Former SHS track standouts shine at WAC tourney

NAMPA — A trio of former Sandpoint track standouts competed in the WAC Indoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Jackson’s Indoor track in Nampa, led by senior Eric DeMers, who finished sixth in the men’s heptathlon.

DeMers collected his fifth championship ring, as the men’s team edged Utah State for the indoor championship. DeMers, who finished third last year in WAC outdoor decathlon, scored 4,823 points overall. He finished second in the shot (39-07) and 1,000 meters (2:55), third in the pole vault (13-11), sixth in the 60 meter dash (7.4) and 60 meter hurdles (8.94), and eighth in the long jump (21-0) and high jump (5-11).

Eric’s younger sister Brooke DeMers, a freshman on the Broncos track team, also had a solid showing, finishing ninth in the pentathlon with 3,120 points. She finished third in the high jump, ninth in the 800 meters, 11th in the long jump and 60 meter hurdles, and 14th in the shot put.

Brooke also finished 12th individually in the high jump (5-3) and 24th in the long jump (16-0).

Freshman Brittany Groenhout finished 17th in the pole vault by clearing 10 feet. The Broncos now head into the outdoor season.