Idaho high school track and field athletes concluded their final season in the previous classification system with a bang last May, breaking 12 overall state meet records and 36 classification state records in two days at the state championships in the Treasure Valley.

With Idaho's new classifications, almost every school simply moved up a classification with a few exceptions. As was true for cross country, the 1A classification was dropped and 6A was added for track. Javelin, which was introduced as an exhibition event last season, will be added to the state meet program this season as well, giving athletes an additional field event to compete in for state medals in May at Mountain View and Middleton High Schools.

Here are some storylines, athletes and teams to follow as track season is getting started.

Class 6A

Nearly all of last year's 5A teams make the move to 6A this season after an electrifying 5A state meet a year ago which featured a fifth consecutive girls state championship for Boise and an eighth consecutive boys state championship for Rocky Mountain in a team title race that came down to the 4x400 finals.

Of the meet records that occurred during last year's state track championships weekend, nine overall state meet records occurred at the 5A meet, five of which were also all-time Idaho No. 1 marks. 

"It was incredible," Boise head track coach Aaron Olswanger said of the records that fell last year. "You have to have the perfect storm for that to happen--great competition, good weather and you have to have programs who get their kids ready at the right time."

Boise graduated an accomplished senior class and several of those athletes have continued their careers at the collegiate level. Sophia Clark (2-time 5A girls 400 state champion and No. 1 all-time Idaho girls 400 record holder at 55.38 seconds) is now at Montana, Noe Kemper (2024 5A boys 800 state champion and 2024 New Balance Outdoor Nationals 2k steeplechase champion) is now at Dartmouth, Samantha Smith (2024 5A girls 800 state champion and member of 5A meet record state champion 4x400, 4x800 second place) is playing soccer at Stanford, Adrienne Russell (2024 5A girls long jump sixth place, 4x100 sixth place, 4x200 second place) is throwing javelin at Missouri, Autumn Shomaker (2024 5A girls long jump state champion, 4x200 second place, 4x100 sixth place) is now at California State University San Marcos, Allie Bruce (2024 5A girls 4x400 state champion with Smith and Clark, 800 fourth place, 1,600 fifth place, 4x800 second place) is now at Utah, Alexandra Gustavel (2024 5A girls high jump second place) is now at Washington State, and Grace Lanfear (2024 5A girls 100 and 300 hurdles state champion, 4x200 second place, 4x100 sixth place) and Cooper Smith (2024 5A boys 4x200 second place, 4x400 third place, 200 sixth place, 400 fifth place) are both at Colorado State.

"We had just a tremendous group of seniors last year," Olswanger said. 

Among the returning athletes for the Boise girls are junior Mia Nelson (2024 5A sixth place pole vault), junior Ella Winnie (2024 5A eighth place long jump), senior Lily Vertrees (2024 5A 4x400 state champion with Bruce, Samantha Smith and Clark), junior Audrey Orme (2024 5A 1,600 second place, 3,200 fourth place, 800 eighth place, 4x800 second place), junior Reese Kindig (2024 5A girls 4x800 second place with Smith, Bruce and Orme). Junior Lucy Spiess, coming off a strong cross country season which included a fifth place individual finish in November's 6A state meet, did not reach state track last year, but already has a 1,600 and 3,200 win under her belt from the March 14 Boise Opener.  

Olswanger said he anticipates teams from Boise's own District 3 to remain the Brave's biggest competition in 6A as was true for 5A. The Rocky Mountain boys graduated Braden Ankeny (2024 5A boys 200, 400 state champion), Landon Heemeyer (2024 5A boys 3,200 state champion, 1,600 fourth place), Brady Abbott (2024 5A boys pole vault state champion), Sam Jensen (2024 5A boys 800 sixth place), Charles Dodd (2024 5A boys 300 hurdles sixth place) and Brian Yeboah (2024 5A boys long jump fourth place) from its state championship team. The Grizzlies do return point scorers senior Cody Lucas and junior Matthew Stevens from last year's 5A state champion 4x400 team as well as senior Timothy Price (high jump second place, long jump third place). 

Boise returns point scorers senior Chase Lawyer (2024 5A boys 110 hurdles third place, 4x200 second place), senior Jack Sheesley (2024 5A boys 1,600 sixth place, 3,200 fifth place, 4x800 state champion with Kemper, fellow seniors Jens Knutsen and Jacob Fornander), senior Kellen Hulquist (2024 5A boys 4x400 third place), senior Eli Rich (2024 5A boys 4x200 second place, 200 third place, 100 fifth place), senior Jordan McDonald (2024 5A boys high jump state champion), sophomore William Studebaker II (2024 5A boys 110 hurdles fifth place) and seniors and 4x800 state champion members Jens Knutsen and Jacob Fornander.

