Track tunes up for state at divisionals

Columbia Falls athletes performed well at the Western A Divisional Track and Field Championships in Polson, and in turn will take plenty of athletes to the state meet. The Columbia Falls boys took second in divisionals while the girls placed fourth.

Jack Phelps was a force in the sprints, taking third in the 100 meters (11.50) and second in the 200 (23.04). He also anchored the 4x400 relay team — joined by Jadon Persinger, Trip Ross, and Jett Brandeberry — which took fourth overall with a time of 3:28.11. The 4x100 squad also earned fifth in 44.90.

In the 400 meters, Phelps placed second in 49.59.

Columbia Falls flexed its depth in the distance races, where Chloe Savoy led the Wildkats by placing second in the 800 (2:20.18) and third in the 1600 (5:18.23). Teammates Mila Johns (4th, 5:20.28), Mya Badger (6th, 5:27.65), and Findley Dezzani (8th, 5:28.90) helped the Wildkats dominate the 1600.

In the 3200, Badger placed third (12:17.65), followed by Dezzani (4th, 12:22.11) and Marissa Schaeffer in eighth (13:04.87). The 4x400 relay of Savoy, Badger, Ashley Andrews, and Peyton Ross claimed fifth in 4:15.38.

In the field, Stanley Stremick won the boys’ long jump (21-0.75) and took fourth in triple jump (42-0). Isak Soyland and Oliver Kress both cleared 14-0 in pole vault to place first, while Lane Voermans earned gold in the discus (165-3) and silver in shot put (52-9.75).

The Wildkats made their mark in the girls’ field events as well. Taryn Borgen placed third in long jump (16-3) and tied for second in high jump (4-10) with Maddy Barker, who also took fourth in triple jump (34-7.5). Soli Bullemer was second in pole vault (11-0), and Courtney Hussion took seventh in the same event.