Boys win home track meet
Nate Thompson, left, shown here in the 100, would help lead the boys team to a win in the 400 relay. (Chris Peterson photo)
The weather at the Columbia Falls Invitational was nearly perfect, with long lines at each event, and a win for the home boys' team — not a bad way to start off the track and field season Saturday. In past years, the invite has been marred by rain, snow or both. Last year's meet was cancelled altogether.
The boys had top performances from Pascal Jessat in the 400, Derrick Williams in the 800, Shawn Whitman in the 3,200 and the 400 and 1,600 meter relays.
"I was really happy with them," said head coach Jamie Heinz. Heinz said he wasn't sure how the boys would perform as they were missing sprinter Dean Phillips and long distance runner Patric Jessat. Both athletes had prior commitments.
The girls took third behind Polson and Bigfork. Kayla DeWit was the lone winner for the girls, taking first in the high jump with a leap of 5 feet. Jinise Osborne was second in the 3,200 with a time of 12:56 and Jessie Gist took second in the pole vault with a jump of 8 feet.
"We have some great individuals," Heinz said of the girls. Right now the team is still sorting out who from the younger ranks will become competitive.
"Hopefully at the end of the season we can field a competitive team," he said.
On Tuesday the Flathead time trials were cancelled because of rain and snow.
The varsity team travels to the Missoula County Invitational on Saturday, while the junior varsity travels to Bigfork for a meet there.