"They definitely have big goals and we definitely have good leadership," Olswanger said of his boys and girls teams.

"For me, it's me against the clock," Van Orden said following his Simplot win.

Van Orden's Highland teammate Gracee Anderson returns for her sophomore season this spring having won last year's 5A girls triple jump state title with 36-11.75, placing fifth in the 200 finals, fourth in the 400 finals and fourth in the 4x200.

Capital junior Christine Huckins, who won four gold medals and set four overall state meet records at last year's 5A state meet (11.62 for the 100, 24.16 for the 200, 1:39.86 in the 4x200 with teammates Kennedy Patterson, Eden Francis and Grace Russell and 47.45 in the 4x100 with Patterson, Russell and Stella Gray), is back. She won both the 60 meter and 200 meter finals at the annual Simplot Games in February in Pocatello in 7.60 and 24.61, respectively. Huckins is the fastest on record in Idaho in the girls 100 and 200, the only athlete on record to break 11.7 for the girls 100 in Idaho. Additionally, Capital's overall state meet record 4x100 is the fastest on record in Idaho in that event while their overall state meet record 4x200 is No. 3 all-time in Idaho. Huckins' relay teammates Francis (junior) and Russell (sophomore), both return. Francis already has the top mark in Idaho thus far this season in girls javelin (101-3). Junior and last year's 5A girls shot put state champion McKenna Chavez, also returns this spring. The Eagles placed third at last year's 5A girls state meet.

Mountain View, last year's second place 5A girls team, graduated Rilyn Stevens (2024 5A girls 3,200 and 1,600 champion and 5A state meet 3,200 record holder with her winning time of 10:25.51) who is now at New Mexico. Stevens' 3,200 5A meet record time is also No. 2 all-time on record in Idaho. Audrey Chitwood (1,600 fourth place, 4x800 third place with Stevens) and Amina Mulendela (200 eighth place, 4x100 second place, 4x200 third place) also graduated. Junior Quincy Keller, who ran a No. 2 all-time Idaho 24.38 to place second in last year's 5A girls 200 state finals and 11.83 (tied for No. 4 all-time in Idaho) to place second in the 100 state finals, returns this spring having placed third in the 60 meter finals in 7.66 and third in the 200 meters in 25.33 at Simplot Games last month. The 5A girls team state runner-up Mavericks also return point scorers senior Madilyn McCarty (2024 5A girls discus third place), junior Lilja Walmsley (pole vault third place), junior Kami Clayton (third place shot put) and senior Aleysa Earl (pole vault fifth place). 

Mountain View senior Joseph Miraya, who placed second in last year's 5A boys discus finals and fourth in shot put, won boys weight throw at Simplot Games in February with 68-0 and placed second in shot put with 58-6.75. As of March 26, Miraya's 60-10 from March 14 is the No. 7 best boys shot put mark in the U.S. so far this season.

Seniors Myles Johnson-Nicholson and Izaiah Allen-Heinrich return from Kuna's repeat state champion 2024 5A boys 4x200 team, which set an overall state meet record of 1:26.42 (No. 2 all-time in Idaho). Last year's 5A girls discus state champion, Rigby's Ellayna Davis, returns this spring for her senior season as does Post Falls senior Cobe Cameron, who won last year's 5A boys 400 state title. 

Meridian senior and Oklahoma State commit Nate Stadtlander, who won last year's 5A boys 1,600 state title, returns for his senior season having won a second consecutive boys individual cross country state title and qualilfying for Nike Cross Nationals. His teammate and fellow senior Paisley Taylor, who became Meridian's first ever girls individual cross country state champion upon winning the 6A title in November, returns this spring after placing third in the 3,200, fifth in the 800 and third in the 1,600 at last year's 5A track state meet. Stadtlander won the Simplot Games boys 1,600 final in 4:09.12 while Taylor placed second in the Simplot Games girls 1,600 final in 4:57.12. Their teammate and fellow Meridian senior Blake Johns won Simplot Games boys shot put (59-4.5) and placed second in the 2024 5A boys shot put finals.

