LAST SEASON: BOYS — 4th at 5A District 1-2 Championships; 11th at 5A State Championships with six state competitors. GIRLS — 4th at 5A District 1-2 Championships; 15th at 5A State Championships with six state competitors. 

COACHES: Doug Fry, head coach, hurdles, third season; Tyler Haynes, assistant coach, sprints; Blake Houchin, assistant coach, pole vault; Sam Becker ('21), assistant coach, pole vault; Brian Smith ('95), assistant coach, throws; Dave DeMers ('78), assistant coach, jumps; Mike Ehredt, assistant coach, distance; Chuck Lowman, assistant coach; Megan Bradshaw, assistant coach, jumps; Alex Peters, assistant coach, distance.

KEY RETURNERS: BOYS — Isaac Schmit (sprints), sr.; Paul Kent (distance), sr.; Shooter Jones (jumps), jr.; Pax Longanecker (mid-distance), so; Trey Blumenberg (sprints), jr.; Maverick Gomez (sprints), sr.; Kamren Ziarnick (sprints), sr.; Knox Williams (sprints), jr.; Kai Budensiek (distance), so.; Damian Porter (throws), jr.; Braden Buckhout (hurdles), sr.; Mathew Kunde (throws) sr.; Isaac Jordan (throws), sr.; Jack Lovin (distance); Hayden Peterson (throws), so.; Wyatt Neal (pole vault), so.

GIRLS — Elizabeth Storms (distance), jr.; Ani Vick (hurdles), sr.; Elia Howard (sprints), sr.; Izzy Davidson (pole vault); sr.; Delaney Barron (distance), so.; Vivian Haag (jumps), jr.; Ruthie Laughridge (distance), so.; Leah Kerfoot (sprints), so.; Hannah Ricks (distance), sr.; Jordyn Tomco (hurdles), jr.; Jasmin Laing (jumps), sr.; Bailey Majors (sprints), jr.

KEY LOSSES TO GRADUATION: BOYS — Jess Herman (hurdles); Van Lee (pole vault); Isaac Vermeer (throws); Triston Tomco (throws). GIRLS — Noah Roark (sprints/jumps).

OUTLOOK: Following a pair of 5A District 1-2 Championships in 2024, both the boys and girls track & field squads at Sandpoint High found themselves in fourth out of four scoring teams a season ago. The good news? The Bulldogs are returning over 20 district qualifiers from last year, including a handful that competed at the 2025 5A State Championship meet.

For the boys, Isaac Schmit, Maverick Gomez, Kamren Ziarnick and Trey Blumenberg will lead a veteran sprint team that is geared up to run some of the fastest times in the state yet again. The trio has already cemented their names in the school's record books, but are looking for more, especially after coming up just short of Lewiston in the 4x100 and 4x200 relays in 2025. Gomez won a state title in the 200-meter dash last season and was first in the 100-meter dash preliminary round before a disqualification in the finals.

In the throws, Damian Porter was the top sophomore in the 5A discus throw a year ago en route to a bronze medal. Matthew Kunde was not too far behind with his sixth-place finish. In the jumps, Shooter Jones is another school record holder returning for the Bulldogs. The standout junior leaped to 13th-place finish in the triple jump at state a year ago. Lewis-Clark State College commit Paul Kent, Kai Budensiek, and Jack Lovin are coming off terrific cross country seasons and should hold things down distance-wise. Braden Buckhout is the top returning hurdler and was on the cusp of a state berth last season. Wyatt Neal is the top returning pole vaulter.

For the girls, Elizabeth Storms will be a key piece for the distance team, having placed 10th and 12th, respectively, in the 800-meter run and 1600-meter run at last year's state championship. Delaney Barron, Hannah Ricks and Ruthie Laughridge are three that will be contributors as well in regard to the distance events. In the hurdles, Ani Vick will be looking towards a bounce back season. The standout senior missed the majority of last year, but still competed at districts, and finished sixth in the 300-meter hurdles at the state championship meet. Elia Howard will be hoping to do much of the same — she's proven to be the Lady Bulldogs' most consistent and top sprinter for a number of years. Leah Kerfoot also returns in the sprint department after a solid freshman campaign in 2025, as does junior Bailey Majors.

Izzy Davidson returns in the pole vault and will be eyeing another podium finish after her sixth-place clear at last year's state championship meet. In the throws, Jetta Thaete, a University of Idaho commit and 5A state champion in the javelin throw a year ago, will be sidelined this season due to an injury. In the jumps, senior newcomer Jasmin Laing, who was third in the high jump at the 1A Colorado Track & Field State Championships a year ago, has the potential to help the Lady Bulldogs reach new heights. Vivian Haag is the top returning long jumper and triple jumper.

COACH'S COMMENTS: "The turnout is huge this year — we ran out of uniforms. It's a great problem to have. We have over 120 kids out. They're all so excited and look good early on. This is probably the biggest turnout Sandpoint has had in awhile." — Coach Doug Fry on this season's turnout

"We're back to getting an at-large bid to state this year, so if our relay teams have the second-or-third-best times in the state, they'll get to go." — Coach Doug Fry regarding the recent changes with the IHSAA

"I think we are solid this year; it's hard to tell this early on. We're building, and were really one year away from true domination." — Coach Doug Fry on how his returners and a large incoming freshman class fare with the 5A Inland Empire League

Sandpoint Track & Field Schedule

3/19 — at Mt. Spokane Wildcat Invite

3/21 — at Lewiston Invitational

3/24 — vs. Lake City, 3 p.m.

4/11 — Pend Oreille Invitational (home)

4/14 — at Christina Finney Relays (Post Falls)

4/17 — at Van Kuren Invite (Cheney)

4/18 — at Priest River Invitational

4/25 — at Walla Walla Legends Meet

4/30 — at District 1 Meet of Champions (Post Falls)

5/7-5/8 — at 5A District 1-2 Championships

5/15-5/16 — at 5A State Championship

2025 RESULTS

3/19 — at Mt. Spokane Invite. No team scores kept.

3/22 — at Bonners Ferry Invite. BOYS: 5th out of 12 teams. GIRLS: 4th out of 12 teams.

3/25 — vs. Lakeland. BOYS: W 84-61. GIRLS: W 74-63.

3/28 — at Lewiston Invitational. BOYS: 8th out of 19 teams. GIRLS: 6th out of 22 teams.

4/12 — Lake Pend Oreille Invitational. BOYS: 2nd out of 9 teams. GIRLS: 1st out of 8 teams.

4/15 — at Christian Finney Co-ed Relays. BOYS: 2nd out of 12 teams. GIRLS: 6th out of 12 teams.

4/19 — at Van Kuren Invite. BOYS: 10th out of 28 teams. GIRLS: 13th out of 30 teams.

4/19 — at Priest River Invitational. BOYS: T-2nd out of 9 teams. GIRLS: 1st out of 8 teams.

4/24 — at Lakeland Invite. BOYS: 1st out of 5 teams. GIRLS: 2nd out of 5 teams.

4/28 — vs. Lake City. BOYS: W 110-31. GIRLS: W 99-28.

5/1 — at District 1 Meet of Champions. BOYS: 3rd out of 14 teams. GIRLS: 5th out of 14 teams.

    Sandpoint High junior sprinter Knox Williams competes in the 4x400 relay during a home dual against Lakeland last season.