District 1 All-Star track and field

meet set for today in Post Falls

With 12 champions back to defend their titles, and eight current leaders in their classification statewide, the 16th annual District 1 All-Star Meet, scheduled for today at 3 p.m. at Post Falls High, it will be as close to a state competition as you find up north this spring.

The top 16 individuals and eight relays will compete starting today. There are two heats of each race and two flights in the throwing events.

Also scheduled at 3:35 today will be the induction of former Sandpoint coach Dave DeMers, Post Falls High thrower Matt Wardell and Priest River runner AshLee Rey.

DeMers attended Boise State on a football and track scholarship and began his teaching career at Kuna High before moving onto Sandpoint High, where he served as athletic director and track coach for 28 seasons before his retirement in 2018.

The school’s track complex at Sandpoint High is named after him.

Wardell, who competed at Washington State after graduating from Post Falls, was a four-year scholar athlete. Wardell won the state 5A shot put title with a throw of 59 feet, 2 inches in 2011.

Rey, who later competed at Idaho, won the 200 and 400 at the state 3A meet in 2005, helping the Spartans win the team title. Rey won the state 5A title in the 400, as well as the 4x400 relay for Lewiston High.

Currently leading the state in 5A are Post Falls junior Cobe Cameron (49.08 seconds in the 400), Post Falls junior Trenton McLean (6 feet, 6 inches in high jump) and Coeur d’Alene sophomore Evey McGraw (37 feet, 2 inches in triple jump).

4A leaders include Sandpoint senior Klein Fragoso (14-9 in pole vault), Sandpoint senior Devin McDaniel (11-6 in pole vault), Sandpoint senior Ivy Smith (43-10 in shot put) and Sandpoint sophomore Jetta Thate (115-6 in javelin).

St. Maries senior Alexzander Lambson, who has signed with NAIA Lewis-Clark State, leads the 2A boys in the discus at 159-9.

Grove falls short in bid

for another PGA Championship

North Idaho College men’s and women’s golf coach Russell Grove finished tied for 26th with a 7-over-par 295 at the PGA Professional Championship at PGA Frisco East Course on Wednesday.

Grove started the day tied for 29th and finished with a 4-over 75 in the final round.

The top 20 finishers qualified for the PGA Championship May 16-19 at Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville, Ly. At this tournament last year, Grove qualified for the PGA Championship for the first time.