The high school track season finishes up this weekend with the state track meets. Class A and C will be held in Laurel, and AA and B will be in Kalispell. Although the divisionals give the athletes one final chance to qualify, many have already qualified for state by achieving a predetermined mark or time.
Corvallis is the returning boys team champion and is bringing a strong contingent of athletes that may be able to capture another crown. The Blue Devils girls also have several athletes who are expected to do well. Hamilton has a strong throwing group and will push the Blue Devils. The Hamilton girls are strong in the distance races and throwing events also.
Corvallis picked up wins in the high jump,4×400 relay, discus and pole vault. Hannah Hutchison won the high jump with a leap of 5 feet. Calla Haldorson, the there-time state discus champion, threw the disc 138-03 to win that event. Kaileen Herbstritt cleared 11 feet to claim the pole vault. The team of Alyssa King, Lauren Criddle, Bree Lewis, and Kailee McCready clocked a 4:08.80 to top Columbia Falls in the 4×400 relay.
Hamilton’s Brynnli Poulsen won the 800 with a time of 2:18.02. She was second in the 1,600 meter race. Katelyn Dickemore finished second in the shot put by an inch and a half with a throw of 36-10.0. She was also fourth in the discus.
Stevensville’s Ashton Lewis won the long jump with a leap of 17-02.5. She was also fourth in the 100 meter race and the 200 meter race.
Beaverhead County won the boys’ team scoring with Corvallis finishing sixth and Hamilton seventh in the 12-team field. Will Flowers of Corvallis won the 3,200 meter race with a time of 10:23.74. Jonathan Crane of Corvallis tied for a three-way tie for first in the pole vault. He, Thank Beck of Libby and Jaxon Heinz of Columbia Falls all cleared the bar at 11 feet. Hamilton’s Jacob Campbell won the shot put with a throw of 53-10.50.
Cadence Waller of Florence finished fifth in the 800 with a time of 2:09.89. Marik Chrisman of Powell County won with 2:05.52. Chrisman also won the 1,600 with a time of 4:49.86. Florence’s Nathan Gale was sixth with a time of 4:59.08. Gale finished fifth in the 3,200 with a time of 10:58.75, a personal best. Hunter Steele won the race with a time 10:376.92.
Freshman Luke Maki had a personal best throw of 112.01.50 in the discus which placed him sixth. Bryce Danielson of Loyola won with a throw of 138-03.50. Maki finished fifth in the javelin with a throw of 148-01.50. The throw of 158-07.24 by Jakeb Kindel of Eureka won.
Donavan Chaffin of Darby finished fourth in the 3,200 with a time of 10:43.67. Wills Degrandpre of Charlo won with a time of 10:14.98.
Florence’s Kendall Boehm finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 31-04. Ashton McAnaly of Bigfork won with 37-07. Anna Stiegler finished sixth in the long jump with a leap of 15-01.75. Alexis Cooney of Loyola won with a leap of 15-10.50.
Cassidy Alber of Victor finished sixth in the 100 meter with a time of 13.68. Carlee Fryberger of Charlo won with a time of 13.15. Alber is the only Pirate to advance to state.
Darby’s Casey Ehmann won the 300 hurdles with a time of 48.03. She finished second in the 200 meter race. Her time was 27.30. Carlee Fryberger won the race with a time of 26.90. Ehmann finished second behind Fryberger in the 100 meter hurdles with 16.14. Fryberger’s time was 16:04. Gracie Lang finished fifth in the 3,200 with a time of 13:11.52. Averi Parker of West Yellowstone won with a time of 11:54.04.