Lady Tiger duo advance to divisionals

The Tigers only brought two athletes to the District 14-C meet, but walked away from Polson Thursday with a first and second-place finish and both girls earning the right to move on to the division meet.

Lady Tiger Ryanne Burklund finished first in the javelin with a throw a 104 feet, 5 1/2 inches. Tiger coach Gena Ferlan said that Burklund should be able to improve on the throw at the divisional meet. Burklund went to state last year in the javelin and also holds the school record in the event with a throw of 117 feet, 7 inch.

The senior also finished in sixth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 14:19 seconds and sixth in the 200-meter with a time of 30.40 seconds. Burklund’s time in the 200 was a personal best.

Brianna Managhan also qualified for divisional in three events. Managhan finished in second in the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 6:39.06. She also had sixth-place finishes in the 300-meter hurdles and the 400-meter dash. Managhan ran the hurdles in 57 seconds and the 400 in 1:12.40.

Ferlan said Managhan’s big goal of the season is to beat her own school record in the 1,600 of 6:25. Ferlan said both of the girls have really started to come on strong in the later part of the season, which is perfect timing. “It’s right when we want to show up, at districts,” she said.

Ferlan said that Managhan ran five events at the district meet and was pretty wore out. She said that only focusing on three events should help her at the divisional meet in Missoula this weekend. “I think she’ll have some personal best times at divisionals,” she said.

Ferlan said the two girls have been competing against bigger schools most of the year and are excited to just compete against Class C schools at divisionals. The first-year coach said she is also excited about the two girls she’s bringing to the meet. “I think both girls have a good chance to go on to state,” she said.