Nicosia, Mundel, Osborne tops at C-Falls Invite

March dished up typical early spring weather at the Columbia Falls Invitational on March 28, with frequent showers, some sunshine and occasionally chilly winds.

Persevering against the adverse conditions, Wildkat Samantha Mundel took first in the 3,200 meters, teammate Carla Nicosia was tops in the triple jump, and Wildcat Josiah Osborne won the 100 meter dash. Mundel ran the 3,200 meters in 12:30.27, Nicosia jumped 34.75 feet, and Osborne ran the 100 in 11.84 as the team opened its season at home.

The Columbia Falls High School girls took second behind Polson with 128.33 points. Polson had 134 points for the win. The boys took sixth place with 59 points. Whitefish won the meet with 141 points.

Eight high school teams competed. The meet drew mostly local Class A schools, but Dutton-Brady School made the trip over from near Great Falls to compete.

Other notable Columbia Falls girls performances included Angela Tamburelli, fifth in the 100 and 200 meters with times of 14.43 and 29.47. Alli Gimbel ran the 400 in 1:08.36, good enough for third. Katie Hawes was third in the 800 meters at 2:52.68 and fourth in the 1,600 at 6:15.41.

Nicosia took sixth place in the 100 meter hurdles, posting a 20.37. She also took second in the high jump with a leap of 4-10. Ashton Berta was second in the pole vault with a 7-6 jump, and Ellie Johnson was second in the long jump at 14-7. Andrea Getts took third in the javelin with a throw of 83-10.

On the boys side, James Ratzlaff took fifth in the 1,600 with a time of 5:12.81 and third in the 3,200 at 11:21.67. Mark Hader took sixth in the 300 hurdles at 47.74 and second in the long jump with a 20-2 leap. Conner Williams took fifth in the triple jump with a 37-11 jump, and Colton Gove was fifth in the javelin with a throw of 117-6.

The track team has a week off for spring break and then starts back up again with the Flathead Time Trials on April 9.