The Rocky Mountain boys added to their track dynasty last year in thrilling fashion, but the girls are having a historic school year so far and are worth following. The Grizzlies, who won a program first girls cross country state team title in November before going on to win Nike Cross Regionals Northwest at Eagle Island State Park and place 18th at Nike Cross Nationals in Portland, return numerous members of last year's 5A state fourth place girls track team. Nike Cross Nationals teammates Hallie Heemeyer (junior), Emme Hamm (senior), Brooklyn Hom (senior) and Chloe Pollock (senior) all return this spring. Heemeyer and Hamm were on Rocky Mountain's overall state meet record, No. 1 all-time Idaho, 2024 5A state champion 4x800 team (9:06.62). Additionally, Pollock placed eighth in last year's 5A 3,200 finals. Sophomore Lauren Rynhart (pole vault fourth place), sophomore Olivia Sangsland (high jump fifth place) and junior Kenzie Bennett (high jump sixth place) also return for the Grizzlies.

Keep an eye on the Coeur d'Alene boys distance runners as well. The Vikings, who won a second consecutive boys cross country team state title in November and went on to win Nike Cross Regionals Northwest and place ninth at Nike Cross Nationals in December, had an impressive indoor track season. Seniors Max Cervi-Skinner and Zackery Cervi-Skinner, sophomore Wyatt Carr and junior Mitchell Rietze placed second in the boys 4x1-mile relay finals in 17:10.47 at NIke Indoor Nationals earlier this month in New York. Zackery Cervi-Skinner and Carr placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in last year's 5A boys 3,200 state finals while Max Cervi-Skinner was seventh in the 1,600 finals. 

Class 5A

Skyline head track coach Chase Meyer's preseason predictions for the current 5A classification/former 4A classification team favorites have been pretty spot on for six years and counting. He correctly predicted Skyline's boys team win in 2019, Pocatello's girls championship in 2022, Skyline's girls championship in 2023 and Bishop Kelly's boys title streak from 2021 to 2024. 

As most of the former 4A schools move to 5A this spring, Meyer again tabbed the Bishop Kelly boys as title favorites, adding that Vallivue returns a strong group as does Lewiston, which did not move up to 6A from last year's 5A classification. The girls side is a bit more open ended, although he did acknowledge the number of Twin Falls' returners. The transfer of sophomore Karlie Bair, who won three silver medals and one gold at last year's 4A state meet, from Burley back to Kimberly changes matters for the 5A girls team trophy race.

"The girls side, it'll be interesting," Meyer said.

Skyline has graduated Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year recipients in back-to-back years, with sprinter Claire Petersen graduating in 2023 and distance runner Nelah Roberts graduating in 2024. Roberts, who was part of BYU's women's cross country NCAA championship team last winter, ended her high school track career by winning a fourth consecutive 4A girls 3,200 state title, fourth consecutive 4A girls 1,600 state title, her first 4A girls 800 state title and contributing to Skyline's fourth place 4x400 finish last season. Additionally, she set an overall meet record and No. 2 Idaho all-time best in the 3,200 with her 10:20.36 and a 4A state meet record in the 1,600 with her 4:48.36 (No. 3 all-time best in Idaho). Roberts graduated as the lone Idaho girl on record to break 10:20 for the 3,200 (10:14.68 from 2024 Arcadia Invitational) and as the third Idaho girl on record to break 4:50 for the 1,600. She and Skyline distance teammate Marina Renna (2024 4A girls 3,200 third place, now at Nevada) are Skyline's biggest losses from last season. 

Meyer said he is particularly excited about the return of his boys distance runners who are coming off a 5A cross country state championship in November: junior Alexander Renna (2024 4A boys 3,200 third place), sophomore Davis Roberts (2024 4A boys 3,200 eighth place), senior Porter Orchard and sophomore Will McCombs, who is returning after missing cross country season due to injury. 

Bishop Kelly, moving to 5A upon winning five consecutive 4A boys track state titles and eight total boys titles in nine seasons, graduated thrower Rakeem Johnson (now with Michigan State football), who swept 4A boys throws titles last year with 4A state meet records of 59-7.25 in shot put and 191-1 in discus and joined Centennial's Kai Twaddle-Dunham in top-10 U.S. rankings for discus, Cam Davis (repeat 4A boys long jump state champion, high jump seventh place, 4x100 second place), Sam Knell (2024 4A boys 100 second place, 200 fifth place, 4x100 second place), Charlie Goss (2024 4A boys 1,600 third place), Elvis Yav (2024 4A boys triple jump third place, long jump sixth place), Alex Johnson (2024 4A boys long jump second place, 300 hurdles eighth place) and Liam Durcan (2024 4A boys 800 second place, 1,600 sprint medley state champion, 4x400 state champion). Among the Bishop Kelly returning point scorers are senior Isaac Edwards (2024 4A boys 1,600 second place, 1,600 sprint medley state champion, 4x400 state champion), senior Reed Martin (2024 4A boys discus sixth place, shot put sixth place), senior Ty Kaschmitter (2024 4A boys shot put seventh place) and senior Owen Kane (2024 4A boys triple jump second place, 1,600 sprint medley state champion).

