Sandpoint track looks to build on success

The Sandpoint track team is coming off a remarkable season with the boys placing third at the 4A Idaho state track meet.

It was the first time since 2004 that the Bulldogs came home with hardware following the state meet.

“We had strength in every discipline," Sandpoint track coach Matt Brass said. “Rusty Lee and Braden Kappen scored a lot of points for us.”

Kappen, who won the long jump, and medaled in several other events, graduated.

Kappen was involved in almost every relay for the Bulldogs, but the good news is three out of the four runners will be back in 2022.

Keyan Strock is going to be taking Kappen’s spot in the 4x400 meter relay in 2022.

“I have some big shoes to fill,” Strock said. “I’m a little nervous about it, but I’m really pumped for the season this year.”

“The goal for each runner in those relays is to improve a little bit each week,” Brass said. “We’re at a pretty good start for the beginning of the season.”

The 4x200 meter relay was especially a strength for the Bulldogs in 2021. With three of its returners back in the race, the racers have big aspirations for 2022.

The team almost beat the school record in 2021, being one second off at the 4A Idaho state meet.

Luke McCorkle took full responsibility for the delayed time.

“I had a really bad handoff,” McCorkle said. “That caused us to place sixth in that race. If we get all the fundamentals down, we can definitely get first at state this year.”

The four runners in the 4x200 meter relay have great chemistry after running together for the last three years.

“Chemistry is big for any sport, really,” Lee said. “Even though track has a lot of individual events, we all have to be on the same page. We’re all pushing each other to do our best.”

McCorkle said that chemistry also extends into competition.

“Even with stretches and warming up, we push each other until we break,” McCorkle said. “Every rep that we get where we can compete, we try to.”

Even with each athlete in the relay having aspirations to have a great individual season, the four are hoping for success as a unit.

“We all have big goals individually, but we also have goals for us as a whole,” McCorkle said. “With us seniors running together for three years, we’ve built amazing chemistry. We’re hoping for big things this season.”

Lee, a senior, will once again be a major contributor to Sandpoint..

Lee medaled in all four events that he competed in last season, most notably a second place finish in the 300 meter hurdles.

"I’ve mostly been working on my form during the offseason,” Lee said. “I’m working on being better on my alternate leg so I can hurdle with both legs to get faster.”

Brass is excited to bring Lee back, saying he’s a natural leader on the track.

“ (Rusty) Lee is a natural track athlete,” Brass said. “He’d be great for the decathlon some day. He has great speed and great jumping ability,”

Lee was also very close to beating the school record in the 300 meter hurdles, falling short by about a tenth of a second.

His biggest goal this year though, isn’t to set the record.

“I just want to set competitive times,” Lee said. “It wouldn’t be that big of a personal record for me. I just want to get better and run faster.”

In the early stages of the season, it seems like Sandpoint will be down in numbers again in 2022.

According to brass, last year's sophomore and junior class was the smallest class it had in years.. However, the current freshman and sophomore class is going to be “solid” Brass said.

The girls placed ninth at state in 2021 and graduated several girls along the way, putting them in a rebuilding mode of sorts.

However, its strongest event is the pole vault, highlighted by Erika Edmundson, who placed third at state last year.

Despite Edmundson being the only state qualifier returning for the event, the Bulldogs girls team has depth in the pole vault.

“We have about three or four girls that have experience in pole vault,” Brass said. “They’ve consistently been working on getting better.”

As for the throwers, Ivy Smith, a sophomore, has been working hard to master her craft during the offseason.

She’s spent a lot of time at throwing clinics, according to Brass. She’s also been working with senior Will Hurst.

Hurst will not be competing in 2022 due to a torn ACL.

Sandpoint’s throwing coach Ryan Knowles, will have a core of about 16 throwers.

Sandpoint is also loaded with distance runners..

Junior Ara Clark, who was a big contributor to Sandpoint’s cross country team, will be the head of the event.

Megan Outman and Maren Davis, who placed sixth at state in the 800 last year, will also be contributing in the distance events.

Taylor Petz, who was a multi medalist at the state tournament a year ago, graduated. Which leaves a hole for sprinting events in 2022.

Brass is expecting big things from Aliya Strock, an all-league basketball player. He said the sophomore will anchor the sprinting events..

“I’m happy with where we’re at (with the sprinters),” Brass said. “I’m optimistic we’ll have a solid crew.”