STATE 5A/4A TRACK AND FIELD MEET: Kempton doubles

BOISE — Melody Kempton was called over to accept her first-place triple jump medal during warm-ups for the high jump.

After picking up that award and being serenaded as the winner in front of the celebration tent, the Post Falls High sophomore had an additional task waiting: Win another state championship.

Kempton was one of the standouts at the rain-drenched 5A and 4A state track and field meets at Dona Larsen Park that concluded Saturday. After winning the 5A girls triple jump with a personal-best leap of 36, feet, 6 1/2 inches, Kempton repeated as the state high jump champ by clearing 5 feet, 6 inches.

“Two individual state championships in one meet is a big feat,” Post Falls coach Wade Quesnell said.

Winning one is also an accomplishment as Coeur d’Alene junior Zac Magee can attest. Magee headed home with a state championship by prevailing in the highly competitive 5A boys 400 meters final with a personal-best time of 48.49 seconds.

“That was my best time and it was a (personal record),” Magee said. “I was actually really happy about it.”

Kempton was twice as thrilled after she seamlessly won the two events lined up in consecutive fashion.

Repeating as high jump champion was expected but Kempton’s title-winning performance in the triple jump was quite the stunner.

“A very big surprise,” Kempton said with a big smile. “If somebody had told me this a week ago, I would’ve probably started laughing and then asked if there was something wrong with them. Like, ‘Are you sure about this?’”

Kempton finished third one week earlier at the Region 1 meet and certainly wasn’t expecting a state title. Especially since her best effort of the season entering the meet was 34-10.

Not to mention the fact she finished ninth at last year’s state meet.

Things changed rapidly when she recorded a jump of 35-2 to reach the finals of Saturday’s competition. Her confidence began soaring and her mindset suddenly changed.

And her winning jump ensued.

“I jumped 36-6 out of nowhere,” Kempton said. “I just kind of went for it and it paid off in the end.

“I knew I had at least fifth place so I was solid and thought ‘just go for it.’ There is no need to play it safe and try to get a good solid number so I went with all I had and got it.”

Quesnell felt Kempton has been working up to Saturday’s effort and wasn’t the least bit astonished over the double-winning performance.

“I knew it was just a matter of time before she hit some good marks in the triple jump,” Quesnell said. “Kind of Melody fashion, she picked good timing and wins the state championship in the triple jump.

“I think the hard part is after she did that, now she has to walk right over and win the event she is supposed to win. That’s not always easy. And she did win and did that for back-to-back state championships in the high jump.”

Post Falls (33) finished ninth in 5A girls team competition. Coeur d’Alene (38) was seventh and Lake City (31) tied for 10th. Rocky Mountain (111.5) was first.

Rocky Mountain (132.5) also won the 5A boys title. Coeur d’Alene (36) finished seventh, Lake City (33.5) was 10th and Post Falls (7) tied for 17th.

Bishop Kelly swept the 4A titles — the girls scored 164.5 points and the boys tallied 106.

Magee’s state title felt like a big dose of redemption after an ankle injury hindered him at last year’s state meet.

Magee sprained his right ankle a week prior to the meet and had no chance to contend. But the disappointing experience served as motivation over the past 12 months.

“I’ve been shooting for it all year,” Magee said of the state title. “It’s been basically my goal because I came down here last year and I got 13th, which was pretty frustrating. To do that bad motivated me throughout the year to do better.”

It was a different experience — and different result — this time around. Magee ran faster than normal at the start of the race and had enough in the tank to hold off a challenge from Lake City junior Alex Ayers (48.98).

“I was a little more tired at the end than I would’ve liked,” Magee said. “I was really pushing on that first 200 because I know Alex — who got second — he’s fast.”

Post Falls junior Parker Walton was also in the mix and finished fourth in 49.64. Walton is the younger brother of 2013 300 hurdles state champion Wednesday Walton.

Magee later finished fourth in the 200 meters with a time of 22.70 seconds.

Among other 5A boys, Coeur d’Alene junior Grady Leonard placed third in the discus at 171-11. Leonard won the state shot put championship on Friday.

Lake City junior Thomas Redal placed fifth in the 100 in 11.12 seconds. The Timberwolves placed in three relays — second in the 4x100 relay (43.33), fifth in the 4x400 (3:29.57) and sixth in the 4x200 relay (1:30.54). Coeur d’Alene was sixth in the 4x100 in 44.0.

Among 5A girls, Lake City senior Ali Carlson placed fourth in the discus (116-4) and Lake City freshman Klaire Mitchell placed fifth in the 100 hurdles (15.63) and sixth in the 300 hurdles (48.67).

Coeur d’Alene junior Caitlin Conway finished sixth (5:04.75) in the 1600 and Viking teammate Taryn Horvath, a junior, was sixth in the 200 (26.44).

Coeur d’Alene placed third in the 4x400 (4:00.84), 4x100 (50.04) and 4x200 (1:43.37) relays, the latter being a close finish behind winner Borah (1:43.15) and second-place Rocky Mountain (1:43.31).

In the 4A boys pole vault, Lakeland senior Bannock Pointer placed third at 13-6 and Sandpoint junior Cole Hooper was fourth at 13-0. Lakeland senior Joe Peavy placed fifth in the 300 hurdles (42.03).

Lakeland finished fourth in the 4x200 relay (1:30.50) and fifth in the 4x100 relay (44.02).

Sandpoint (24 points) was 10th in the team standings and Lakeland (21) was 12th.

In 4A girls competition, Sandpoint sophomore Hannah Davidson finished second in the 800 in 2:18.20.

Lakeland sophomore Jillian Mael placed fourth in the 200 in 26.66 seconds. The Hawks placed fourth in the 4x100 relay (50.62) and 4x200 relay (1:45.69).

Lakeland (30) finished ninth as a team and Sandpoint (21) tied for 11th.