Welcome back, Idaho high school track and field fans.

A year ago, the Bell Lap weekly notebook debuted and made a persistent goal of mine a reality: to give Idaho high school track and field athletes space on IdahoSports.com every week throughout track season. I had a blast writing it each week throughout track season and was always grateful when coaches or athletes mentioned that they were reading it. It was such a fun endeavor, that the great crew at IdahoSports were generous enough to allow me to bring a weekly notebook into cross country season last fall called Breaking the Tape. 

This spring makes my 13th season covering high school track and field in the Gem State, which is both easy to believe and hard to believe at the same time. In my almost 14 years of living here, I've seen some of the oldest records shattered, multiple athletes qualify for national meets and times and marks becoming more and more elite with each season. This sport continues to grow here, and Idaho athletes and coaches are very much to credit for this progress. This writer, former high school cross country runner and track coach's daughter is simply humbled to be a witness and grateful to capture the moments along the way.

I look forward to this second season of The Bell Lap and sharing what is happening around the state each week. As was true last spring, if you have a story or a suggestion for this notebook, please reach out to me on IdahoSports' social media handles and/or leave a comment below.

Strong Early Season Impressions

Highland junior Spencer Van Orden and Mountain View senior Joseph Miraya remain nationally ranked as we enter week four of meets in the Gem State.

Van Orden, Idaho's all-time record holder in boys 300 hurdles, is No. 13 in the U.S. on athletic.net as of March 30 for his boys 110 hurdles time of 13.83 seconds from March 14 at the Boise Opener. From March 14 to 22, that time was No. 1 in the U.S. It is not only a personal best for Van Orden, but No. 2 all-time on record in Idaho. Van Orden ended his sophomore season with a best of 13.90 in the event. In both his meets so far this season, he has won the event with sub-13.9 times. Van Orden and 2022 Emmett graduate Landon Helms, currently a decathlete at Boise State after two years at Texas A & M, are the only Idaho boys on record to break 14 seconds in boys 110 hurdles.

Miraya is No.14 in the U.S. on athletic.net as of March 30 for his boys shot put mark of 60 feet, 10 inches from March 14's Eagle-Mountain View dual meet. On March 26, it was No. 7 best. That mark is a personal best for Miraya, who ended his junior season with a best mark of 58-6.75, and puts him at No. 9 all-time on record in Idaho for the event. He has won shot put and discus at both meets he has competed in so far this spring. For reference, the only athlete to surpass 60 feet in boys shot put in Idaho last season, Centennial's Kai Twaddle-Dunham, did not achieve 60 feet until April 19 of last year when he won Oregon Relays with 61-3. Twaddle-Dunham, now at Washington State, ended last season with a personal best 61-7 upon winning the event at the 5A state meet. 

Eagle senior Makenzie Baisch is the first Idaho girl to break 15 seconds in 100 hurdles so far this season. She began the season with a personal best 14.91 to win on March 14 at the Eagle-Mountain View dual meet. She broke 15 seconds once last season with her 14.93 to place third in the finals at the 5A state meet.

On The Horizon

April arrives this week and track season really starts to heat up with bigger meets right around the corner.

The annual Boise Relays, one of the biggest meets on this season's schedule, take place this Saturday at Boise State's Dona Larsen Park. As of March 30, 37 teams are registered. Live timing can be accessed by searching for Boise Relays 2025 on AthleticLive.

Also taking place Saturday is the annual Highland Gold Baton Relays and Invitational at Highland High School in Pocatello. Gold batons will be awarded to event winners.