Levora, Woodwards shine at Pasco meet
SANDPOINT — Two Sandpoint track records fell on Saturday, and another two seem in imminent danger, as four Bulldog distance runners had strong meets at the prestigious 110 team Pasco Invitational on Saturday, which featured more than 1,500 athletes.
Senior Sam Levora clocked a 4:17.86, lowering his own school record by more than two seconds. The time is the fastest in North Idaho this year, and close to the top time in the state, a 4:16.97 by Andrew Rafla of Timberline in Boise.
Levora beat a large field of top distance runners from all over the Inland Northwest, running the exact race he and distance coach Matt Brass had discussed.
“In a race like this, someone is always going to go out fast,” described Brass, who told Levora to just stay close through the first two laps. “He took the lead down the home stretch of the second lap. He executed exactly how he wanted to.”
Freshman Rainey Woodward was equally impressive, clocking a 2:21.23 to finish fifth out of 33 runners in the 800. The personal best shaved nearly three seconds off Michelle Reina’s 14 year-old SHS record of 2:23.8, a substantial time drop and indicative of a bright future ahead.
“We knew the school record was just a matter of time,” admitted Brass. “With about 180 meters left, she unleashed a kick and caught two girls.”
Junior Mikhaela Woodward finished third among a field of 32 runners in the 1,600, clocking a 5:17.4, just one second off her personal best a within five seconds of Donya Rumore’s school record from 2003.
Woodward also finished eighth in the 3,200 in 11:49, with Brass calling her a smart racer.
“There were 39 girls on the line (in the 1,600) and she got collapsed at the start,” described Brass. “She rallied and had a great kick finish.”
Matthew Burgstahler broke the two minute barrier for the first this season in the 800, clocking a 1:59.9 and closing in on Preston Martin’s SHS record of 1:58.3 from 1995.
The Bulldog track team returns to action on Saturday at the Rasmussen Invitational at Coeur d’Alene High School.