Idaho Falls, which placed second at last year's 4A boys track state meet for its first state track trophy in 15 years, graduated four major point scorers in Luke Athay (2024 4A boys 800, 1,600 and 3,200 state champion), Parker Elliott (2024 4A boys 100 and 200 state champion, 4x100 third place, 4x200 second place) and Elliott's 4x100 and 4x200 teammates Colton Lowe and Taylor Cardon. Additionally, senior Garrett Merwin (2024 4A boys 110 hurdles second place, pole vault third place, long jump fifth place) transferred to 6A Rigby. Senior Caleb Boyle (2024 4A boys 1,600 fifth place, 3,200 seventh place), junior Kenyon Tyler (4x100 third place, 4x200 second place) and junior Droston Ball (2024 4A boys triple jump 10th place) do return for the Tigers.

Ridgevue, the third place 4A boys team from last year, moves to 5A having graduated Xavier Fraley (2024 4A boys 400 state champion, 4x200 state champion, 4x400 sixth place, 200 third place), who is now at Boise State, his 4x400 teammate Emmette Godfrey and  Michel Kabika (2024 4A boys 4x100 state champion). However, Fraley's relay teammates Caden Warren (junior, 2024 4A boys 100 third place, 200 seventh place), senior Cash Mckie (2024 4A boys 100 fourth place, 200 eighth place) and sophomore Uluaifiu Tinoifili and junior Jose Escutia are back. Field event athletes Zack Wolfe (senior, 2024 4A boys pole vault second place), Tristin Veach (senior, 2024 4A boys pole vault sixth place) and Jake Farar (senior, 2024 4A boys discus fourth place) also return for the Warhawks.

The fourth place Hillcrest boys graduated point scorers Mason Edwards (2024 4A boys 110 and 300 hurdles state champion), Lucas Witte (2024 4A boys high jump second place), Trason Keller (2024 4A boys 100 eighth place), Peyton King (2024 4A boys 4x400 fourth place), Omri Brown (2024 4A boys 4x200 eighth place), Daniel Rogel (2024 boys 4x100 fourth place), Conner Arbuckle (2024 4A boys high jump fifth place) and Braxton Battleson (2024 4A boys 200 second place). Senior Garrett Cook (2024 4A boys 110 hurdles third place, 2024 4A boys 4x400 place) and his 4x400 teammate, senior Emmett Gudmundson, do return for the Knights.

Skyview, which claimed its first girls track state title in 24 years last year by two points over Twin Falls, graduated Melissa Eyer (2024 4A girls 4x100 state champion, 4x200 second place, long jump third place, 100 third place), Emylie Gwyn (2024 4A girls 800 medley third place), Megan Cahoon (2024 4A girls 4x100 state champion, 4x200 second place, 100 seventh place, 200 fourth place) and Sophia Krzemian (2024 4A girls 1,600 fourth place, 3,200 seventh place). Among the returning point scorers for the Hawks are medley relay and 4x200 teammates Isla Anderson (sophomore) and Makayla Naylor (senior 4x100 state champion, 100 eighth place), junior Camilla Freeman (2024 4A girls 1,600 sixth place, 3,200 fourth place), sophomore  Natalie Mecham (2024 4A girls high jump fourth place), junior Skotlynd Cagle (2024 4A girls pole vault fifth place), junior Brinna Nelson (2024 4A girls triple jump fourth place), sophomore Brylee McNicol (2024 4A girls 4x100 state champion, 800 medley third place). 

Third place Preston graduated Elly Jeppsen (2024 4A girls 400 state champion, long jump sixth place, 4x400 state champion, 800 sprint medley state champion), Angelie Scott (2024 4A girls 4x400 state champion), Anna May (2024 4A girls 800 fourth place, 4x400 state champion, 800 medley state champion), Maren Leffler (2024 4A girls 3,200 eighth place, 4x400 state champion) and Abby Lindhart (2024 4A girls 300 hurdles sixth place). Junior Tayla Wakley and senior Hayven Holyoak, both 800 medley relay teammates, and senior Ellie Nelson (shot put and discus third place), senior Myah Atchley (800 seventh place) and senior Carly Dunn (high jump seventh place) are among Preston's returning point scorers.

Additionally, Burley senior Alex Rushton (2024 4A boys high jump state champion), Blackfoot junior Eva Grimm (2024 4A girls discus state champion) and Emmett sophomore Addi Richards (2024 4A girls pole vault state champion) all return this spring. At last month's Simplot Games, Rushton cleared 6-10 to win boys high jump and Richards cleared 12-3 to win girls pole vault. Rushton has already cleared 6-8 this month to lead Idaho boys high jump so far this season.

