Throwers clinic
LOREN BENOIT/Press Lake City High junior Emily Hernandez won the shot put at the 5A Region 1 meet Thursday at Coeur d’Alene High.
LOREN BENOIT/Press Taryn Horvath of Coeur d’Alene crosses the finish line of the 4 x 200 meter relay in first place at districts on Thursday at Coeur d’Alene High School.
LOREN BENOIT/Press Tyler Trengove of Post Falls leaps a height of 6 feet 4 inches at districts on Thursday at Coeur d’Alene High School.
COEUR d’ALENE — Two of Idaho’s premier throwers turned the Coeur d’Alene High shot put circle into a spectactle Thursday, the first day of the 5A and 4A Region I track and field championships.
Chalk smeared across his sturdy neck, Vikings record-holder Grady Leonard started a group hype-clap before launching the iron sphere 66-feet, seven inches, one of the top marks in the country.
When Lake City junior stalwart Emily Hernandez stepped to the circle in the proceeding competition, she jumped, screamed, laughed or embraced her throwing coach after every attempt.
Her final throw of 42 feet, 1 1/2 inches — beating her own school record of 40-2 1/2 feet set earlier this season — featured the most jubilation.
The animated Hernandez needed the boost.
“This past week I have been having confidence issues in thinking straight. I needed to think positive,” said Hernandez, the 5A state runner-up a year ago. “I always throw well here at Coeur d’Alene High School, even though I go to Lake City. It’s my favorite place to throw. I guess it’s the energy here.”
With her latest mark, Hernandez currently ranks first in her classification, per Athletic.net. Highland’s Jody Toki, who edged Hernandez by three inches at state last year for the 5A crown, had the season-best throw of 40-3.
Leonard, however, is on his own planet.
He was hoping to at least match his personal-best mark of 67 feet, currently the third-best high school throw in the country this spring.
“I was trying to beat 67, but didn’t quite get there. The power is there, I just need to line some things up,” said Leonard, the defending 5A state boys champion,
Nobody in the 5A Inland Empire League has come within 15 feet of Leonard this season.
“You can compete with everyone around you as much as you want, but it’s never going to satisfy you as much as beating yourself,” he said.
Post Falls junior pole vaulter Mackenzie Morris set a school record for the Trojans with a mark of 11-6, winning the event. She eclipsed her personal record by 6 inches.
On the boys’ side, the Trojans’ sophomore sensation Tyler Trengove won the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
Full results from the day weren’t posted on Athletic.net by deadline. The meet concludes today at Lewiston High’s Vollmer Bowl.