Track peaking as divisionals this week

Sage Wanner laps the field at the finish of the 3,200 at the Glacer dual.

Dakota Bridwell throws the javelin during a dual with Glacier last week.

by CHRIS PETERSON
Editor | May 17, 2017 10:14 AM

Dakota Bridwell throws the javelin during a dual with Glacier last week.

The Columbia Falls track team is rounding into form as the postseason begins this week.

At the Polson ABC meet Saturday, Logan Kolodejchuk was tops in the shot put with a throw of 50 feet even. Braxton Reiten won the 100 meters with a 11.49. Michael Hoerner won the 110 meters hurdles with a time of 15.80.

Sage Wanner won the 1,600 meters with a 4:36.48 and Ben Windauer won the pole vault with a leap of 13 feet even as the boys took second behind Corvallis.

The girls took third, with Angellica Street winning the javelin with a throw of 128-05 to take the title.

Coach Jamie Heinz likes where the team is right now.

“We’re peaking at the right time of year,” he said. Both teams are a bit smaller in terms of the number of athletes, but they’re very competitive. The girls team is anchored by a host of freshmen, including Street, Kara Mohr, Stella Bistodeau, Josie Windauer and Kimberly Peacock.

Peacock took second in the 800 (2:27.35) and Mohr was third in the triple jump (30-01) at Polson.

“Our frosh girls are strong,” Heinz said.

The Kats also have some veterans.

Senior Kiara Burlage is also back after an extended illness. The hope is she’ll be at top form by the state meet in Missoula in two weeks. Junior Tallia Sova took third in the shot put (36-04) to qualify for state, and senior Kaitlyn Casazza was once again a fraction of a second from winning the 100 hurdles with a time of 16.39.

On Thursday, the squads squared off against Glacier in an away dual. Dakota Bridwell won the javelin (185), Wanner won the 3,200 (10.19.28), Windauer won the pole vault with his best jump of the season (13-7) and Logan Stephens won the long jump (20-01.5).

On the girls side, Peacock won the 1,600 (4.25.4), Street won the javelin (130-07) and Mohr won the pole vault (9-0).

Heinz said Dillon is the favorite in both the boys and girls divisional, with the battle for second between Columbia Falls and Corvallis.

Bridwell has the top throw in the javelin so far this year in state A, with a 189. He’ll probably need to be in the 190s to bring home gold at state. If he throws farther than 202 feet, he’ll break the school record held by Daniel Jones.