Trotters track finds stride

PLAINS – The Plains High School Track and Field team traveled to Ronan for their first meet of the season. As the returning state champions, the Trotters had a lot to live up to in the face of their competitors.

They lived up to the hype. Several of the Trotters placed multiple times and consequently racked up points.

Hailey Phillips dominated the hurdles and jumping events, bringing in many points for the Trotters. She placed second in the 100 meter hurdles with a time of 17.30 seconds. She won the 300 meter hurdles and was more than four seconds quicker than the runner-up.

Phillips also won the long jump with a distance of 16 feet, two feet further than the second place jumper. She then placed third in the triple jump.

Nicole Rehbein nearly swept the sprints. She placed second in the 100 meter dash with a time of 13.60 seconds. She won the 200 meter dash with a time of 29.07 and placed third in the 400 meter dash with 67.39 seconds.

Shannon Diamond was right behind her and also placed in the three events. She got third place in the 100 meter race with a 14.05 second time. Diamond got second place in the 200 meter with 29.27 seconds and third place in the 400 meter with a time of 67.84 seconds.

Leah Thompson conquered the throwing events, taking first place in both shot put and discus. She threw 110.6 feet in discus and 36.7 feet in shot put.

Kimberly Earhart, Demi Horton and Corie Morefield made their contributions to the team as well. Earhart placed third in the 800 meter with a time on 2.39 minutes and Horton placed fourth in the 3,200 meter with a time of 13.47 minutes. Morefield earned sixth place in the high jump with a height of four feet and two inches.

All of the podium placers easily secured the Trotters the team win. Their total score was 117 points, 46 points ahead of the second place team.

The Ronan Invitational was more of a struggle for the Horsemen. Senior Wyatt Winebrenner earned second place in discus with a distance of 132 feet. The Plains boys finished in 11th place with a final score of nine points.

According to Head Coach Denise Montgomery, two other boys did very well. Freshman Brian Baker had a good time in the 4X400 relay race, he also jumped well. Sophomore Tyler Subatch was a part of the 4X400 relay as well and was a competitor in the 300 meter hurdles.

Coach Montgomery said several of the young Horsemen are very athletic so the key is to find the best way to harness that athleticism in the best way possible.

“We have some very talented and multi-talented athletes which is a great problem to have,” Coach Montgomery said. “They are all good kids and that makes it easier as well.”

Coach Montgomery was pleased overall with her teams’ performance at the first track meet of the season.

“It was a great meet; everybody seemed to perform well. It was a good start to our year,” Coach Montgomery said. “We got a lot of the first meet jitters out of the way. It just gives you a place to start and a chance to see where the competition is.”

The Plains track team will have their next meet on Thursday, April 3 at the University of Montana. It is the Jim Johnson Invitational and Alberton will be hosting.

Coach Montgomery believes this tournament will be a better indication of where the Horsemen stand. Four of the boys were missing for the Ronan Invitational due to a wrestling tournament. Three of the four were state finishers last year. With them in tote, the team is sure to improve their standing.