Track teams look ahead to 2008
SANDPOINT - Led by senior returning state placers Brooke DeMers and Desi Hutchings, the Sandpoint girls track team has its sights set on winning a regional title, and looks to match its third place finish at the state meet last season.
DeMers, who finished third at state last year in the high jump, has won the district high jump title three times, and has been the highest scoring girl on the girls team since she was a freshman. She'll also do the hurdles, long jump and relays, but her signature event remains the high jump, where she hopes to break the school record (5-5) and improve upon her personal best of 5-4.
Hutchings is the fastest runner on the girls team, and will focus on the 200 meters and various relays. She finished second at state last year in the 200 meters and along with DeMers, she'll be counted on to lead the team.
“Both of those two have great leadership and work ethic,” says coach Dave DeMers. “Both will be counted on a lot.”
Senior Brittany Groenhout will use her gymnastics background to give the Bulldogs their first pole vaulter in a few years. Along with senior Nicole Van Dyk and junior Candace Fournier, the Bulldogs will be able to put together a host of strong relays, which will be one of their strengths. Juniors Kat and Vicky Vardell will be counted on in the distance events, and to help compensate for the absence of returning state 3,200 meter runner Megan Bartlett, who opted not to turn out this season. Christina Johnson returns with state experience in the discus.
“These girls want to win,” says DeMers. “I think we can win regionals and be in the top three at state.”
The boys team will be led by seniors Trevor Johnson and Ethan Vest, both of whom return with a wealth of experience in both sprints and relays. Junior Josh Kopsa returns with state experience, and will specialize in the 200, 400 and various relays. Sophomore Cody Hecker will do the long jump, sprints and hurdles, and has a very bright future, as shown by a 21 foot leap in the long jump last season.
“He's without a doubt the best athlete out here,” says DeMers of Hecker. “He looks extremely good in the hurdles.”
Ray Lee and Sione Pualioa add quality depth to the boys team.
While the overall team turnout is down a little from previous years, DeMers remains excited about how hard his team is working, despite the adverse spring weather conditions, which have kept them inside for the most part.
“The expectations are high, I'm not going to let them go lower,” says DeMers. “Conditioning and want-to will take care of a lot of things.”
The Bulldogs open their season at the Christina Finney Invitational Thursday in Post Falls.