LEWISTON, Idaho – If there were any questions about the caliber of athletes the Lewis-Clark State College track and field program has recruited for the 2008 season, the recent high school state championship meets offer an answer—the Warriors will have a very strong freshman class next year. Overall, LCSC signees claimed five individual state titles, and over 10 top five finishes. 

Like many of LCSC’s recruited runners, Jon Dalton of Deary High School will run both track and cross country in the upcoming season. Dalton scorched the Idaho state meet this spring with first-place finishes in the 800m, 1600m, and the 3200m. 

Fellow Idaho athletes Cody Hays, Jarrett Wade, and Amanda Palmer also had standout finishes. Hays, of Lewiston High School, took home two third-place finishes, one in shot put and another in the discus. Wade earned a 16th-place finish in the 3200m for Madison High School. And on the women’s side, Palmer, of Weiser High School, claimed fourth in the 1600m and fifth in the 3200m. 

Kirsten Smith, of Everett High School, controlled the Washington 3A state meet with a first-place finish in the shot put, and a second-place finish in the discus.  

Stephanie Shuel and Whitlee Young also had success at Washington’s state meet. Shuel, of West Valley High School in Yakima, took ninth in the 3200m and 10th in the 1600m, and Young finished 15th in the 3200m for Quincy High School.    

Ali Super, who was the No. 2-ranked women’s javelin thrower in Oregon during the season, claimed the title in the javelin for Portland’s West Linn High School. Super’s throw at the state meet would have been good enough for third at the NAIA outdoor championships.  

Kirsten White, of Salinas High School in California, claimed second in the 800m at the TCAL Championships. 

Rounding out the accolades of LCSC’s recruited class are three runners who narrowly missed trips to state: Oregon athletes Grant Eldridge and Tayler Harrington, and Montana’s Andy Keim. Eldridge, of Clackamas High School, took third in the 3000m in his district with a time of 8:58—with only the top two spots advancing. Harrington, also running in a district with just the top two spots going to state, claimed third for South Medford High School in the women’s 1500m with a time of 5:02 and a fourth-place finish with a time of 11:06 in the 3000m. Keim, of Havre High School, missed a trip to Montana’s state meet in two events when he finished third in the 1600m and third in the 3200m. 

The Lewis-Clark State college track and field coaching staff also recently announced that Arlen Olsen will be helping coach its throwers in the upcoming season. Olsen has served for 20-plus years at the renowned Ironwood camps, and has coached over 20 high school state champions.