Palmer, Becker lead Wampus Cat track team

KOOTENAI — Zara Palmer and James Becker each claimed two wins to lead the Clark Fork track team at a North Star League meet at Kootenai High School on Tuesday.

Palmer won the 300 hurdles (52.74) and 100 hurdles (19.74) to lead the Wampus Cat girls team in the four team meet, which also included Kootenai, Lakeside and Wallace. Head coach Frank Hammersley says Palmer has a chance to drop time all the way leading up to state.

“She’s on track in improving her time, it’s just a matter of endurance more than anything,” he said of Palmer. “I’m hoping she can get into the 17’s, and maybe 50 seconds in the 300.”

Becker won the shot put (38-5) and the discus (110-6), winning both events handily.

“I hope he’ll hit that 40 (feet) mark and go beyond,” said Hammersley, calling Becker the top thrower in the North Star League. “He just needs the time to improve his technique.”

Chaunce Nesbitt had a solid all-around meet, winning the long jump (17-7), finishing second in the triple jump (35-5) and third in both the 300 and 110 hurdles, where he dropped more than two seconds off his personal best in the 300 (47.84) and a second in the 110 (18.24).

Moranda Becker won the long jump (13-4) and finished second in the triple jump (28-2), Mackenzie Quiroz was second in the high jump (4-6) and Ashley Olding third in the 100 (15.64) to round out the top girls finishes.

Max Frazier was second in both the 1,600 (5:26) and the 3,200 (11:29), Cory Belville was second in the 400 (1:13) and James Kennerly was second in the high jump (5-0) to round out the top boys finishes.

Clark Fork is at Kootenai in a 13 team meet on Saturday.