Blue Devil Invitational hosts 777 athletes

by Scott Sacry

Blue Devil Invitational hosts 777 athletes

A total of 777 track and field athletes from 18 western Montana high schools competed in the annual Blue Devil Invitational in Corvallis on Saturday, March 28. This marked the season’s first track meet for Bitterroot Valley participants, including Corvallis, Hamilton, Florence, Darby, Victor, and Stevensville.

Showcase event – girls long jump

The girls long jump was one of the most competitive events of the day. It featured many of the state’s top competitors in the event. Participants included: Alexis Daigle of Frenchtown, who jumped 17’ 8.75” to win last year’s Class A state championship; Corvallis’s Ella Varner, the 2024 state Class A champion; Stevensville’s Reagan Johnstone, the 2025 Class A state runner-up, and Stevensville’s Sophia Hutchison, who took 6th at state last year (Hutchison also won the triple jump at this meet). 

When the dust settled over the pit, Corvallis’s Ella Varner won the event with an impressive early season jump of 18’ 1.5”. Stevensville’s Johnstone took second (17’ 5.5”), Stevensville’s Sophia Hutchison took 3rd (16’ 11”), and Frenchtown’s Daigle took 4th (16’ 05”). Corvallis’s Lauryn Holmberg took 5th (16’ 00”) and Corvallis’s Jillian Huls took 6th (15’ 8.5”). The event is one to keep an eye on this season. 

Team highlights

The following are the individual event highlights from each of the Bitterroot Valley teams. 

Corvallis

Boys: Reese Tucker won the 110 hurdles (16.24) and the triple jump (40’ 09”). Nathan Keller won the high jump (6’ 0”). Jeremy Davidson won the 1600m (4:41.77). Eider Reed took 2nd in the 800m (2:08.22). Taggart Jessop took 2nd in the 3200m (10:14.54). Ayden Spencer took 2nd in the discus (158-02).

Girls: Ella Varner won the long jump (18’ 1.5”). The 4×100 relay team won (Ella Varner, Kate Allen, Jillian Huls, and Lauryn Holmberg). Sophie Hagberg took 2nd in the pole vault (8’ 6”). Natalie Huls took 2nd in the 800m (2:33.13).

Darby

Boys: Gavin Miller won the 400m (53.14). Gavin Anderson won the 300m hurdles (45.54). McCoy Townsend won the long jump (20’ 2”). The Darby 4×400 relay team won (McCoy Townsend, Gavin Anderson, Ben Martin, and Gavin Miller). Ben Martin took 2nd in the 1600m (4:45.46). 

Florence

Boys: Logan Williams won both the 100m (11.53) and 200m (23.37). Isaac Nicoson took 2nd in the 400m (53.58).

Girls: Madigan Hurlbert won the 100m hurdles (15.80) and took 2nd in both the 100m (13.06) and the javelin (100’ 2”). Bailey Kroeker took 2nd in the 200m (26.98).

Hamilton

Girls: Aubrey Korst, the 2025 state runner-up in the pole vault, won the pole vault with a jump of 12’ 0”. Annalise Lewis, 2024 state champion in the 800m and 1600m, won the 800m (2:16.68). Scarlet Gard won the javelin with a throw of 103’10”. The 4×400 team won (Aubrey Korst, Nellie Dickemore, Alise Shaulis, Annalise Lewis). Gracie Werst, the 2025 state champion in the shot put, won the shot put with a throw of 38’ 0”. 

Boys: The 4x100m relay team won (Landen Wetzel, Taylor Doleac, Kaeden Gum, and Marshall Smith). Kennie Cords took 2nd in the 300m hurdles (45.88).

Stevensville 

Girls: Sophia Hutchison won the triple jump with a jump of 33’ 1.5”. Reagan Johnstone, the 2025 Class A state champion in the 100m and 300m hurdles, won the 300m hurdles with a time of 48.02. Johnstone also took 2nd in the long jump (17’ 5.5”).