Track teams look to make a mark at divisional

The Columbia Falls track team may have to concede the divisional title this year to two strong Whitefish squads, but second place, particularly for the girls, is a more than realistic goal.

The teams had two final regular-season meets this week, which were largely tune-ups to the divisional tournament this Friday and Saturday in Frenchtown.

While about five of the team’s top athletes have already qualified for the state tournament in Butte, this weekend gives many more a shot at a state berth, coach Jamie Heinz said. The hope is to take at least 22 athletes to state, he said.

One athlete looking to make a mark is senior Josiah Osborne. He recently returned to the track after recovering from a broken leg he suffered in football last fall.

“He has a good chance to qualify in his events,” Heinz noted.

Athletes can qualify for state throughout the season, but those qualifying marks are based on the average sixth-place finish over the past 10 years. The state changed the rules a few years ago as a nod to athletes who might have a great season but have a poor showing at the divisional tournament due to injury or illness.

Athletes can also qualify for state by placing in the top five of an event at the divisional tournament, and that’s where Columbia Falls can make its mark this week. Last week saw some good Columbia Falls performances.

At a home dual meet with Glacier High School on May 15, Mike Sandefer won the 200 and 400 meters with times of 24.12 and 53.39 respectively. Ty Morgan won the javelin with a throw of 167 feet, 1 inch. In the high jump, Kyler Burns and Micah Sobczak cleared 5 feet 8 inches to take top honors.

For the girls, Carla Nicosia won the 100 meters with a time of 13.52 and Samantha Mundel won the 1,600 meters with a time of 5:33.09.

At the Polson ABC meet May 17, Ellie Johnson was sixth in the 100 at 13.69, Mundel took second in the 3,200 at 11:56, sprinter Morgan Christianson was fourth in the 300 hurdles at 51.84, and the Kats took fourth in the 400 relay at 51.71.

In the field, Andrea Getts took second in the discus with a throw of 106-2, and Haley Belgarde won the shot put with a throw of 35-5. Johnson was second in the long jump with a leap of 16-2. The girls took fifth as a team.

The boys took seventh, with Osborne placing fifth in the 200 meters at 24.21, and James Ratzlaff taking fourth in the 800 at 2:05. The boys 400 relay team took fourth with a time of 45.22.

In the field, Jared Trinastich took fourth in the javelin with a 147-6 throw, while Ike Schweikert placed sixth at 145-10. Sobczak took fifth in the high jump with a leap of 5-8. The boys were seventh as a team.

Two of the team’s top athletes, Nakia Alexander and Nicosia, rested for the divisional tournament.

Glacier dual

Boys

100 – 1, Evan Epperly, Glacier, 11.46; 2, Casey Kostecki, Glacier, 11.78; 3, Tucker Rauthe, Glacier, 12.03.

200 – 1, Mike Sandefer, Columbia Falls, 24.12; 2, Garrett Cebulla, Glacier, 24.26; 3, Ty Morgan, Columbia Falls, 25.01.

400 – 1, Mike Sandefer, Columbia Falls, 53.39; 2, James Ratzlaff, Columbia Falls, 53.98; 3, Josiah Osborne, Columbia Falls, 54.27.

800 – 1, Colton Gorian, Glacier, 2:04.87; 2, Justice McManus, Columbia Falls, 2:06.84; 3, Parker Bedard, Glacier, 2:10.50.

1,600 – 1, Brock Sandry, Glacier, 4:40.94; 2, Kade McCutcheon, Glacier, 4:47.62; 3, Carson Brown, Glacier, 5:00.81.

3,200 – 1, Logan Harmon, Glacier, 10:10.28; 2, Tevyn Stetson, Glacier, 10:19.89; 3, Noah Hill, Glacier, 10:52.79.

110 hurdles – 1, Noah James, Glacier, 16.59; 2, Austin Cook, Glacier, 16.76; 3, Micah Sobczak, Columbia Falls, 16.99.

300 hurdles – 1, A.J. Robinson, Glacier, 44.84; 2, Scout Willcut, Glacier, 45.15; 3, Andrew Durado, Glacier, 46.84.

400 relay – 1, Glacier, 44.22; 2, Columbia Falls, 45.18.

1,600 relay – 1 , Glacier, 3:27.36; 2, Columbia Falls, 3:55.28.

