Cats take divisional crown

The Columbia Falls boys track team ran away with the Northwest A divisional crown last week in Libby. Derrick Williams, Justin Whitman, Nate Thompson, Taylor Martinson and Daniel Jones all had first place finishes. On top of that, a host of other athletes qualified for the state tournament this weekend in Laurel.

Williams took first in the 800 and 1,600 meters. Justin Whitman edged his brother, Shawn, for the top spot in the 3,200 meters. Thompson won the triple jump, Martinson won the long jump and Daniel Jones won the discus.

Martinson also took second in the 100 and 200 meters, Thompson was second in the javelin. The boys also qualified in the 400 and 1,600 relays with second place finishes to Whitefish in both events. All told, it was a dominant performance as the Cats outpaced the competition by more than 100 points.

The Cats hope to carry the momentum to the state tournament, where the competition promises to be tougher.

This season's team has been anchored by long distance runners from the cross country team, which also won its first state title this year. The Whitman brothers, Patric and Pascal Jessat and Williams were all part of the cross country squad.

Sprinkle in Martinson's blossoming speed and long jumps, Thompson and Jones in the field events and Jacob Hader in the 300 hurdles, and it could be the formula for a state crown.

On the girls' side, six individual athletes qualified, as well as the 400 and 1,600 relay teams.

All told, 18 boys and 14 girls will travel to Laurel.

"Don't be satisfied with that trophy," coach Jamie Heinz told the boys' team at practice Monday, referring to the divisional crown. "We have a legitimate chance to win. We want the big one, that's what we're shooting for."

The Cats don't have to have extraordinary performances, he noted. They just need to maintain their strong and steady pace and they can score enough points to win. Neither the boys or girls team has ever won a state meet. The boys took second in 2005.

But there's plenty of competition ahead, Heinz cautioned. Corvallis and Belgrade have strong squads. Lewistown has good athletes and Whitefish does as well. It only takes a single athlete, winning a few events to put his or her team over the top.

Heinz was also pleased with the girls' squad.

"They were awesome," he said. "They outscored what I thought they could do."

Kelsey DeWit won the high jump with a 5-0 leap. Jinise Osborne broke the school record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:57.34, which also put her in second place. The boys continued to break school marks as well. Martinson and Patric Jessat both broke the school mark for the 200 meters with times of 22.77 and 22.95, taking second and third respectively. Williams broke the school record in the mile last week in Polson.