Class 4A

The 4A state meet is shaping up to be arguably the most intriguing and tightest title race and team trophy race this season.

Numerous athletes who set records and won individual gold medals at last year's 3A state meet were underclassmen and return this spring to compete in 4A. The 3A girls' team title came down to half a point between repeat team champion Weiser and second-place Sugar-Salem, with eight points separating first place from fourth place in the final girls' team standings. On the boys' side, four points separated second from fourth place in the final team standings.

Three-time 3A girls 100 and 200 state champion and repeat long jump state champion Lydia Lindsey of Fruitland, 3A girls pole vault and high jump state champion Lydia Townsend of Marsh Valley, repeat 3A girls 400 state champion Kailee Lerew of Weiser, 3A girls 1,600 state champion and repeat 800 state champion Annabelle Carr of Coeur d'Alene Charter and 3A girls triple jump and 300 hurdles state champion Brianne Bailey of South Fremont are all back this spring as they take their talents to 4A, and the trophy race could come down to razor-thin margins just as it did in prior years of 3A.

"The 4A meet is gonna be as quality of a meet as there will be in the whole state in the sprints and jumps," Sugar-Salem head coach Brett Hill said. 

Lindsey, now a senior, set 3A state meet records last year in girls long jump (18-9) and the 100 (12.28). Townsend, now a junior, set the 3A state meet record in pole vault (11-6). Carr, now a junior, set the 3A state meet record in the 800 (2:13.78). Bailey, a senior who made her high school track debut last spring, set the 3A state meet record in 300 hurdles (44.38). They will be rejoined in their classification by sophomore Karlie Bair, last year's 4A girls high jump state champion and state runner-up in the 4A girls 100 hurdles, 100 and 200 finals for Burley. Bair transferred back to Kimberly this school year where her older brothers Payton (class of 2020) and Jaxon (class of 2022), now competing at Mississippi State and Arkansas, respectively, won a combined 19 state 3A track gold medals. 

Bair's return to Kimberly, and the current 4A/formerly 3A classification, changes the state meet predictions as Hill said she could easily score 30 to 40 points by herself. Bair placed second in the girls 60 meter finals in 7.62 at the annual Simplot Games in February in Pocatello and has already jumped 17-7.75 in long jump this month.

"I would say preseason favorite is Kimberly," Hill said. "All the rest of us are gonna be battling hard for second. If Kimberly has an off day, it could be between all of us again."

Walker (2024 3A girls triple jump fourth place) and senior Madilyn Wilkins (2024 3A 800 sprint medley relay state champion with Lerew, Walker and 2024 graduate Abi Wilkins). Last year's 3A state runner-up Sugar-Salem returns senior Nika Nead (discus fourth place), sophomore Jayla Jackson (800 sixth place, 1,600 sixth place, 3,200 third place), senior Ellisa Hawkes (shot put sixth place), senior Josie Klingler (4x200 state champion), senior Lindsey Beesley (4x100 third place), senior Hailey Dalling (4x400 second place), junior Kamryn Teichert (4x400 second place, 4x200 state champion) and junior Tasha Larsen (4x100 third place).

On the boys side, 2024 3A state champion McCall-Donnelly graduated Van Vinson (pole vault state champion and state meet record holder), Daniel Jackson (pole vault second place), George Speirs (3,200 state champion, 1,600 second place, 800 third place), Jack Duncan (discus eighth place) and Matthew Daniels (400 state champion, 1,600 sprint medley relay state champion). The Vandals do return senior Ben Walker (300 hurdles second place), senior Seth Weller (discus fourth place) and sophomore Charlie Speirs (3,200 seventh place). Hill said the 4A boys team title this year is anyone's for the taking, adding that Kimberly, Teton, Timberlake, Snake River and his Diggers all have potential in the trophy race. Last year, Sugar-Salem placed fourth in the 3A boys final team standings, half a point back of third-place Kimberly, one point ahead of fourth place Weiser and four points back of second-place Filer.

"I don't think anyone is gonna go out and score 90 points like McCall did," Hill said. "There's a lot of parity this year."

