Last season: BOYS — 8th at 1A District 1-2 Championships; four 1A (now 2A) state competitors. GIRLS — 14th at 1A District 1-2 Championships; one 1A (now 2A) state competitors. 

Coaches: Phil Riley, head coach, first season; Nona Young (17'), assistant coach; Greg Meyer, volunteer assistant coach.

Key returners: BOYS — Westin Caven (jumps), jr.; Austin Henson (sprints), sr. GIRLS — Olivia Yetter (hurdles), sr.; Rachel Weymouth (sprints), sr.

Key newcomers: GIRLS — Elyssa Raynor (sprints), fr. BOYS — Riley Pitts (sprints), fr.

Key losses: BOYS — Dillon Ryan-Downing (sprints); Carson Yetter (jumps/sprints/hurdles); Wyatt Mintken (sprints); Arrow Christofferson (throws). GIRLS — Hannah Thompson (sprints).

Outlook: Small, but mighty has always been a Wampus Cat mantra. For Clark Fork track & field, that will reign especially true this year with only 11 total athletes between both the boys and girls team.

Phil Riley, an assistant coach for four years, is the new head coach of this year's team. A graduate of Missoula Big Sky High, he fell in love with track & field during high school and hasn't left the scene since, even coaching Priest River's Junior High team at one point.

"Getting into coaching, it's always been a passion of mine," coach Riley, who specializes in jumps, said. "Track's a different breed of sport, individual and team combined."

Riley said he's feeling really good heading into the 2025 season.

"Having four years under my belt with Matt (Majors) and seeing some of the things he did, and the culture that we brought forward —  I think that was probably the biggest highlight for me to continue with," coach Riley said. "We added a couple of more meets in Thompson Falls, Mont. and Colville, Wash. I'm hoping to make it a little more exciting for the kids and get them more experiences, more meets, to meet folks, to have fun and just get out there."

GIRLS

Senior Olivia Yetter, who recently signed her letter of intent to compete at Lewis-Clark State College next season, returns as one of the top hurdlers in state's 2A classification. She finished third out of 18 in the 100-meter hurdles (17.74) and seventh out of 14 in the 300-meter hurdles (52.25) at last year's at 1A (now 2A) District 1-2 Championship meet. At the state championship meet, a false start in the 100 hurdles put a damper in what was a fantastic season a year ago — it's surely a moment Yetter is looking to avenge in 2025.

"She's got a chip on her shoulder and she's worked hard this summer," coach Riley said. "I think in the future she might look into the decathlon because she's looking to get into high jump as well. Her spirit and her motivation and personal drive has been night and day since she walked on this track as a freshman. She's impressive."

Look out for up-and-coming Clark Fork High freshman Elyssa Raynor to make her mark on the 100- and 200-meter dashes.

"She's got a lot of potential and I really think she could bring something this season," coach Riley said. "I really think the sprints are going to be her breakout sports."

BOYS

Junior Westin Caven will look to lead the boys squad, being the only state qualifier to return from last year. The do-it-all cross country runner, point guard and during the spring, high jumper, is looking to best his mark of 5 foot 8 inches last season, which put him in fourth out of 21 at the 1A (now 2A) District 1-2 Championship meet.

"I told him at the beginning of the season that if he wanted to focus on high jump, that's what we'll focus on," coach Riley said. "Getting to state, I don't think he even realized that was a possibility. He really made some huge improvements last year."

Austin Henson has his work cut out for him in the sprints, but the senior, who placed 32nd out of 61 in the 100-meter dash (12.72) and 29th out of 51 in the 200-meter dash (26.17) at the 1A District 1-2 Championship meet a year ago, is certainly someone worth keeping on eye on. He improved his times in both events in every contest except one last season.

Clark Fork Track & Field Schedule 

3/22 — @ Bonners Ferry Invite 

3/29 — @ Ezra Gordon Invite (Colville) 

4/12 — @ Lake Pend Oreille Invitational (Sandpoint) 

4/15 — @ Thompson Falls Invite 

4/19 — @ Priest River Invite 

4/22 — @ Kootenai Invite 

4/25 — @ Timberlake Invite 

5/1 — @ District 1 Meet of Champions (Post Falls) 

5/9-10 — @ 2A District 1-2 Championships (TBD) 

5/16-17 — @ 2A State Championships (Middleton) 

    Clark Fork High senior Olivia Yetter competes in the 100-meter hurdles at the Timberlake Invitational last season.