THE FRONT ROW with JASON ELLIOTT: Something new, and a same old start it seems

It might not count when it comes to this spring, but there’s a buzz around the infield when it comes to track and field.

Well, maybe not quite a buzz, but a curiosity as schools adapt to a new track and field event.

ALREADY APPROVED for next spring, the Idaho High School Activities Association will add the javelin to its list of throwing events for the 2025 season.

However, some area schools are getting a head start and running the event as an exhibition at their meets this year.

“It’s going to be a good learning year with it,” second-year Lakeland coach Sarah Nave said. “We’ve had some throwers that train at the Iron Wood Throws Center, as well as some coaches that are familiar with it, so they’re teaching it to our kids. It’s really helpful to have that as a resource.”

Before coming to Timberlake after a stint at Preston High in 1999, Tiger coach Brian Kluss coached in Oregon, where the javelin is contested.

“I’ve got a lot of kids out and interested,” Kluss said. “I’ve always said it’s a hook event. You have a really easy time getting them to try it. In Oregon, there’s some absolute specimens that can do it. If a kid is fast and strong, you can find a place for them to do it.”

Kluss added that they’ll run the javelin at their home meets when possible.

“It’s a challenge to run and you’ve got to have it all set up correctly,” Kluss said. “But, if we’re going to have it next year, we have to get it going now.”

Kluss has Chase Gardom, who won the state 3A high jump at Timberlake in 2019 and was a decathlete at Idaho State, helping teach members of the team how to throw the javelin this season.

“He’s been coming in a couple days a week and teaching the kids,” Kluss said. “There’s some excitement for it, but we need to keep the injury bug away from it as well.”

Lake City coach Kelly Reed has seen the same interest in his practices thus far.

“On a daily basis, we’ve got at least 12 kids over there throwing it,” Reed said. “The kids that are doing it are really excited about it. Our sprinters are talking about it, the distance kids are talking about it. Kids from all around our team are talking about it. It will be fun to see how it goes.”

Longtime Coeur d’Alene High football coach Shawn Amos, who is in his second year as track and field coach, is still a little skeptical.

“There’s a lot of kids interested,” Amos said. “Everyone wants to throw it, but we’ll see who can. I think they think it will be easier than it is.”

SO MUCH for those expectations for the Seattle Mariners this season, right?

After starting the season 3-4 entering Friday's game, it’s pretty safe to say it’s going to be a lost season.

Well, hopefully not.

In 2019, the Mariners got out to a 13-2 start and seemed destined to break that long drought between playoff appearances. Instead, Seattle finished 68-94.

More recently, Seattle went 11-10 in the first month in 2022 and 12-16 in 2023. They were a playoff team in 2022, and beat Toronto in the wild-card series to advance in the playoffs. Last year, they missed the playoffs by one game.

That being said, it’s quite possible that their opening homestand couldn’t have gone much worse.

Sure, Boston isn’t Boston anymore, and getting a split in a four-game series was a little disappointing.

But, to whom?

Watching from the left field bleachers, something didn’t seem right with Mariner starting pitcher Bryce Miller last Sunday. Whether it was nerves with it being his first start of the season, or whatever, it took him a little longer than you see most other pitchers to get ready to take the mound that day.

Oftentimes, you’ll see the starting pitcher come out, do some exercises and play long toss with the catcher before going into the bullpen. Miller seemed to linger in the outfield a little longer than normal that day.

Luis Castillo didn’t seem as locked in as he threw in the bullpen before the game, which could be a sign that some of the players are still working out some things.

A few years ago, it took a benches-clearing brawl against the Los Angeles Angels to wake the Mariners up.

Not saying that this weekend against Milwaukee is the perfect time for that to happen again.

The way Seattle is playing right now, they’d just swing and miss anyway.

But, at least a little fight would be a nice change.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for The Press. He can be reached by telephone at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2020 or via email at jelliott@cdapress.com. Follow him on ‘X’, formerly Twitter @JECdAPress.