Hill added that Teton will likely be the favorite in relays in 4A District 6 and he expects a strong season from Teton senior Zane Lindquist, who won the 4A boys individual cross country state title in November. Lindquist placed second in the 2024 3A boys 3,200 and third in the 1,600. Sugar-Salem swept the 4A boys and girls cross country state titles while Teton placed second, and several of those same athletes compete in track. While Hill has started track season without senior jumpers Hagan Morris (2024 3A boys triple jump state champion) and Abe Baldwin (2024 3A boys triple jump fourth place) due to injury, he said he is excited to see how senior Dylan Ball and freshman Darrel Dickson do in distance events this spring. Ball placed seventh in the 2024 3A boys 800 finals, and Dickson ran a 4:45 mile as an eighth grader. 

Senior Cody Sanchez (2024 3A boys long jump third place) returns for Filer while senior Matthew Thuernagle (2024 3A boys shot put and discus third place) and senior Ben Browning (2024 3A boys 3,200 third place, 1,600 fifth place) return for Kimberly. Last year''s 3A state champion in both boys discus and shot put, Parma's Chase Klahr, is also a returning senior this spring.

Class 3A

One of Idaho's most storied cross country programs claimed a historic first on the track last spring, as Soda Springs won the 2A girls track state championship by a massive 41.5-point victory margin at Middleton. The Cardinals had won 14 consecutive 2A girls cross country state titles from 2006 to 2019 for Idaho's longest state title streak for any sport in any classification, but had yet to claim the blue trophy and banner on the track until last spring. Jinettie Garbett (four-time 2A girls 400 state champion, three-time 200 state champion, two-time 4x400 state champion and last year's 100 state champion), Izzy Shelton (2024 2A girls shot put second place, discus sixth place), Aspen Christensen (2024 2A girls 100 fifth place, 800 medley relay second place, 4x100 second place, 4x200 third place), Genevieve Fullmer (2024 2A girls pole vault sixth place), Macee Simmons (2024 2A girls 4x400 state champion, 800 medley relay second place, 4x100 second place, 4x200 third place) and Brooklyn Kempe (2024 2A girls 200 third place, 4x400 state champion, 800 medley relay second place) all graduated. However, senior Lizzie Beutler (2024 2A girls 3,200 third place), senior Rebekah Evans (2024 2A girls 4x400 state champion, 400 seventh place, 800 eighth place, 4x200 third place), senior India Galloway (2024 2A girls 3,200 fifth place), senior Rosie Harris (2024 2A girls high jump fourth place, 4x200 third place) and junior Ellie Wood (2024 2A girls 800 sixth place) all return. 

Fourth place Melba graduated Brooklyn Dayley (300 hurdles third place repeat 800 state champion, 800 medley state champion, 4x200 second place), Emma Dillbeck (high jump second place, 800 medley state champion), Ella Stosich (4x200 second place, pole vault third place) but returns point scorers junior Hayden Higgins (100 eighth place, 200 fifth place, 800 medley state champion), junior Nyah Richardson (high jump fifth place) and sophomore Reese Harp (4x200 state runner-up).

Nampa Christian won its first boys track state title in five years last spring and will return numerous point scorers as the Trojans move to 3A. The Trojans graduated Donovan Wiles (800 third place, 400 third place), Aiden Thompson (shot put sixth place) and Hunter Hafer (4x400 state runner-up). Senior Thomas Duerre (100 fourth place, triple jump third place, 4x100 state champion, 4x400 second place), junior Ian Johnson (400 state champion, 4x200 state champion, 1,600 medley relay third place, 4x400 second place), senior Noah Howerzyl (110 hurdles fourth place, 800 fourth place, 1,600 medley relay third place, 4x400 second place), senior Micah Evenhouse (pole vault third place), sophomore Elias Mack (110 hurdles eighth place, 300 hurdles sixth place, 4x200 state champion, 1,600 medley relay third place), senior Tyler Szilagyi (4x100 state champion, 4x200 state champion, 100 seventh place) and senior Luke Mills (1,600 medley third place, 4x100 state champion, 4x200 state champion) are returning point scorers.

Second place West Side graduated Aaron Willis (110 hurdles fifth place, 300 hurdles state runner-up, 4x400 state champion), Parker Moser (400 fifth place, 4x400 state champion), Garrett Robinson (1,600 medley second place) and Corbin Thomsen (pole vault fifth place, 1,600 sprint medley second place). The Pirates do return point scorers senior Trayce Stone (4x400 state champion, 400 third place, 100 second place, 200 second place), junior Ethan Willis (4x400 state champion, 1,600 medley second place, 800 second place, 1,600 second place) and senior McKay Peterson (high jump seventh place).

