'Cats primed for Divisionals run

If the cards fall into place and the Wildcats compete to their capabilities, Columbia Falls can hoist the Northwest A Divisional boys championship trophy Saturday in Polson.

Divisional competition begins at 3 p.m. Thursday, and events resume at noon Saturday. The top five in each event, including relays, qualify for the state meet next week at Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Butte.

Last year, the Wildcat boys finished third at Divisionals, but this year they're contenders for top honors.

"I like where our boys are sitting," C-Falls head coach Jamie Heinz said. "We're deep in every area on the track and in the field. We can score in any event. The distances are going to carry the weight."

Polson, the defending class A state champion, is the prohibitive favorite to win the girls title at Divisionals.

"With our girls we have some great individuals, but we don't have enough depth to contend with Polson," Heinz said.

C-Falls should be battling Whitefish for second place.

TO CAP the regular season, C-Falls earned a tie for second in the boys division of the 10-school Polson ABC Meet on Saturday. Corvallis took the team title with 126 points. The Wildcats and Whitefish had 84.

Shawn Whitman was the Wildcats' lone event winner. He took honors in the 3,200 (10:36.79) and ran to third in the 1,600 (4:45.0). Patric Jessat was second in the 3,200 10:53.59 and fifth in the 1,600 (4:46.6).

Stephen Baumgartner sprinted to second in the 100 (11.41) and 200 (23.51). Derrick Williams was third in the 400 (52.66) and fourth in the 800 (2:05.36).

Kyle Howell cleared 6 feet, 2 inches for third in the high jump, and Kodiak Gimbel was fourth (5-10). Mike Macijunas was fifth in the discus (127.2). Kaleb Johnson placed sixth in the 400 (53.86) and 800 (2:07.20). Joel Ballard was sixth in the pole vault (12-0).

Michael Kruse, Baum-gartner, Williams and Johnson turned in the fastest time for a Wildcat 1,600 relay team (3:32.96), which placed third.

Ballard, Johnson, Baumgartner and Jacob Hader ran to fourth in the 400 relay (45.33). Dean Phillips is coming back from a strained Achilles tendon and didn't run on the relay, but should be ready for Divisionals.

"Everybody got their best marks of the year," Heinz said. "That tells us we're peaking at the right time."

KETTI WILHELM won the pole vault and Kayla DeWit was first in the high jump at Polson to lead the C-Falls girls to fifth place. Wilhelm went over the bar at 9-6. The Wildkat senior was third in the high jump (4-10). DeWit's winning height was 5-1.

Polson was the meet champion with 131 points, and Hamilton was second with 82.

McKenzie Reeve was fourth in the 300 hurdles (49.46) and sixth in the 100 (13.32). Alyssa Ladenburg placed fourth in the long jump (15-3). Kelsey DeWit tied for fourth in the high jump (4-10).

Placing sixth were Cedar Jordt in the 800 (2:35) and Niki Moser in the 3,200 (13:34).

Tianna Burns, McKenzie Reeve, Cedar Jordt and Nikki Elek teamed for third in the 1,600 relay. Their time of 4:19.9 was three seconds faster than their previous best.

Sophia Lewis-Peterson, Jordt, Alyssa Ladenburg and Reeve were fifth in the 400 relay (53.11).

Another Wildkat to provide highlights was Cami Casazza, who had personal bests in all four of her events.

"It was a great all-around effort, boys and girls," Heinz said of the Polson meet.