Alamillo claims second straight state discus title

EAGLE — While there might have been a little more drama that she wanted, at the end of the day, Sandpoint junior Nikole Alamillo defended her state title in the discus on day one Friday at the Idaho State Track and Field Championships at Eagle High School.

Alamillo, who won the event by more than five feet last year as a sophomore, was in fourth place heading into the finals before uncorking a throw of 119-1, seven feet less than her winning mark as a sophomore but just enough to beat the field.

After struggling early in the season, she looked at video of her form from last year and said that got her throwing better. Perhaps the toughest part on Friday was waiting while the other throwers tried to beat her mark.

“I’m kind of bummed that I only got 119, but it was cool that I won,” said Alamillo, who hopes to challenge for both a three-peat and the school record next year. “I’m going to push hard next year to get 10 more feet.”

Mom and coach Laura Alamillo said her daughter did what she had to do to get the state title, which at the end of the day is really all that matters.

“They were right on her tail. She went into the finals chasing the other girls,” said Laura, who was relieved when Nikole finally grabbed the lead for good. “There was a lot of prayer and hope that nobody would hit 119.”

In the 3,200, a Bulldog runner finished second in both the boys and girls race, one expected and the other a big surprise.

The surprise was sophomore Mikhaela Woodward shaving an almost unheard of 30 seconds off of her personal best to finish second in the girls race, clocking an 11:45. Her distance coach, Angie Brass, said the goal going into the race was to set a personal best and crack the top six. Woodward met both goals, and then some, improving upon last year’s 10th place finish and coming within five seconds of a state title.

“She felt out the competition, paced herself and worked from there. She was ready for the next big breakthrough, and she ran a brilliant race,” described Angie Brass. “There was a pack in the hunt for second, and her last 300 she just ran away from them. She’s a tough competitor, it was exciting.”

While Woodward’s finish was a surprise, junior Sam Levora was expected to finish in the top two based on seed times, improving upon last year’s third place finish in the 3,200. Levora went out fast, clocking a 4:35 over the first mile, trying to stay with defending state champion and elite distance runner Elijah Armstrong from Pocatello.

Levora finished at 9:32, about 17 seconds behind the winner. Distance coach Matt Brass called it a gutsy race, and said Levora could have run for a better time if that was his only goal, but he went for it in the championship atmosphere.

“He wanted to challenge himself and see how long he could hang with him (Armstrong),” said Brass, who feels Levora might have a chance to beat Armstrong in the 1,600 today. “He’s excited to do the same thing in the 1,600, see how fast he can go.”

Lani Wahl was 15th in the triple jump, sailing 32-02 for the only other Bulldog girl in finals action on the first day, as the Sandpoint girls are in second place as a team after day one.

There were also a couple of standout performances in the prelims, as Tim Prummer ran 50.45 to post the top time in the 400, and Lily DeAragon was third in the 400 and fifth in the 200 after the prelims.

The Sandpoint boys are in seventh place after the first day’s action.

The state  meet continues today, with the remaining field events and most of the running events taking place.