Third place North Fremont graduated Brady Allen (repeat 1,600 medley relay state champion, 100 third place, 200 third place, long jump fifth place) but have several returning point scorers in senior Corbin Johnston (repeat 3,200 state champion, 1,600 state champion, medley relay state champion, 2024 800 state champion), junior Owen Reid (long jump eighth place, 1,600 medley relay state champion), senior Roy Wynn (triple jump eighth place), junior Andrew Martin (1,600 medley relay state champion) and senior Sam Moon (pole vault eighth place).

Johnston, a Utah State signee who won his third career boys individual cross country state title in November, said lifting weights and being more diligent about proper nutition and hydration has made a difference in his fitness and preparation over the last year and he has big goals for his senior track season.

"I want to get better in all my events," Johnston said. "I want to do well at state. There's lots of good competition this year. I just want to feel like I gave every day my all in every race."

Following in the footsteps of older brothers Asher (class of 2021) and Zack (class of  2023) and older sister Brayleigh (class of 2023) as a North Fremont runner, and in the footsteps of his mom and head coach Holly Johnston as a high school and a collegiate runner (she ran for Ricks College), Johnston said he can hardly believe his final high school season has arrived. 

"It didn't seem like too long ago, I was just a freshman," Johnston said. "I'm super grateful to be able to be a part of (North Fremont)."

Fourth place Aberdeen graduated Daniel Sandoval (shot put state champion), Brock Klassen (100 state champion, 200 sixth place, 4x100 fourth place), Juan Barrera (4x100 fourth place, 200 eighth place), Nicolas Medel (discus fifth place) and Rick Martinez (shot put fifth place, discus fourth place). The Tigers return 4x100 teammates Canon Foster (senior) and Guadalupe Ortiz (junior) and hurdler Chris Carrillo (senior, 300 hurdles fourth place) and senior Mitchell Elliott (pole vault sixth place).

Returning individual state champions from last season are West Jefferson sophomore Bella Spencer (girls 1,600), Ririe junior Lucy Boone (girls 3,200),  West Side senior Reagan Bingham (girls high jump), Nampa Christian sophomore Avery Reece (girls 100 hurdles), Declo junior Mara Rodgers (girls long jump) and Soda Springs senior Degan Stoor (boys 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles). 

Class 2A

The previous 1A classification is now 2A for cross country and track, and the final 1A track state championships ended with a pair of historic titles last season in Middleton.

The Rockland boys claimed a program first track state title and the Logos girls won their first track state title in almost 10 years. The Rockland boys won by nine points over Valley, with Tri-Valley and Prairie both finishing the meet one point back of Valley to tie for third. Logos claimed the girls title by 18 points over five-time defending champion Raft River and Murtaugh placed third by two points ahead of fourth-place Prairie.

Rockland graduated Ezra Hubbard (2024 1A boys 800 state champion, 400 state champion, 1,600 medley relay state champion,4x400 state runner-up), Teague Matthews (second place high jump, 1,600 medley relay state champion), Eli Hendrickson (seventh place 800, 1,600 medley relay state champion, 4x200 eighth place, 4x400 state runner-up) and Cody Woodworth (15th place discus). Returning point scorers for the Bulldogs include senior Hayden Smith (3,200 fourth place, 1,600 fourth place), junior Brigham Hubbard (4x400 second place) and sophomore Xavier Parrish (3,200 sixth place).

Logos graduated Sara Casebolt (2024 1A girls 800, 1,600, 3,200, 4x400 state champion), who is now at Idaho, Alyssa Blum (sixth place 800, 4x400 state champion) and Evie Grauke (eighth place high jump). Among the returning point scorers for the Knights are senior Naomi Taylor (100 sixth place, 200 fourth place, 4x400 state champion), senior KatieBeth Monjure (100 hurdles seventh place, triple jump sxith place), junior Chloe Jankovic (400 fourth place, 800 sprint medley second place), senior Lizzie Crawford (800 seventh place, 1,600 seventh place).

Two of last year's 1A girls athletes to watch are both back this season for 2A: Valley senior Lexi Huettig and Challis sophomore Lilly Stebbins. Huettig repeated as pole vault state champion, triple jump state champion and long jump state champion and was part of the winning 4x100 relay at last year's 1A state meet. Her pole vault (11-0) and triple jump marks (37-11.5) were 1A state meet records, as was the 4x100 time (50.76).

As a freshman at last year's 1A state meet, Stebbins cleared a 1A meet record 5-8 to win girls high jump, won 300 hurdles in 46.8, placed second in 100 hurdles in 15.87 and was part of Challis' third-place finish in the 4x400 in 4:17.96.

Since that meet, Stebbins has won a national title. She cleared 5-7 to win the 15-16 girls age division high jump title at the USA Track and Field National Junior Olympic Championships in July in College Station, Texas. It was her second appearance at Junior Olympics, as she placed second as a 14 year-old in the 15-16 age division in 2023.

