District 1 all-star meet full of stars
Chances are if you’ve attended a track meet in the area at some point this year, you’ve either needed to take a rain coat, blanket or even gloves to stay warm.
Post Falls coach Wade Quesnell is hoping the only thing that will be required for Thursday’s District 1 all-star meet at Post Falls High will be yourself and a love of track and field.
THE MEET, which has been held annually since 2000, will hold its next version on Thursday afternoon starting at 2:30 p.m.
It’s not your average invitational, with the best of the best from District 1 — regardless of classification — competing against each other.
“Our goal was to bring the top track athletes together regardless of classification,” Quesnell said. “It’s a little different with the top 16 individuals and eight relays. You get to see some real competitive relays as well. If you’re a track fan, it’s a good meet to watch.”
No team scores are kept.
“The reason we put this together because it allows the 3A, 2A and 1A schools to get to run and compete against the 5A’s and 4A’s for a change,” Quesnell said.
Returning champions are: Lakeland’s Jillian Mael (400-meter run), Coeur d’Alene’s Brooklyn Shell (3,200), Lake City’s Emily Hernandez (shot put), her teammates Keara Simpson (discus) and Kinsey Freeman (300 hurdles), as well as Post Falls’ Melody Kempton (high jump), Post Falls’ Jenna Gardiner (800) and Coeur d’Alene’s Chad Humphreys (1,600).
“Jillian will likely be the No. 1 seed in the 100 and 200 this week,” Quesnell said. “She’s been having a great season. (Coeur d’Alene’s) Nate (Burch) is leading the state in the high hurdles (110 hurdles), so that should be fun to watch. Hannah Davidson from Sandpoint has the top time in the 400, 800 and 1,600, so she’s ran some really good times, especially lately.”
QUESNELL ADDED that Post Falls junior Tyler Trengove, Lake City junior Klaire Mitchell and Coeur d’Alene senior Matt Ward could also be ones to watch.
“Tyler’s leading the state in the high jump,” Quesnell said. “He’s been really consistent all year in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. He’s probably the premier jumper in the state.”
Mitchell recently won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles at the Blue Legends Invitational at Walla Walla High.
“She’s second in the state in the high hurdles right now,” Quesnell said. “She’s really had some good marks lately. Matt is in the top five of the state right now in the discus. The (boys) 100 with (Coeur d’Alene’s) Taylor Dawson and (Lake City’s) Grant (Clark) should be a fun race to watch. Both are running really well right now.”
In case you’re wondering, the forecast is 73 degrees and sunny on Thursday.
“I’ve seen times improve across the board, especially the last couple of weeks,” Quesnell said. “It (the weather) has really helped some times. It looks like 70 degrees. If we can keep the wind down, it should be a good meet.”
If that forecast holds, it should be a great meet.
Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d’Alene Press. He can be reached by telephone at (208) 664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @JECdAPress.