Hungry Horse News

Last year, Steve Osborne's 11-year-old daughter Jinise wanted to compete in track. Osborne, who lives in Columbia Falls, realized he would have to shuttle her back and forth to the nearest youth program in Whitefish.

So he got an idea. Why not just set up a program in Columbia Falls?

The program for first through sixth graders will start April 1. It will take place Mondays for five weeks from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

On Sunday, there will be a sign-up in the foyer of the Columbia Falls High School gymnasium from 5:30-7 p.m.

The cost is $25, which includes a T-shirt.

The first-four practices will focus on instruction and the last will be an intrasquad meet.

Kati Fisher, a former track athlete at Columbia Falls High School and North Idaho University, will coordinate the lessons.

She said the students will rotate between stations and learn fundamentals for long jump, triple jump, sprints, discus and some long distance runs.

Osborne, a high school math teacher, said he hopes 50 children participate.