Track should be solid
Assistant coach Josiah Osborne encourages runners during drills last week as the track season commenced. (Chris Peterson photo)
The Columbia Falls track teams should be right in the mix again this year.
Coach Jamie Heinz said Corvallis and Hamilton are likely the teams to beat this year. The Wildcats have some college-bound seniors on both the boys and girls squads.
On the girls’ side the speedy Ally Sempf will run next year for the University of Montana and on the boys’ side sprinter Malaki Simpson recently signed with the Grizzlies as well.
The Cats also have returning discus champion Lane Voermans, who should make his mark again in the discus and the shot put.
Emma McAllister, who did well in the pole vault and jumps should also be solid this year and Stanley Stremick is the top jumper for the boys heading into the season.
The team has great numbers — all told about 110 athletes have tried out.
Heinz has been coaching for Columbia Falls since 1998 and has been the head coach since 2007. The Cats open the season in Hamilton April 6 and then compete in the Flathead Time Trials April 9.