Dynasty

KALISPELL – Last week the Plains Trotters opened their quest for three consecutive state championships in track and field at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.

After a heated two-day competition with the Bigfork Valkyries the Trotters returned to Plains victorious, winning an unprecedented three state titles in a row for Plains High School.

The team’s entire roster came up big throughout the state meet with runners and throwers helping the Trotters compile 115 team points, five more than runner up Bigfork.

The girls from Thompson Falls were also competing at the state meet placing sixth in the competition with 29 team points.

On day one of the state meet, Plains got first place finishes from senior Hailey Phillips and junior Leah Thompson.

Phillips took the state title in the 400-meter event, crossing the finish line first with a time of 57.69.

Thompson placed first in the discus competition earning the top spot on the podium following a throw of 134-5.

Senior Kayla Holmes of Plains joined Thompson on the podium, taking third in the discus event, with a throw of 116-2.

Junior Kimberly Earhart took third in the 1,600-meter event, clocking in with a time of 5:21.22.

For the Thompson Falls Lady Hawks, Autrey Hannum finished strong in the long jump competition, taking third with a jump of 16-10.5.

Trailing Bigfork by 11 points after the first day of competition, featuring five events, the Trotters needed a strong finish in the second and final day of the season’s final meet.

The team came through and launched the team to their third straight title.

Phillips led the charge and swept the hurdles events posting first place finishes in the 100-meter and 300-meter hurdles with times of 14.75 and 43.50 respectively.

Her title in the 300-meter hurdles marked her fourth straight in the distance hurdles event.

Phillips also took second in the 200-meter event with a time of 26.05 and placed third in the 100-meter event, clocking in at 12.80.

The Trotters throwers also proved instrumental in securing the team’s third straight state title, helping to hold off Bigfork for first place.

Holmes took first in the shot put event with a throw of 43-9 and Thompson placed third in the competition posting a 38-6.25.

Junior Carley VonHeeder threw to a first place finish in the javelin competition with a 142-5 and Earhart finished second in the event with a throw of 134-7.  

Earhart also placed in the 3,200-meter and 800 meter events with times of 11:57.01 and 2:24.30 respectively.

The Trotters also got production out of their relay teams with the girls taking second in the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 4:11.00 and sixth in the 400-meter relay, crossing the finish line with a time of 51.74.

The Lady Hawks of Thompson Falls got a first place finish from Shey Hannum who brought home the state title in the high jump event with a jump of 5-4.

A. Hannum also posted some top performances on the second day of the state meet taking fourth in both the high jump and triple jump.

In the high jump she placed with a jump of 5-2 and she earned the Lady Hawks points in the triple jump with a jump of 35-3.

Additionally, A. Hannum also took sixth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.90.

Logan Beckman took fourth for the Lady Hawks in the javelin event, throwing a 129-10.