Denham breaks district record in mile

CLARK FORK — Senior distance runner Adam Denham clocked a blazing 4:39 in the 1,600 meters, breaking the meet record Saturday at the 1A District 1-2 track and field championships in Kamiah.

Denham will run the 3,200, the 1,600 and the 800 at the state track and field meet beginning Friday in Boise, and Cats coach Frank Hammersley believes Denham will be a force to be reckoned with.

“He has a chance to win some medals,” said Hammersley of Denham, who has been to state twice before. “I’m confident he’ll do well in the 3,200 and 1,600, and has a chance to win both.”

Cody Bowers (discus), Mackenzie Quiroz (high jump), Max Frazier (800), Alisha McLelland (100, 200) and Zara Palmer (300 hurdles) also qualified for state.

Bowers, a senior, finished second in the discus with a personal best throw of 135-6. McLelland, just a freshman, has a bright future in the sprints and will get her first exposure to the state meet.

“Whether or not she places depends a lot on how she comes out of the blocks,” said Hammersley, noting it will be a big learning experience regardless. “The 200 is her best race. She can get out there and really pull, and she gets stronger as the race goes on.”

The Cats are peaking at the right time, as nearly everyone turned in the best performance of the season at districts.

“They didn’t really blossom until Saturday,” Hammersley said of his team, which like everyone else in North Idaho, has had to deal with brutal weather. “I’m really proud of them. They came away from regionals feeling they can compete, and if they win, more power to them.”