Host of Bulldogs off to state

SANDPOINT — Another one bites the dust, as the Sandpoint High School track records continue to fall this season.

This time it was senior Matthew Burgstahler, who clocked a 1:57.46 to finish second at the 4A Regional meet in Lewiston on Saturday. Burgstahler broke the short-lived record of 1:57.57, set earlier this year by teammate Sam Levora.

SHS head coach Matt Brass was hoping Burgstahler would run the first lap under 57 seconds, then hang on for the final lap and try and stay with Moscow’s Jerry Cook, who won in 1:55. Burgstahler ran a 55 second first lap and closed better than he has all year, knocking more than two seconds off his PR.

“The 800 school record has been Matt’s goal since his sophomore year, and watching him work and struggle to get to a position to break it has been rewarding as coaches,” said Brass. “He’s very determined and talented. With the taper for state, he can break 1:57 this week.”

Freshman Rainey Woodward re-set her own school record in the 800, running mostly by herself for the final 550 meters to clock a 2:21. Mikhaela Woodward defended her district titles by winning the 1,600 and 3,200, and both sisters figure to challenge for a podium spot at state.

Lily DeAragon won the 400 in a time of 1:01.08, Sydney Foster was fourth in the mile with an eight second PR of 5:37, Bree Jones was 4th in the 800 with a 2:37, and Lauren Orr was 4th in the 400 with a 1:04. The Woodwards, along with DeAragon and Orr, combined to win the 4x400 relay in 4:09, which ranks them second in the state and four seconds off of the school record.

For the boys, who won the district title, Sam Levora won his third 3,200 regional title, followed by five more Sandpoint runners in a sweep of the event. In second was Jacob Graham with a 10:44, Matt Cloud in 3rd with a 10:49, and Alan Orr in 4th with a 10:53. For the 1,600, Levora placed second with a 4:28, and Jacob Graham was fourth with a 4:48.

In the 400, Mark Kennaly set a new PR, placing third in 52.56. Kennaly, Burgstahler, Levora and Wyatt Cox teamed up to run a 3:28 in the 4x400, placing second and just barely missing the school record.

The Sandpoint state lineup: Nikole Alamillo (shot and discus); Rainey Woodward (800, 4x400, sprint medley); Mikhaela Woodward (3,200, 1,600, 4x400); Lily DeAragon (400, sprint medley); Lani Wahl (sprint medley, long jump, triple jump); Madi Schoening (sprint medley); Lauren Orr (4x400); Sam Levora (1,600, 3,200); Matthew Burgstahler (800); Jacob Graham (3,200); Mark Kennaly (high jump); Grant Kennaly (high jump, pole vault); Carlos Collado (shot put); Ryan Schwartz (300 and 100 hurdles); Jake Rookey (long jump and triple jump); and Kyle Perry (100).

The state meet takes place Friday and Saturday at Donna Larson Park in Boise.