Bullpup 7th grade girls, 8th grade boys win at district track

RATHDRUM — The SMS 7th grade girls capped an undefeated season with a win, and the SMS 8th grade boys also posted a win, at the 5A/4A Middle School District Track Championships recently at Lakeland High School.

The athletes and teams were split up by grade level for the meet, which featured Sandpoint, Canfield, Coeur d’Alene Charter, Lakeland, Lakes, Post Falls, River City and Woodland.

Hattie Larson, Olivia Lynch and Jordie Breeden helped lead the 7th grade girls to an outstanding 103 points, with Post Falls next closest at 77.5 points.

Larson started the Bullpups out right placing 2nd with a time of 6:04 in the 1,600. Larson ran a very strategically smart 800 to win with a time of 2:43. Camille Neuder followed in 6th.

Breeden, back from a minor injury, remained undefeated for the season in the 100 and Long Jump. Her 100 time was 14.04 and she jumped 13’8”. Lynch remained undefeated for the season by winning the high jump with a height of 4’6”. Lynch finally broke 1:08 in the 400 to place 3rd. For their 3rd event, both Lynch and Breeden moved up to run relays with the 8th grade team.

Serenity Landis shaved over a full second off her 100 hurdle time to take 4th. Larson took 3rd in the discus followed by Stephanie Bishop’s first podium finish in 4th, with sister Michelle Bishop 7th, and Kaitlyn Stewart 8th. Stewart was 3rd in the shot put and Stephanie Bishop 6th.

Both 4x100 and 4x200 relay teams took 2nd. The 4x100 team of Eva Shipton, Breann Klopman-Baerselman, Baylee Oulman and Jocalyn Gors edged out Lakeland by 0.09 seconds to secure 2nd place. The 4x200 was even closer for 2nd place, slipping past Post Falls by 0.06 seconds. The team was made up of Serenity Landis, Camille Neuder, Helen Wells and Breann Klopman-Baerselman.

“This group of girls has been a lot of fun to coach,” said head coach Jake Peterson. “They are very coachable and have great attitudes to get better everyday.”

The 8th grade girls took 3rd with a score of 67.5, behind Canfield with 84.5 points and River City with 72.5 points. The 8th grade girls were lead by the field event athletes.

Maddi Morgan and Makayla Chapman led the way. Morgan placed 2nd and had a PR in the long jump with a distance of 14’. Chapman took 5th in the long jump and Kailyn Shaffer took 6th for her first podium finish of the season. Morgan edged out Chapman by 4.5” in the shot put to take 3rd and 4th respectfully. Anneli Wedemeyer has been solid in the discus all season and launched it 75’ for 2nd place.

Megan Parnell took 4th in the high jump. Helping out on the track was Taitam Bowen who took 4th in the 200, and Kaylee Solis and Paige Davidson 5th and 6th in 1,600. Bowen and Solis teamed up on the 4x100 with Maddi Morgan and Jordie Breeden to place 5th. Bowen, Solis, Emi Lynch and Olivia Lynch ran the 4x200 and placed 3rd.

The 8th grade boys beat out Woodland by 3 points with a score 88 to win the district championship. The field events are also the boys strong suit. Jacob Suhr threw the shot put 36’9” for first. Garrett Chandler leaped 15’11” in the long jump for first, followed by Walker Hermann in 3rd. Chandler also took 2nd in the high jump followed by Conner Moreno’s PR of 5’ for 3rd.

Spencer Rucker launched the discuss 87’8” for 3rd. Jaxon Pettit got his first win in the 110 hurdles with a time of 17.26 followed by Jacob Ryan 4th with a time of 17.68. Pettit also placed 6th in 800. Gabe Christman and Hermann both chipped in with 5th place finishes in the 1,600 and 200, respectively.

The 4x100 relay team of Pettit, Hermann, Ryan, and Chandler took 3rd. Two 7th graders, Braden Kappen and Tag Benefield, ran up on the 4x200 relay team with Suhr and Nathan Demko to take 2nd. Kappen and Benefield were the lone scorers for the 7th grade boys placing 4th and 6th in the 200 and the long jump, respectfully.