Vikings' Burch poised for run at hurdles title

EAGLE — Nate Burch came close to being the 5A champion in the 110-meter hurdles at last year’s state meet.

After falling .12 seconds short of the state crown last year, the Coeur d’Alene High senior is primed to earn the top spot this time around.

Burch posted the top qualifying time of 14.13 seconds on Friday and will be the favorite to win today’s final at the 5A/4A state track and field meet at Eagle High School.

Burch’s time was a season best, a pretty solid accomplishment considering the wet and dreary conditions.

“I thought I could get close but didn’t think I could actually,” Burch set of setting a season-best time. “Not with this rain and cold.”

Burch certainly doesn’t lack for motivation. He has had last year’s race on his mind for 12 months now.

Burch finished second in 14.34 seconds as Zach Meyer (14.22) of Rocky Mountain (Meridian) won the event.

Burch has been training with former Coeur d’Alene head coach and current assistant Linda Lanker in hopes of winning this time around. Last year’s close call has provided a lot of incentive.

“It has given me such good motivation all season,” Burch said. “Worked a lot harder. Me and my coach Linda, we worked a lot harder this offseason. I did summer track and got ready for the spring.”

Burch said nothing that occurred during Friday’s prelims will come into play today.

In short, he knows it all comes down to his performance.

“I was just trying to run the race and get my form worked out and everything like that,” Burch said of the prelims.

Burch said he was looking forward to a refreshing ice bath and a good night of sleep. Oh yeah, and for the rain to go away.

“Should be a little warmer,” Burch said with a smile.

Burch also participated in the 100-meter prelims but he didn’t qualify for the finals. His time of 11.24 seconds was 11th.

Heavy rains that began late Thursday afternoon and continued Friday morning caused the discus, high jump, pole vault and shot put to be postponed to today.

The long jump and triple jump were pushed back to later Friday.

Lake City juniors Jacob Schnatter (21 feet, 2 3/4 inches) and Logan Jeanselme (20 feet, 11 1/4) finished third and fifth, respectively, in the boys long jump.

In 5A girls, Post Falls junior Sydney Shanahan placed fifth in the 3200-meter final in 11 minutes, 3.4 seconds.

Lake City sophomore Angelyca Chapman stamped herself as a strong contender in both the 400 and 200 meters with solid showings.

Chapman won her heat in the 400 with a time of 58.47 seconds, which was the second-best qualifying time behind Timberline (Boise) senior Brooke Roldan (58.21). Post Falls junior Bailey Shanahan recorded the third-best time of 59.86.

She also won her heat in the 200 with a season-best time of 25.58 seconds, which was the second-best prelims time behind senior Jasmine Devers (25.07) of Mountain View (Meridian).

“I’m really excited,” Chapman said of the times she clocked. “I was getting nervous getting into it but when I actually got into it, I forgot everything. It was actually really fun.”

Chapman said the weather had her hesitant on what type of times she would post but there was also a comfort level involved.

“Because North Idaho, we’re used to this kind of weather and everything,” Chapman said. “So it wasn’t much of a change. It was more of worrying whether the meet (would stay) on time.”

Also, in the girls 4x800 relay, the Post Falls team finished fifth in a time of 9:33.46. Coeur d’Alene was sixth (9:48.22).

In the boys 4x800 relay, Post Falls placed seventh in 8:31.37 and Lake City finished eighth (8:43.94). Only the top six earn a medal.