Priest River track and field sets new PRs at 23rd-annual Priest River Invitational
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Colby Poe throws the shot put during the Priest River Invitational on April 20. Poe’s 52-2 won the event.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Sharnai Hogan runs the far corner of the 1600 meters on April 20. Hogan placed third in the event with a 5:58.84 — the second time she's run sub-6 this season.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Robbie Anselmo (right) hands off the baton to Noah Martinez (left) in the first leg of the 4x200 relay on April 20.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Priest River hurdler Teagun Holycross runs the home stretch of the 300 hurdles at the Priest River Invitational on April 20. Holycross set a new season PR with a 41.73 in front of his home crowd on Saturday.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Freshman Erika Swoboda leads off the sprint medley relay at the Priest River Invitational on April 20.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Priest River junior Cassidy Prudek finishes off the 200 during the Priest River Invitational on April 20.
On what was the de facto senior night for Priest River track and field’s senior-heavy team, the upperclassmen battled rain and injuries to set new PRs across the board last Saturday April 20.
“The meet went great,” Priest River track and field head coach Jared Hughes wrote in an email. “It was the largest number of entries in the meet history. There are always a few hiccups, like the rain, a few timing glitches and a few workers couldn’t make it. Other than that there were a ton of personal bests and season best for all 15 teams.”
Performing in front of an ample home crowd, Colby Poe and Teagun Holycross carried the boys team to a second-place finish behind Sandpoint. Holycross had the best individual performance of any male in the meet: The junior won the 100 (11.61), 200 (23.49), placed second in the 300 hurdles with a season PR of 41.73, then capped off his busy day by anchoring the 4x400 to the team’s first sub-4 finish of the season.
Elsewhere, Poe had a busy day as well. The senior thrower won the shot put with a new PR of 52-2, good for third-best in program history. He also ran the 4x100 and a leg of the sprint medley relay, which both ran season-best times.
Cameron Parkes was the only other top-three finisher for the boys. The senior battled sore knees to finish third in the triple jump with a 38-5.
Over on the girls’ side, freshman Erika Swoboda placed 10th and a new PR in the 400 in a 1:07, then ran in the 4x100 and sprint medley relays — both of which finished in the top five.
Sharnai Hogan was the lone Priest River medalist for the girls.
The junior not only broke six minutes in the 1600 for the second time this season, but also placed third with a new PR of 5:58.84.
The Spartans will run at the Timberlake Invitational this Friday, which starts at 2:30 p.m.