Stebbins, who is one of seven girls on record in Idaho to clear 5-8 or better in high jump, described her national title win as 'eye-opening.' 

"Being able to compete with these other girls, that kind of competition, it was eye-opening to go from Challis to Texas," Stebbins said. "They have good jumeprs there. It was so cool to be able to meet these people, jump with them, we all became good friends. We were all supporting each other."

She also reached last summer's Junior Olympics in long jump, 100 hurdles and 400 hurdles, competing in steady rain for half the day. 

Stebbins, who cleared 5-8 twice as a freshman, is pursuing more records this spring in 2A. Also a volleyballl and basketball player for Challis, she said she currently stands 5 feet, 11.5 inches tall, and is continually studying ways to improve her high jump approach. Two days before last year's state meet, she tweaked her approach from 56 feet to 58 feet, 10 inches, putting her almost under the football uprights of Middleton's stadium to take her first steps toward the bar.

Stebbins prefers to bound during her approach, and she can tell right away if something feels off.

"I went to districts (last year) and I was sick," Stebbins said. "My legs were so tired, I instinctively moved my approach from 10 steps to eight. You have to listen to your body. For me, I can feel, 'Oh, I'm too close. I need to shorten this step.' If my first step is weak, I know I need to bound more."

Stebbins said she hopes to break Challis' school record of 46.7 in 300 hurdles and then break 46, break 15 seconds for 100 hurdles and clear 5-9 for high jump. She has attempted 5-9, including at Junior Olympics and last year's 1A state meet, but has yet to clear it. 

Returning 1A state champions back for more in 2A this spring are Potlatch senior Kathryn Burnette (2024 1A girls shot put state champion), Prairie junior Sage Elven (2024 1A girls discus state champion) and Oakley senior Liam Koziol (2024 1A boys 110 hurdles state champion). Koziol has already jumped 21-11 in long jump this month while Elven attained a mark of 138-3.5 in girls discus on March 21. Both those marks currently lead Idaho this season for all classifications.

In addition to Elven, among the returning point scorers for Prairie, which claimed two 1A state trophies last season, are senior Dylan Uhlenkott (boys 200 third place, 4x100 state champion and meet record, 4x200 state champion and meet record, 4x400 state champion and meet record), senior Matthew Wemhoff (boys 4x100 state champion and meet record, 4x200 state champion and meet record, 4x400 state champion and meet record), junior Ben Secrest (boys 4x100 state champion and meet record, 4x200 state champion and meet record, 4x400 state champion and meet record), junior Sydney Shears (girls 800 third place, 1,600 second place, 800 sprint medley state champion, 4x200 fourth place ), sophomore Kennedy Riener (girls 800 sprint medley state champion, 4x200 fourth place), sophomore Aubree Geis (girls 4x400 second place) and senior Aubree Rehder (girls 800 sprint medley state champion).

Among the returning point scorers for second place girls team Raft River are senior Ashlee Christensen (high jump fourth place), senior Amy Stanger (100 fifth place), senior Brooke Bingham (300 hurdles eighth place, 4x200 state champion, 800 sprint medley eighth place, 4x400 seventh place), junior Makenna Durfee (4x200 state champion, 800 sprint medley eighth place), sophomore Madison Rex (800 sprint medley eighth place), sophomore Kaylee Knudsen (4x400 seventh place), senior Naomi Campbell (4x400 seventh place) and senior Sadee Knudsen (4x200 state champion, 800 sprint medley eighth place).

Among the returning point scorers for second place boys team Valley include senior Nathan Christensen (110 hurdles seventh place, 300 hurdles seventh place, 4x100 fourth place, 4x400 fourth place), senior Andrew Lukes (long jump fourth place, triple jump second place, 4x400 fourth place), senior Josh Hardy (4x400 fourth place, 4x100 fourth place, 4x200 third place) and junior Daniel Zamudio (4x100 fourth place, 4x200 third place, 1,600 medley sixth place).

Returning point scorers for third place boys team Tri-Valley include senior Zane Hearne (discus sixth place), whose 160-7 from March 14 currently leads Idaho this season, and junior Devin Mendoza (4x100 sixth place).

A slew of underclassen are among the returning point scorers for third place girls team Murtaugh: sophomore Bristyl Perkins (100 hurdles fourth place, high jump second place, long jump seventh place), sophomore Peyton Stanger (200 sixth place, 4x100 fourth place), sophomore Emma England (1,600 sixth place, 3,200 fourth place) and junior Camila Rojas (4x100 fourth place).