Holycross breaks 35-year-old record, Parkes medals on last day of state meet
(Photo courtesy of CHARITY HEGAL AND JAIME MARTINEZ) Priest River junior Teagun Holycross walks to the 300 meter hurdles start line duing day two of the 3A State Track and Field Championships on May 18. Holycross set a new school record in the 300s with a 40.56.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Priest River senior Cameron Parkes elevates during the triple jump at the 3A State Track and Field Championships on May 17. Parkes placed fourth by jumping 38-5.75.
(Photo by KYLE CAJERO) Priest River senior Noah Martinez glances at his opponents during the 110 meter high-hurdles on May 17.
If Priest River state champion thrower Colby Poe kicked off the season finale with a bang, then junior hurdler Teagun Holycross brought the Spartans home in style.
Holycross broke a 35-year-old record in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles by running a 40.56 to place third on the final day of the 3A State Track and Field Championships on May 18. Holycross led the Spartans to an eighth-place team finish — the program’s best finish since 1992.
“Teagun had a tremendous meet,” Priest River head coach Jared Hughes said. “His third place finish in the 300 meter hurdles was inspiring. This record was the fourth-oldest record we have on our records board.”
The previous record was set by Brad King in 1984 with a time of 40.64.
Like Holycross had done all season, he wasn’t merely a one-and-done. He tied his personal best in the 100 meter dash with an 11.23 en route to a fourth place finish.
All told, Priest River’s 14-member squad boasted three athletes that medaled — two of whom made the podium in multiple events. Aside from Holycross’s big Saturday and Poe’s state title in the shot put and fourth-place finish in the disc, senior jumper Cameron Parkes placed twelfth in the triple jump and third in the high jump by clearing six feet.
“Cameron Parkes came through with a big PR in the high jump,” Hughes said. “He has been jumping 5-10 most of the year, but had a breakout meet jumping 6-0 and just missed 6-2 on his third attempt.”
Parkes’ points earned from the high jump were invaluable. Clearing 6-0 separated Parkes from a logjam that finished at 5-10, led by Filer freshman Jake Lamoreaux. Instead of earning 3.5 points in the high jump, Parkes earned six, which helped the Spartans leapfrog Filer and Gooding in the team standings.
The difference between Priest River and ninth-place Filer? Two-and-a-half points.
Regardless of whether or not they scored points, the majority of the Spartans whom competed at state set new personal bests.
“We had a couple of kids that had season or lifetime bests, but may have not finishing high in the rankings,” Hughes said. “All the kids ran great times and had a great experience at state.”
Over on the girls’ side, distance runner Sharnai Hogan shaved seven seconds off her personal best in the 1600 to place seventh with a 5:41.99. Annika Rantala ran a lifetime PR in the 3200 meters with a 12:35.26. Rantala, the lone Spartan underclassman to compete at state, finished twelfth in that event.
Although Holycross, Rantala and Hogan return next season, the Spartans look to replace eight of its 14 state-qualifying athletes — including five relay legs across the boys sprint medley and 4x400 meter relays.