Thinclads tune up for Western A Divisional

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Alyssa Ladenburg earned first place in the long jump, Sam Ladenberg placed in two events and Ketti Wilhelm tied for second in the pole vault, leading the Columbia Falls girls to fifth place at the Nelson-Thomas ABC track and field meet Saturday in Polson.

Steven Brennan turned in a lifetime best while winning the javelin for the Wildcat boys, who finished in eighth place.

Polson took the girls team title with 107 points. Hamilton was second with 96, followed by Whitefish (83), Corvallis (51 1/2) and Columbia Falls (48) to round out the top five.

Despite going into the wind, Alyssa Ladenburg had a solid winning jump of 14 feet 11 1/4 inches in the long jump, just off her season best. Sam Ladenburg was third in the shot put (33-10) and fourth in the discus (99-1, season best). Wilhelm cleared 9-6 in the pole vault.

Kelsey DeWitt went over the high jump bar at 4-10, good for third place. Emily Stoltz was fourth in the pole vault, clearing 9-6 for the first time in competition. She tied for fourth in the high jump (4-8).

The young Wildkats went 4-5-6 in the 3,200-meter run. Nicki Moser was fourth (13:32.75), Alexa Young fifth (13:32.89) and Dannah Turner sixth (13:48.86).

"It was great for them," CFHS coach Jamie Heinz said if Moser, Young and Turner.

Ashli Fairbank placed sixth in the 1,600 (5:43.85). Heinz said Fairbank's time was a personal best by about 15 seconds.

Stoltz, Wilhelm, Alyssa Ladenburg and Sophia Lewis-Peterson teamed for fifth in the 400 relay (53.75), and Nikki Elek, Fairbank, Colyne Hislop and Stoltz earned fifth in the 1,600 relay (4:42.46, season best).

Corvallis won the boys crown at the ABC meet, scoring 100 points. Hamilton was four points behind, followed by Frenchtown (82 1/2), Polson (59), Whitefish (53.5), Bigfork (49), Ronan (26) and Columbia Falls (25) in the top eight.

Heinz was very pleased with Brennan, who had all six of his javelin throws at 160 feet or better.

Dean Phillips, Stephen Baumgartner, John Woody and Scott Palmer placed third in the 400 relay (45.62). Palmer was fourth in the 100 (11.47), and Baumgartner was fifth (11.62). Those are the fastest times of the year for the sprinters.

Brennan, Michael Kruse, Patric Jessat and Kaleb Johnson teamed for fifth in the 1,600 relay (3:43.66).

Nathan Klug was sixth in the shot put (42-1 1/2), but struggled in the discus after winning the event the week before. It was a mental block for Klug, according to Heinz, dealing with animated Dalton Sybrant of Corvallis.

"He was intimidated," Heinz said of Klug.

Sybrant's winning toss was 168-11. Klug did not place in the top six.

"Now he'll know how to handle that type of pressure. He'll know what to expect," Heinz said.

Klug has the best throw this season in Class A.

Heinz looked ahead to the Western A Divisional Meet this Friday and Saturday in Whitefish.

"I'm very happy with where we're sitting," the coach said of the Cat boys. "They've covered every event. I think they'll be in contention for some hardware."

Heinz feels the boys divisional race is wide open, with Libby, Whitefish, Polson and Columbia Falls all capable of earning the team title at Whitefish.

"The girls effort was great," Heinz said of the ABC meet. "They're sitting very well getting into divisionals. They're ready to compete."

According to Heinz, the Polson girls are loaded and should run away with the divisional title. Whitefish should finish second, but the Kats could figure into the mix for a top-three finish.

Friday's events begin at 3 p.m. The 100, 400, 1,600, 100 hurdles and 400 relay are scheduled for the first day, plus the triple jump, discus and pole vault in field events. The rest of the events will be on Saturday; events begin at noon. All the running events are timed finals, except the 100, which has the finals Saturday.

The top five in each individual and relay event qualify for the Class A State Track and Field Championships on Friday and Saturday, May 23 and 24 in Bozeman.