TRACK: Divisional tournaments begin Friday

HELENA — There’s one final chance for the area’s track and field athletes to secure a spot at the state meet as divisional meets begin Friday around the state.

The Western AA meet begins today at Vigilante Stadium, with Flathead and Glacier looking to notch a few more entries to their impressive tallies.

The top six finishers, including ties, in each event are granted spots at the state event along with athletes who meet the preset qualifying marks.

The Glacier girls are defending Western AA divisional champions and bring a talented group again this year.

Wolfpack sophomore Annie Hill leads the state in the 3,200-meter run and is among the best distance runners in the country. She’ll be looking to take down a few records and pile up the points for Glacier, as will the throwing group of Nikki Krueger and Melanie Gassaway.

The Flathead girls have tremendous distance depth as well, but like Glacier, will be looking to qualify more sprinters to add to their field prowess.

The Glacier boys are led by the sprints, which have dazzled this season, and will be looking to qualify more athletes in the field.

Flathead’s boys, the defending state champions, are one of the deepest teams in the state again this year. The Braves are led by distance runner Jake Perrin, but could find resistance in the team race from co-state champ Helena High.

The top 10 finishers at the Western A divisional meet, run in Frenchtown, advance to the state tournament.

A few standout athletes from the Northwest will be looking to tackle multiple events at the meet.

Polson’s Jacob Clairmont is one of the state’s top hurdlers and jumpers and has cleared 15 feet this season in the pole vault.

Whitefish’s Luke May should shine in the javelin, with competition from Columbia Falls’ Dakota Bridwell and Logan Kolodejchuk.

Whitefish’s Allie Schulz could take both hurdles and Columbia Falls’ Allyson Gimbel has been one of the best throwers in the state.

Western B will send the top six finishers from this weekend’s meet in Missoula to state.

The Bigfork team have traditionally done very well at the meet and are again deep at nearly ever event.

Their reign at the divisionals could come short with the addition of a pair of former Class A schools in the West.

Libby and Anaconda have taken to the smaller atmosphere this spring and could push for trophies.

The state meets are both next weekend.

Classes AA and C will compete in Missoula and A and B in Bozeman.