The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT May 4, 2013
For a coach during the spring in North Idaho, the one thing you can expect is the unexpected.
Wet weather postponing or moving games to another day, or being moved completely, it can become difficult just keeping track of when and where you're supposed to compete.
AFTER YEARS of having the 5A and 4A Region 1 track and field meets on a Thursday and Friday in Lewiston, the schools have moved the events to next Friday and Saturday this year.
"Schools in the Boise area do that meet on Friday and Saturday because it simulates the dates of the state meet (May 17-18)," Coeur d'Alene coach Linda Lanker said. "All the athletic directors and principals got together, and with the Advanced Placement testing at our school next week, they didn't want us missing too much school."
Next Saturday is the Senior Prom for both Coeur d'Alene and Lake City.
"We were a little miffed because they were doing the prom on that night," Lanker said. "When you're battling with spring, there's always something going on Saturday. It's too bad because the kids need to choose between going to state or prom."
Individuals that attain the state qualifying standard in the preliminary or finals at district or regional competition qualify for state, unless they qualify for a medical hardship where they were physically unable to compete at regionals or districts.
And it's not only those track athletes that will have to make that decision. The state 5A play-in game for the Region 1 runner-up in softball will have to travel to Fruitland for its game next Saturday at noon.
IN MARCH, the Idaho High School Activities Association decided to move the state 5A and 4A track meets from Dona Larsen Park, near Boise State University, out to Eagle High due to parking limitations at Dona Larsen Park.
“That was a big deal early on in the season,” Lanker said. “I wasn’t happy and I talked with Ed Jacoby — who the (BSU) track is named after — and he wasn’t happy either. He was an icon at Boise State and the facility (Dona Larsen) was built to be used for all of us to be together. Because they didn’t figure out the parking, we’re stuck going to our rivals’ school. The kids look forward to riding the bus and going to compete in a big facility, but they waited too long to figure out the parking situation. It’s close enough (to Bronco Stadium) to park there and walk over.”
Lanker also coaches hurdles for the Community Colleges of Spokane and men’s hurdlers for USA Track and Field.
“There’s no parking at the facility in Eugene (Hayward Field) either,” Lanker said. “But you park at Autzen Stadium and shuttle over.”
To Lanker, having all five classifications in one spot makes the sport more fun to watch.
“If you look at how many kids that participate in track, everyone gets to participate,” Lanker said. “They’re not sitting on the bench. That’s the fun thing about track. It should be a big deal because it’s got a high number of participants compared to other sports.”
Lanker said they hope to be at Dona Larsen by next year.
“They’re trying to make sure to find a way to use the facility,” Lanker said. “They wanted to be certain it’s safe and a shuttle is in place. At least for us, the kids get to take a fun trip and the state pays for the bus and hotel. It would be nice to have everyone together — there’s nothing like it.”
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at [email protected].