Weiser track athletes give their best at state

By: 
Steve Lyon

The Weiser High School track team did well in many events, including a repeat state title in the 800 meters, at the 3A state championship meet held over the weekend.
 The inclement weather was not ideal for an outdoor event or breaking track records, and athletes endured rain off and on during the two days of competition at Middleton High School.
 The Weiser varsity boys finished in 11th place out of 18 schools competing, while the girls took ninth place in a field of 19 teams.
 Based on total team points, the 3A state champions were Sugar-Salem for the boys and Kimberly for the varsity girls.
 In the boys finals, Weiser’s Rhett Kunz successfully defended his title as the fastest 3A runner in the state in the 800 meters. Kunz did not post his fastest time ever at 2:03.06, but it was fast enough to win the finals and hold on to his 3A state champion title.
 Kunz won the 800-meter race in 2018 with a sub-2 minute time, making him a two-time state champion.
 Weiser’s Triston Kautz ran a personal best race in the 400 meters and placed fourth. He crossed the finish line in 52.34 seconds.
 Weiser placed third in the SMR 1,600 meters (200-200-400-800). The team of Triston Kautz, Nathan Turner, Braden Bumgarner and Rhett Kunz finished with a time of 3:39.72. Weiser was only a second behind the first-place Buhl team that ran a 3:38.63 race.
 In field events, Weiser’s Angel Magana placed 11th in the discus with a toss of 115 feet, 4 inches.
 Nick Swank finished the high jump in a three-way tie for 10th place with Bonners Ferry and Fruitland. The three competitors cleared 5 feet, 8 inches. Timberlake’s Chase Gardom won the event by clearing 6 feet, 2 inches.
 Weiser’s Jordan Watkins placed eighth in the triple jump. The sophomore had a personal record jump of 40 feet, 4.75 inches.
 In the girls 200 meters, Weiser senior Abbey Shirts finished second and almost got the win. Shirts’ time of 26.45 seconds was just one second behind the winning time of 25.76 seconds posted by Laken Wolf of Gooding.
 In a highly competitive race, Shirts also ran the 400 meters and placed third with a time of 59.16 seconds, her fastest finish at that distance this year. The winner, Laken Wolf of Gooding, also ran a personal record time of 57.70 seconds.
 In the 1,600 meters, Weiser freshman Kiearra Hoobery placed 15th with a time of 6:08.20. Teammate Makaela Sherry, who is also a freshman, took 16th place in the 3,200 meters and posted a time of 14:01.78.
 In the SMR 100-100-200-400 meters, the Weiser team of Alyssa Olvera, Reagan Doty, Shae Kunz and Abbey Shirts placed second with a time of 1:53.90. The Weiser girls were edged out of first place by Coeur d’Alene Charter, which finished with a time of 1:53.06.
 Weiser senior Sheyanne Hilmer had a personal best toss in the shot put that earned her fifth place. Her distance was 33 feet, .25 inches. Hilmer placed seventh in the discus with a throw of 98 feet, 10.5 inches.
 In the girls pole vault, Reagan Doty cleared 9 feet, 6 inches for third place for Weiser. Teammate Victoria Wyss vaulted 8 feet for ninth place.
 In the long jump, Weiser’s Kaija Sanchez took 10th place with a jump of 14 feet, 5.25 inches. Ashlyn Walker placed 13th with a jump of 13 feet, 10.25 inches.
 In the triple jump, Ellie Walker placed sixth for Weiser with a distance of 33 feet, 11 inches.
 Weiser sent a total of 19 track and field athletes to state this year. They qualified based on their performances at the SRV District meet.
 

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