by Scott Sacry
The track teams from Florence, Darby and Victor competed alongside 24 other high schools in the Seeley-Swan Invitational in Missoula on Saturday, April 20th.
The following Bitterroot Valley athletes finished in the top 6; with so many kids competing, a top 6 finish in this meet is an exceptional achievement.
Individually for Victor, freshman Eli Jones had a great day. He took 2nd in the high jump (6-00) and the long jump (19-11.5) and 3rd in the triple jump (41-04).
Individually for Darby, Lily Adair won the 1600m (5:44.09) and took second in the 3200m (12:40.55). The 4×400 relay team (Paige O’Donnell, Kiahna Hirmann, Lily Adair, Natalie Anderson) took 4th (4:26.25). Natalie Anderson took 5th in the 300m hurdles (51.03). Ben Martin took 5th in the 3200m (10:40.08). And McCoy Townsend took 6th in the 200m (23.92).
Individually for Florence, Bailey Kroeker had herself quite a day. She won the 400m (1:02.20) and the long jump (17-02), took 2nd in the 100m (13.19) and 4th in the 200m (27:56). Isaac Bates also had a stellar meet, he won the 200m (23:19) and the 400m (51:24) and took 3rd in the 100m (11.50). Quinn Skaggs took 2nd in the 800m (2:39.18). Madigan Hurlbert took 3rd in the 300m hurdles (50.45) and 6th in the 100m hurdles (17.40). Curtis Pijanowski took 3rd in the 3200m (10:22.07). Andrew Horsens took 6th in the javelin (146-02). The 4×100 relay team (Mattix Chase, Logan Williams, Jake Schneiter, Lee Blair) took 6th (46:43).
In the team standings, the Florence girls took 2nd and the Florence boys took 6th. The Victor boys took 9th. The Darby girls took 11th and the Darby boys took 21st.