great day in the long jump. Coming in seeded, 15th of 16 athletes, she jumped a new personal best of 14 feet, 8.5 inches to finish in sixth place.
The Spartans took 12 athletes to the Kellogg Last Chance meet Saturday, May 2. All the athletes competed hard and came away with many personal or season bests. Korff continued to lead the way on the girls’ team, finishing first in the 100-meter, second in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump. Freshman Rachel Roberts had the best day of her young career, winning the pole vault, the 200-meter and a fourth-place finish in the 100-meter. Junior Haylee Jepson is back full-time with track and field after softball finished their season. She had a great day, finishing second in the javelin throwing it for the first time all year and then placing third in both hurdles. Finally, Farrah Hollett and Trinity Meyer competed well in the throws, as Hollet scored in all three throwing events and Meyer in two. On the boys’ side, Porinchok won both the shot put and discus. He joined the 50-foot club in the shot put at 50 feet, 3 inches. Sophomore Landon Blackburn has worked hard this year, and it has paid off as he finished in third place in the long jump. Freshman Landen Meyers and Senior Tanner Hughes competed in the javelin for the first time this year and finished in fourth and sixth place, respectively. Peyton White head also had a good day, finishing fourth in the 300-meter.
“We continue to improve and fine tune heading into District Championship week,” coach Jared Hughes said.
Next up for the Spartans will be the CIL District Championships at St. Maries High School Friday and Saturday, May 8-9.
