SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: Sandpoint Track & Field looking to repeat district titles under new head coach Doug Fry

Last season: BOYS – 4A District 1/2 Regional Champions; State Championship, 8th place. GIRLS – 4A District 1/2 Regional Champions; State Championship, 5th place.

Head Coach: Doug Fry, first season

Athletes to watch: DISTANCE – Nathan Roche, sr.; Lily Richardson, sr.; Daniel Ricks, sr.; Grace Rookey, sr.; Kasten Grimm, sr.; Callahan Waters, so. SPRINTS/HURDLES – Ryder Haynes, sr.; Isaac Schmit, so.; Ani Vick, so.; Noah Roark, jr. THROWS – Isaac Vermeer, jr.; Ivy Smith, sr.; JUMPS – Saige Smith, sr. POLE VAULT – Klein Fragoso, sr.; Devin McDaniel, sr.

Sandpoint Track & Field lost some firepower to last year’s graduating class, but both the boys and girls still possess a lot of talent and remain district favorites this season. Roughly 115 athletes have come out for the team. New head coach Doug Fry said he is really excited about the coaching staff that has been assembled and the crew is ready to get down to business.

“We’re hoping we can do it again,” Fry said in regards to both the boys and girls winning district titles last year. “The key to this year is staying healthy. Last year we were always hurt – just lots of nagging things, nothing major. Track & Field is a chill, but intense sport. No matter what, we’re going to keep it light and lively and have fun, but at the same time I want to help fulfill dreams.”

BOYS

Nathan Roche will lead the distance squad. A senior, Roche broke the 16-minute barrier in the 5k this past cross country season, running a 15:57 at the 6th Annual Battle for the 509 in Airway Heights. During indoor season, he posted a 4:37 mile, a strong time for mid-January. He boasts a personal best of 4:25.91 in the 1600-meter run, a time he ran at the 4A state championship last year and placed eighth. Roche has consistently placed first at multiple invitationals and district championships in the 800, 1600, and 3200 and has been part of many winning 4x800 and SMR relays; he will be relied on to score a lot of points for the Bulldogs this season. Also to watch out for are seniors Kasten Grimm and Daniel Ricks as well as sophomore Callahan Waters, all of whom qualified for the 4A state championship last year in various individual events.

In the sprints and hurdles, senior Ryder Haynes is a returning state qualifier to keep an eye on. Last year, Haynes won the 4A District 1/2 title in the 100-meter dash with a personal best time of 11.41 seconds. At the 4A state championship he placed 14th amongst a stacked field. Isaac Schmit is also an up-and-coming sophomore who could play a big role in Sandpoint’s success this season. During his freshman year, he placed fifth and sixth in the 100 and 200, respectively, at the district championship meet, but has dropped his time significantly this past winter. He split a 200 time of 22.77 seconds recently, which would have been right up there with last year’s top three district finishers. The Bulldogs will need someone to step up in the hurdles and jumps after losing standout Rusty Lee to graduation.

As for the field events, Klein Fragoso returns after winning the 4A District 1/2 title last year with a vault of 14-1, his personal best. This indoor season he has already vaulted 13-5.5, his second best vault ever, showing he is on the right track for another big season. At last year’s state championship Fragoso was an impressive fifth, and was the second junior. For throws, junior Isaac Vermeer will look to lead the Bulldogs in shotput and discus this year. Vermeer finished second and third in the shotput and discus, respectively, at last year’s district championship. He comes into the season with a discus personal best of 111-2 and shotput best of 42-1.

    Sandpoint's Nathan Roche wins the 1600-meter run at last years' 4A District 1/2 Regional Championship.
  

GIRLS

Senior Lily Richardson will not only lead the distance squad this year, but is also one the Bulldogs’ top 300 hurdlers. Richardson won the 3200-meter 4A District 1/2 title last year with a personal best time of 11:54.32 and placed second in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 48.83 seconds. She placed 15th in the 3200 and 11th in the 300 hurdles at last year’s state championship. Grace Rookey is another senior to watch out for; she finished third in both the 1600 and 800 at last year’s district championship. Freshmen Elizabeth Storms and Sienna Todd-Murrary will also make an impact.

In the sprints and hurdles, Ani Vick returns after placing third in both the 100 and 300 hurdles last year’s district championship. She was also a part of the Bulldogs 4x200 relay that won a title. She boasts personal bests of 17.84 in the 100 hurdles and 49.18 in the 300 hurdles. Vick will be utilized in a lot of different sprinting events this season as Sandpoint graduated a few solid sprinters last year. Junior Noah Roark is also slated to be a standout in the 400 this year.

“I really feel solid about our 4x4,” Fry said. “We have a few freshmen who are going to make some noise. I’m excited about it. There is some real talent here. My personal goal is to have a boys and girls 4x4 on the podium at state. That’s really the litmus test for a solid track program.”

As for the field events, the Bulldogs are well-rounded. Ivy Smith was crowned district champion and 4A state champion in the shot put. Her mark of 40-0 at the state championship was roughly three feet ahead of the second place finisher. In the discus, Smith was also the 4A District 1/2 champion last year and placed fourth at state. She’ll certainly be looking for the double crown this season. In the pole vault, senior Devin McDaniel returns after a second place finish at state last year, where she vaulted a personal best of 11-0. McDaniel will be the overwhelming favorite in 4A District 1/2 and will look to repeat with another title win. In the jumps, senior Saige Smith has a chance to make an impact in both the triple and long jump.

Sandpoint Track & Field Schedule

3/16 – @ Bonners Ferry Invitational

3/22 – @ Sweeney Invitational (Lewiston)

3/28 – @ Mt. Spokane Invitational

4/13 – @ Pasco Invitational + Van Kuren Invitational

4/16 – @ Christina Finney Relays (Post Falls)

4/19 – @ Rasmussen Invitational (CDA)

4/20 – @ Priest River Invitational

4/26 – @ Timberlake Invitational

4/27 – @ Legends Meet (Walla Walla)

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

5/9-10 – @ District Championship

5/16-18 – State Championship @ Mountain View HS