Bulldogs race to second at disrict's first day

LEWISTON — After strong showings by field event stalwarts Charlie Hirning and Sheldon Cramer, the Bulldog boys' team was in second place after the first day of the 4A District 1-2 Regionals in Lewiston on Thursday.

Charlie Hirning winning the high jump was pretty much a foregone conclusion, nailing a strong jump of 6-feet-4.

"It was a good jumping day for him," said coach Dave DeMers. "He relaxed and let it go on his last jump."

Hirning winning the triple jump was a surprise upset, winning the event for the first time this season with a final leap of 40-feet 6-inches.

Sheldon Cramer had a personal best throw of 156-feet to win the discus, edging Paul Morgan of Moscow by two feet. The pair has been going head to head in the throws all year with remarkably even results. Morgan edged Cramer in the shot put as both figure to be battling for the state title same time next week.

Joining Cramer and Hirning as state qualifiers are freshman Megan Bartlett, who finished third in the 3,200-meters with a 12:25, and Brooke DeMers, who won the high jump and finished third in the long jump, qualifying in both.

"She missed two times at 4-feet-8 and had to battle back to win; but she did it," said DeMers of his daughter who won with a jump of 5-feet-1.

The Medley Relay team of Candace Fournier, Brooke DeMers, Deserae Hitchings and Courtney Adams ran a season best time of 1:56.32, which was good for second and a time DeMers thinks could get the quartet into state as an at-large.

Freshman Vicky Vardell, who finished fifth in the 3,200-meters at 12:49, was the only other Bulldog to place on the opening day.

The bulk of action will be today, when most of the track events take place. Action begins at 11 a.m.