Bigfork speeds through Seeley Invitational

Bigfork High School track and field had a promising preview for the season at the non-scoring Seeley Invitational in Missoula last Saturday. Several of the 44 Vikes and Vals who attended the invitational won first place in their events and many more placed second and third.

“It was a low key meet, but a great chance to see how the younger kids would perform,” coach Sue Loeffler said. “Ryan Hayes, Makena Morely, and Mitchel Harsh all improved from what they’ve done.”

Hayes won first place in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.87 and Kyle Hayes came in fourth with a time of 25.6. Hayes also won first place in the 400-meter dash with a time of 52.4.

The Vikes really brought the fury in the 800-meter dash with Skyler Lee in first with 2:11.21, Carson Cantrell in third with 2:14.96, and Vinny Quirk in fourth with 2:21.52.

Morely left her competition in her dust with a first place time of 5:06.06 in the 1,600-meter dash, nearly a full minute ahead of the rest.

Morely isn’t the only Val built for speed, as Emily Pataky came in second place in the 3,200-meter dash with a 16:52.87.

Riley Coleman came in third in the 100-meter dash with a 14.24.

The Vals also performed exceptionally well in the 100-meter hurdles event. Marissa Hiza got third place with 18.66 and Haile Nissen was close behind in fourth with 18.93.

Conner Coleman, Austin Cantrell, and Mitchel Harsh showed what pure Viking power is all about in the discus and shot put. Coleman won first in the shot put with 39-1.5, Cantrell won first in the discus with 122-2 and Harsh got second place with 120-1.

A big part of the invitational was checking to see if the Vikes and Vals are competing in events that best suit their strengths. A plethora of Bigfork athletes showed promise with fourth and fifth place scores.

Harsh came in fourth in the javelin throw with a 152-11.5.

Cameron Nissen got fourth in the long jump and the triple jump. Nisson had a 17-7 in the long jump and a 36-7 in the triple jump. Christian Evans came in fifth in the triple jump with a 35-11.

Josh Sandry got fourth in the high jump with a 5-4 in the boys division and Ellessa Henion also got fourth in the girls high jump with a 13-8.25.

The Vikes and Vals will be practicing hard this week in preparation for the Columbia Falls Invitational this Saturday at 10 a.m.