SPRING SPORTS PREVIEW: New track, same team, same goal... Sandpoint Track & Field to contend once again

Last season: BOYS — 4A (now 5A) District 1-2 Champions; 10 state competitors. GIRLS — 4A (now 5A) District 1-2 Champions; 11 state competitors.

Coaches: Doug Fry, head coach, second season; Tyler Haynes, assistant coach, sprints; Blake Houchin, assistant coach, pole vault; Sam Becker ('21), assistant coach, pole vault; Brian Smith ('95), assistant coach, throws; Dave DeMers ('78), assistant coach, jumps; Luke Lee, hurdles; Mike Ehredt, distance.

Key returners: BOYS — Isaac Schmit (sprints), jr.; Paul Kent (distance), jr.; Jess Herman (hurdles), sr.; Van Lee (pole vault), sr.; Isaac Vermeer (throws), sr. GIRLS — Jetta Thaete (throws), jr.; Noah Roark (sprints/jumps), sr.; Elizabeth Storms (distance), so.; Ani Vick (hurdles), jr.; Elia Howard (sprints), jr.; Izzy Davidson (pole vault); jr.; Hope Barnes (pole vault), jr.

Key newcomers: BOYS — Pax Longanecker (mid-distance), fr. GIRLS — Delany Barron (distance), fr.

Key losses: BOYS — Jett Longanecker (mid-distance); Nathan Roche (distance); Daniel Ricks (distance); Kasten Grimm (mid-distance); Klein Fragoso (pole vault). GIRLS — Ivy Smith (throws); Devin McDaniel (pole vault); Saige Smith (jumps); Grace Rookey (distance); Lily Richardson (mid-distance/hurdles).

Outlook: Having a proper and adequate training environment for a large sports team in North Idaho, especially in the spring, has it's challenges in addition to poor weather conditions. Thanks to major upgrades done to the Sandpoint High track and field facilities, which includes a resurfaced track, a new pole vault pit, and a discus cage, the Bulldogs are on much better footing heading into the 2025 season... even with Lewiston now in the 5A Inland Empire League mix.

Last year, due to the condition of the Sandpoint's complex, which is now named after assistant coach David DeMers, the Bulldogs were unable to host a home meet. This year, for the first time since 2021, they'll host three meets — a dual against Lakeland, a dual against Lake City, and the Lake Pend Oreille Invitational, which six other area teams are planning to attend.

"It's great; I'm really excited about it," Sandpoint High head coach Doug Fry, who has over 20 years of combined coaching experience between Washington, Nevada, Arizona and Idaho, said of the new track and field facilities. "This is probably the first year in about eight years that we're having an official invitational. I'm really excited to get the season started and hopefully the weather gets great and we can enjoy it."

The new facilities helps put Sandpoint on a more equal ground with schools in Southern Idaho, but even without them in years past, the Bulldogs have always put forth some of the most competitive teams in the state.

GIRLS

Seeking their third straight 5A (then 4A) District 1-2 Championship, the Lady Bulldogs return seven of their 11 athletes who competed at last year's state championship.

Junior Ani Vick, who placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (15.53) at the 4A (now 5A) State Championship and broke the school record and placed third in the 300-meter hurdles (46.60), led Sandpoint to a seventh-place team finish a year ago.

Junior Elia Howard returns after showcasing her speed last year, placing sixth in the 100-meter dash (12.83) and fifth in the 200-meter dash (26.00) at the 4A State Championship.

Junior Jetta Thaete will look to live up to the legacy Ivy Smith, who now competes for the University of Idaho, set last year. Thaete was ninth in the discus (107 feet 2 inches) at the 4A State Championship in 2024, but it's the javelin where she'll really shine. Thaete, who had the top javelin throw (115 feet 6 inches) in 4A last season, will look to bring home hardware in the event for the first time in school history. Starting this season, the javelin is an officially sanctioned postseason event in the state of Idaho.

Look out for senior Noah Roark (high jump), junior Izzy Davidson (pole vault), junior Hope Barnes (pole vault) and sophomore Elizabeth Storms (800-meter run) to qualify for state again this year.

Freshman Delany Barron, who was the top freshman on Sandpoint's cross country squad at this past fall's 5A State Championship, could provide some much needed points in the distance events along with many others.

BOYS

Seeking their third straight 5A (then 4A) District 1-2 Championship, the Bulldogs return five out of their 10 athletes who competed at last year's state championship.

Junior Paul Kent is looking to bounce back after being injured for the majority of this past cross country season. Ranked No. 2 all-time in the 3200-meter run (9:34.46), Sandpoint's newest distance prodigy won the 4A IEL District 1-2 title in the event last season and took fourth (9:41.86) at the 4A (now 5A) State Championship. He also ran to a sixth-place finish in the 1600-meter run (4:26.82) at the state championship meet, which the Bulldogs placed sixth at a year ago.

Senior Jess Herman returns after earning a silver medal in the 300-meter hurdles (44.13) at districts last season, which booked him a trip to state for the first time in his career.

Senior Van Lee (pole vault) and junior Isaac Schmit (sprints) will look to punch their tickets back to state as well. Schmit, who just missed qualifying in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, was apart of last year's third-place sprint medley relay team (3:38.54); he's been training hard this offseason to get his revenge.

Senior Isaac Vermeer will hold things down in the throws. Vermeer held team-best's in the shotput and discus last season and qualified for state after garnering a silver medal in shot (42 feet 4.5 inches) at last year's district championship meet.

Freshman Pax Longanecker, Sandpoint Middle School record holder in the 400-meter dash (55.84) will replace his brother Jett, who is now competing at the College of Idaho. While the shoes are big to fill, Pax is well on his way providing the Bulldogs some big time points this season.

Sandpoint Track & Field Schedule

3/20 — @ Wildcat Invite (Mt. Spokane) 

3/22 — @ Bonners Ferry Invite 

3/25 — Dual vs. Lakeland 

3/28 — @ Lewiston Invitational 

4/8 — Dual vs. Lake City 

4/12 — Lake Pend Oreille Invitational 

4/12 — @ Pasco Invite 

4/15 — @ Christina Finney Co-Ed Relays (Post Falls) 

4/18 — @ Rasmussen Invite (Coeur d’Alene) 

4/19 — @ 28th Annual Priest River Invite 

4/19 — @ Van Kuren Invite (Cheney) 

4/24 — @ Lakeland Invite 

5/1 — District 1 Meet of Champions (Post Falls) 

5/8 — 5A District 1-2 Regionals (Coeur d’Alene) 

5/16-17 — 5A State Championship (Mountain View)

 Sandpoint High junior Elia Howard competes in the 4x200-meter relay at the Timberlake Invitational last season.