Discus – 1, Sam Nelson, Glacier, 150-2; 2, Zach Dennehy, Glacier, 149-0; 3, Harrison Kauffman, Glacier, 133-8.

Javelin – 1, Ty Morgan, Columbia Falls, 167-1; 2, Jared Trinastich, Columbia Falls, 157-10; 3, Kodi Pletcher, Columbia Falls, 150-2.

Shot put – 1, Harrison Kauffman, Glacier, 43-0.5; 2, Zach Dennehy, Glacier, 42-7; 3, Samuel Topel, Columbia Falls, 42-6.5.

High jump – 1, (tie) Kyler Burns, Columbia Falls, Josh Hill, Glacier, Micah Sobczak, Columbia Falls, 5-8.

Long jump – 1, Austin Cook, Glacier, 21-6.25; 2, Logan Jones, Glacier, 19-9.75; 3, Josh Hill, Glacier, 19-6.25.

Triple jump – 1, Austin Cook, Glacier, 40-3.50; 2, Stephen Lindsey, Columbia Falls, 38-10.5; 3, Logan Stephens, Columbia Falls, 38-9.5.

Pole vault – 1, Lonnie Sherman, Glacier, 15-0; 2, Boone Tullett, Glacier, 11-0; 3, Sean Young, Glacier, 10-6.

Girls

100 – 1, Carla Nicosia, Columbia Falls, 13.52; 2, Laker Flores, Glacier, 13.59; 3, Ellie Johnson, Columbia Falls, 13.78.

200 – 1, Shauna Williams, Glacier, 27.52; 2, Laker Flores, Glacier, 28.64; 3, Carla Nicosia, Columbia Falls, 28.72.

400 – 1, Mercede Erickson, Glacier, 62.86; 2, Miranda Livingston, Columbia Falls, 63.33; 3, Emily Calderwood, Columbia Falls, 64.26.

800 – 1, Jessica Chery, Glacier, 2:35.65; 2, Marissa Wenum, Glacier, 2:35.96; 3, Taylor Lapke, Glacier, 2:39.92.

1,600 – 1, Samantha Mundel, Columbia Falls, 5:33.09; 2, Corrine Hamilton, Glacier, 5:46.25; 3, Miranda Champion, Glacier, 6:00.41.

3,200 – 1, Bailey Smith, Glacier, 11:54.94; 2, Kendra Cahoon, Columbia Falls, 13:47.23; 3, Katie Hawes, Columbia Falls, 14:01.81.

100 hurdles – 1, Brynn McChesney, Glacier, 16.86; 2, Hailee Bennett, Glacier, 17.07; 3, Julia Thompson, Glacier, 18.19.

300 hurdles – 1, Hailee Bennett, Glacier, 48.82; 2, Ahna Kreitenger, Glacier, 54.32; 3, Julia Thompson, Glacier, 55.29.

400 relay – 1, Glacier, 51.10; 2, Columbia Falls, 51.87.

1,600 relay – 1, Glacier, 4:18.79; 2, Columbia Falls, 4:35.82.

Discus – 1, Shauna Williams, Glacier, 115-0; 2, Tessa Krueger, Glacier, 112-5; 3, Andrea Getts, Columbia Falls, 108-6.

Javelin – 1, Keyawna Larson, Glacier, 121-0; 2, Andrea Getts, Columbia Falls, 105-10; 3, Bailey Rigg, Glacier, 102-10.

Shot put – 1, Tessa Krueger, Glacier, 39-7; 2, Haley Belgarde, Columbia Falls, 35-10.5; 3, Nikki Krueger, Glacier, 34-1.5.

High jump – 1, Katie Wiley, Glacier, 5-2; 2, Zoee Boschee, Glacier, 4-9; 3, Abi Fiske, Glacier, 4-7.

Long jump – 1, Kylie Peck, Glacier, 14-9; 2, Kendra King, Columbia Falls, 14-3; 3, Taylor Loomis, Glacier, 14-0.

Triple jump – 1, Zoee Boschee, Glacier, 34-7; 2, Katie Wiley, Glacier, 34-2.5; 3, Abi Fiske, Glacier, 33-11.5.

Pole vault – 1, JoJo Sherman, Glacier, 8-9; 2, Katelyn Parmelee, Glacier, 8-6; 3, (tie) Ashley Caffrey, Columbia Falls, Danielle Henderson, Columbia Falls, 8-0.