Woodward hungry for title

SANDPOINT — As a sophomore, she finished second at state in both the 3,200 and 1,600 meters.

Last year as a junior, it was another runner-up finish in the 1,600, a state title once again just out of her reach.

So as a senior, Sandpoint’s Mikhaela Woodward upped the ante by adding the 800 meters to the state slate, the rare athlete to attempt the 3,200, 1,600 and 800 at state, as the latter two are run hours apart, and all three demand much of the legs.

So what possessed the accomplished runner to add the 800 at state, an event her younger sister Rainey Woodward won as a freshman, but was unable to defend as a sophomore due to injury?

“I figured it was my senior year, so I might as well try it,” said Woodward of the distance tri-fecta. “I would like to break the Sandpoint school record in the 1,600 and 800.”

Woodward is seeded No. 2 in the 800 field for the 4A state meet, just tenths of a second ahead of freshman teammate Hannah Davidson, who is seeded No. 3. Woodward is also seeded No. 3 in the 1,600 and No. 8 in the 3,200, and feels the 800 might be her best shot for a state title.

“I think I can do it. I’m pretty excited, it would be pretty nice to win,” described Woodward, admitting she’d love to defend the title for her younger sister. “I feel really bad she can’t run. This year me and Hannah are going to run for her.”

A pair of strong runners from Blackfoot have superior seed times in the 1,600, and Woodward is hoping to tuck in early and stick with them as long as possible, then see what happens down the stretch.

Distance coach Matt Brass feels like her best shot to win is in the 1,600 or the 800, where she can utilize her biggest strength.

“She has great speed and proved it with her Regional races,” said Matt Brass. “The key is in reading the race and deciding when the right time to move is, which she does very well.”

A state title is the main goal, but breaking Donya Rumore’s school record of 5:12.51 in the 1,600, which was set in 2003, is also a big goal. The 3,200 is run on Friday night, with the 1,600 and 800 both run on Saturday, one of the primary reason why most athletes attempt only one or two of the leg-sapping races.

Woodward has that extra hunger only a senior has, knowing it’s the last go around. Distance coach Angie Brass, who has coached Woodward in both track and cross country for the past three years, knows she’ll be in the mix in all of her races.

“She is a smart, fierce competitor, with the opportunity for her last three high school track races ahead of her,” said Angie Brass. “Mikhaela and Hannah are running their 800 races in Rainey’s honor on Saturday.”