SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Clark Fork Track & Field has great opportunity to send more athletes to state championship

Last season: BOYS – North Star League Champions; 1A District 1/2 Track and Field Championships, 9th place. GIRLS – North Star League, 3rd place; 1A District 1/2 Track and Field Championships, 12th place.

Coach: Matt Majors, 6th season

Athletes to watch: DISTANCE – Westin Caven, so. SPRINTS/HURDLES – Dillon Ryan-Downing, sr.; Wyatt Mintken, sr.; Olivia Yetter, jr.; Rachel Weymouth, jr. THROWS – Arrow Christofferson, sr.; Roxie Ryan-Downing, so. JUMPS – Carson Yetter, sr. 

BOYS

It’s not everyday you get athletes like Nathan Shelton and Savannah Weymouth at a small school like Clark Fork, and now that the pair has graduated, the Wampus Cats will be looking for athletes to fill-in the gaps this year… It’s a good thing Clark Fork has plenty of athletes willing and ready to do so.

Senior thrower Arrow Christofferson returns and will be looking to take home the North Star League title in both the discus and shotput. Last year, Christofferson finished in second by less than two feet in each event. His personal bests are 35-6.5 in the shot put, 105-1 in the discus.

“Arrow has done a tremendous job embracing being a thrower,” head coach Matt Majors said. “Nona Young, a Clark Fork alumni who coaches our throws – she has helped cultivate the atmosphere here – where you can join the team and just throw and not be expected to do other things.”

Seniors Wyatt Mintken and Dillon Ryan-Downing return in the sprints. Mintken was second in both the 100 and 200 in the NSL last year; Dillon Ryan-Downing was fourth in both events. Ryan-Downing holds personal bests of 11.86 in the 100 and 24.33 in the 200; Mintken 11.86 in the 100 and 24.04 in the 200.

“Wyatt has done really well for us in the sprints,” Majors said. “Dillon is another sprinter who has worked hard this offseason and has put on some muscle. You can definitely see it translating already; he’s faster and more explosive.”

Sophomore Westin Caven will hold down the distance events. Last year, Caven won the NSL 1600 title with a time of 5:09.22, a time he will surely drop this year after a standout cross country season. In hurdles, senior Carson Yetter will take on the challenge along with the long jump. This year, Austin Henson and Emmitt Smith will be pole vaulting for the Wampus Cats.

All-in-all, Clark Fork is looking like they have a good opportunity to win the NSL title once again.

GIRLS

Junior Olivia Yetter will lead the Wampus Cats on the girls side. Yetter finished second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 300 hurdles in the NSL last season. She finished seventh, one spot away from the state championship, at the 1A District 1/2 Track and Field Championships; she was also ninth in the 300 hurdles at that same championship meet. She boasts personal bests of 18.26 in the 100 hurdles and 56.83 in the 300 hurdles

“Olivia has also worked really hard this offseason,” Majors said. “She is coming into the season in good shape. We’re really hoping she can make it to state this year.”

Junior Rachel Weymouth is another Wampus Cat to watch out for. Weymouth will look to fill in at pole vault and in the 100. Sophomore Roxie Ryan-Downing could also have a breakout season; last year, she threw a personal record of 61-3.5 in the discus, good enough for fourth in the NSL.

“I love seeing the kids; we have 20 kids out this season,” Majors said. “It’s a testament to these kids – how they are all dedicated and buying into the program. We have some amazing coaches for a small school like ours, it’s unbelievable. These kids are really thriving.”

Clark Fork Track & Field Schedule

3/16 – @ Bonners Ferry Invite

3/23 – @ Howard Dolphin Invite

4/13 – @ Kellogg Relays

4/20 – @ Priest River Invite

4/26 – @ Timberlake Invitational

4/30 – @ North Star League Meet (Clark Fork)

5/2 – @ District I Meet of Champions (Post Falls)

5/17/18 – @ Idaho State Championship (Middleton)