Sanders County starts track and field season
Sanders County was well represented in the first official track and field meet hosted by Columbia Falls. Plains, Thompson Falls and Noxon all got an opportunity to showcase their talent early in the season.
The meet at Columbia Falls was categorized as a scratch meet. This meant for all the events, those who placed first through six would be classified as varsity while seventh through twelfth is classified as junior varsity.
On the boys’ side of the Plains squad, Robert Earhart finished strong in two different events. He placed fourth in the varsity javelin and second in the junior varsity 400 meters. Earhart’s distance of 152’10’’ is a new personal best for him.
Russell Kujala also had a personal best on the 3200-meter with a time of 11:52.14. His time placed him third in the junior varsity category.
Carter Montgomery didn’t run this week because he’s been fighting a minor knee issue. According to Plains head coach Tony Banovich, Carter should be racing by the next meet and will be ready to run when the season is on the line.
For Thompson Falls, Dominique Holt had a terrific afternoon for the Blue Hawks. Holt took first in the 300-meter hurdles and placed second in the 100-meter hurdles, the high jump and the pole vault.
Other top finishers for the Blue Hawks were Preston Schubert, who placed second in the 300-meter hurdle and Danny Babbitt, who took second in the javelin.
On the girls’ side, the Trotters had a great weekend that was headed by runners Nicole Rehbein and Felicia Earhart. Rehbein took third in the 100 meters and placed fourth in the 200-meters. Earhart took second in both the 800-meter and 1600-meter.
Rehbein and Earhart, along with Hailey Phillips and Kelsey Beagley, won both the long and the short relays. The finishing time of the short relay was 53.56 and the finishing time of the long relay was 4:33.50.
Franky Winebrenner had a good day throwing the discus and she placed third with a distance of 98’.
“The girls are already at about the performances they had by the state meet last year,” said coach Banovich. “I’m really excited about the prospects of the season.”
For Thompson Falls, Hope Reid continues to dominate for the Lady Hawks with top finishes in the 100-meter hurdle, the 300-meter hurdles, and the pole vault.
Allison Vaught had a good day throwing the Javelin as she placed second with a throw of 103’.
The Noxon Lady Devils got a great performance from thrower Casey Chenoweth. She took fifth in the discus with a throw of 92’.
With the cancellation of the Frenchtown TNT meet, the next meet will hosted by Thompson Falls on Thursday April 12.