Spartans take the track this Saturday to open season

LEWISTON — As long as the weather complies, the Priest River track team will open its 2021 season Saturday at the Lewiston Invitational.

After having last season canceled, the Spartans are filled with inexperience. Only five of the 23 athletes currently on the team have competed in a high school track meet before.

That will change this weekend, but head coach Jared Hughes said he isn't worried about the lack of experience his kids possess because of their talent and the staff they have around them.

"We expect a lot of learning to happen early in the season with hopes of success come league and district time," Hughes said. "We also have a great group of coaches this year. They bring a wealth of knowledge and experience and I am blessed to work with them."

Participation numbers are low this spring for the Spartans. After graduating a large senior class, the team has 10 less athletes this spring. Hughes said he believes the low turnout is a result of the 2020 season being ripped away, which is something that has been seen across most sports at the school over the past few months.

Priest River lost stars like Teagun Holycross, who is now running at the University of Montana, and Cassidy Prudek during the offseason. But the underclassmen coming up have plenty of potential and Hughes is excited to see them make strides throughout the season.

The girls are thin with only eight athletes, but Annika Rantala, the sole senior on the track team, is back and ready to chase some glory after just missing out on making it to state in cross country this fall.

Rantala made it to state in the 3200 in 2019 and finished 12th with a personal record time of 12:35. She could also see some action in the 800 and 1600.

Junior Erika Swoboda returns after finishing sixth in the 400 and high jump as a freshman. She will also be a key piece in relays for the Spartans.

Sophomore Allyson Dickinson didn't get a chance to compete last season, but she has a pretty strong reputation on the track. While running for Priest River Junior High in 2019 as an eighth grader, she won the district title in the 200 and 400, and finished second in the 100.

Hughes is also expecting big things from freshman Allyson Barton, who finished first in the shot put and discus at districts in seventh grade at Newport Middle School.

The boys have 15 athletes this spring and are led by juniors Erik Deem and Jordan Nortz. Deem joined the track team last spring and he was looking good in sprints and the pole vault before the season was canceled, Hughes said.

Jordan is fresh off an all-league season on the basketball team. Jordan posted high marks in the long, high and triple jumps as a freshman at Riverside High in Chattaroy, Washington, and Hughes believes he could turn a lot of heads in league meets this season.

Jordan's younger brother, Dylan Nortz, earned league titles in the long jump, triple jump and 100 in middle school as a seventh grader and he's also been raising eyebrows so far at practice, Hughes said.

Sophomores Dylan Lord, Aidan Troumbley and Ethan Korff all ran cross country in the fall and Lord made it to the 3A state championships and placed 50th. Hughes is looking for Lord to give the Spartans plenty of points in distance events this spring.

The boys also have sophomore Joey Hayes, who placed first in the long jump and second in the 100 at districts as an eighth grader.

With the amount of young talent the Spartans boast this spring, the future on the track for Priest River certainly looks bright.

Events at the Lewiston Invitational start at 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 schools are expected to take part in the meet.