Badgers outrun raindrops at track opener

BONNERS FERRY — The Badger track season is officially under way.

Eight schools attended the inaugural meet of the 2015 season including all four Intermountain League teams. The first track meet featured some classic spring weather and the rain started early and persisted throughout the meet, resulting in two rain delays. In spite of the weather, Badger athletes had great starts to their seasons, posting several personal records (PR) and reaching into top-in-the-state rankings. At this point in the season, coaches like to see athletes practicing technique and getting used to the rigors of the season, but they always appreciate solid performances such as the ones the Badgers had on Saturday.

The freshmen gave coaches plenty of reasons to be optimistic, not just about this season, but potentially the next three seasons after. Joseph Swanson quickly impressed by finishing eighth in the triple jump with a bound of 30-11.

“He’s got great natural technique already,” Coach Keith Carey said.

Nikolous Bertling also took ninth in the long jump with a 16-08. In the shot put, Hannah Brown qualified for the finals in her first meet. Her top mark for the day was 25-06.

Another remarkable freshman performance came in the 800-meter race. Jordan Young started out slow to feel out the pace of a race distance she was not familiar with, but after the first lap set her sights on the pack in front of her. In the last 200 meters of the race, Jordan passed three runners to claim second place and a time of 2:48.

“For her to pace herself like that and go out and get second is fantastic,” said distance coach Tyler Warner. “I don’t think she could have played her hand much better in that instance, especially being brand new to the 800 distance.”

The class of 2017 athletes included a number of first-timers as well and veterans looking to build on previous successes. Zack Egge had a good day in the throwing arena, taking fifth in the shot put with 35-09 and finishing fourth in the discus with a throw of 116-07. In the pole vault, Alex Urbaniak and Isaac Lavala were the top finishers for the Badgers, both clearing 8-06. Natasha Webster was the top Lady Badger in the 200-meter dash, finishing sixth with a 30.93.

The juniors proved experience produces results, especially in the technical events. Jack Wade and Evan Ellis both performed well in the discus and shot put. Wade took sixth in the shot put with a 35-05 and third in the discus with a 117-06. Wade and Egge are both ranked in the top 10 in 3A throwers. Ellis took seventh in the shot with a throw of 33-01 and sixth in the discus with a 108-06. Breanna Copeland had the best girl’s discus throw with a personal best 101-8. Breanna was a state competitor last season for the Badgers and hopes to make it back this year after reaching second in 3A discus throwers. Warren Carle finished third in the 300 hurdles with a 45.50, which ranks him seventh in Idaho 3A.

Senior Mackenzie Mendenhall had a stellar day in both track and field events. In her first competition ever in the long jump, Mackenzie took second with a jump of 15-05 which also ties her for second in 3A Idaho. She also won both the 100 and 300 hurdles, posting times of 17.62 and 50.81 respectively. Also having a good day was fellow 2015 classmate Jacob Perkins. In the 800, Perkins won the race with a 2:07, which currently places him in fifth in 3A Idaho Track according to athletic.net. In the 1600, Perkins hung back with the lead pack to win on the last lap in 5:06.

“We just decided to hang with the front pack and see if he could win it in the last lap, which he did,” said Warner. “We can definitely get that time down this year.”

Senior Kendra Urbaniak finished second in the pole vault and helped out in relays as well. Kendra’s vault of 8-06 ranks her seventh in a crowded field of 3A vaulters.

Overall, the Lady Badgers finished third

See TRACK, B-4

and the boys’ team finished second behind Timberlake, who took home both first place trophies.

“Hey, that’s not a bad way to start the year,” said head coach George Hays. “There’s lots of season left and plenty of improvements to be made.”

The Badgers also competed on Tuesday at Timberlake (results coming next week) and will be at St. Maries on Saturday for the Lumberjack Invitational.

Bonners Ferry Results 3/21/15

Mens 100

13. Isaac Lavala 13.07

20. Louis Balcaen 14.36

21. Anthony Bernert 14.78

22. Joseph Swanson 15.73

23. Bryce Nelson 16.30

Mens 200

5. Warren Carle 25.58

16. Alex Urbaniak 28.42

19. Louis Balcaen 29.59

20. Anthony Bernert 30.68

Mens 800

1. Jacob Perkins 2:07.91

6. Chase Dinning 2:24.70

8. Neil Martin 2:27.17

16. Jacob Fess 3:03.59

17. Bryce Nelson 3:08.16

Mens 1600

1. Jacob Perkins 5:06.45

5. Tucker Cavender 5:24.41

8. Alva Swanson 5:32.88

11. Eric Ellis 5:41.79

20. Nick Magdaleno 6:59.23

21. Andrew McCoy 7:15.17

Mens 3200

4. Tucker Cavender 11:48.06

5. Alva Swanson 11:57.42

6. Nolan Stidham 12:09

7. Eric Ellis 12:09.79

Dawson Thomas 12:31

9. Jack Wade 12:31.77

16. Nick Magdaleno 13:50

Bradley Corson 14:19

18. Andrew McCoy 15:00

Mens 300 Hurdles

3. Warren Carle 45.50

6. Bradly Corson 50.51

Mens 4x200 Relay

4. Urbaniak, Dinning, Carle, Lavala 1:45.83

Mens 4x4 Relay

2. Team 4:03.16

Mens Sprint Medley

2. Mason, Johnson, Martin, Wade 4:21.41

Mens Shot Put

5. Zack Egge 35-09

6. Jack Wade 35-05

7. Evan Ellis 33-01

Men’s Discus

3. Jack Wade 117-06

4. Zack Egge 116-07

6. Evan Ellis 108-06

Men’s High Jump

12. Bradly Corson 4-06

Men’s Pole Vault

6. Alex Urbaniak 8-06

7. Isaac Lavala 8-06

Mens Long Jump

9. Nikolous Bertling 16-08

20. Joseph Swanson 14-10

22. Bryce Nelson 12-05

Men’s Triple Jump

8. Joseph Swanson 30-11

Women’s 100

9. Natasha Webster 15.03

11. Shaylee Ellson 15.89

15. Karla Horton 16.31

18. Jill Alexander 17.10

Women’s 200

6. Natasha Webster 30.93

11. Karla Horton 33.83

Women’s 800

2. Jordon Young 2:48.02

10. Sophia Claphan 3:59.10

Women’s 1600

6. Hannah Lysne 6:48.54

8. Victoria Smith 6:54.18

Women’s 3200

5. Hannah Lysne 14:30.82

Women’s 100 Hurdles

1. Mackenzie Mendenhall 17.62

Women’s 300 Hurdles

1. Mackenzie Mendenhall 50.81

Women’s 4x100 Relay

3. Urbaniak, Webster, Ellson, Mendenhall 56.55

Women’s 4x200 Relay

1. Urbaniak, Webster, Horton, Young 2:04.63

Women’s Shot Put

7. Olivia Whittaker 25-11.75

9. Hannah Brown 25-06.00

12. Breanna Copeland 23-01.25

Women’s Discus

1. Breanna Copeland 101-08

8. Olivia Whittaker 66-10

Women’s Pole Vault

2. Kendra Urbaniak 8-06

4. Victoria Smith 6-06

Women’s Long Jump

2. Mackenzie Mendenhall 15.05

8. Shaylee Ellson 13-08