Bluehawks track excels at Bigfork Invitational

The Thompson Falls boys track team appears to be peaking at the proper time as they prepare to head into the Western B and C Divisional Track Meet May 17-18 at Frenchtown High School.

The Bluehawks finished in the top five in 12 events at the Bigfork Invitational Saturday at Bigfork High School, though they didn’t finish with a single first-place finish in the recent track meet.

Bluehawks’ runner Nate Tibeault continues to in excel in a wide variety of events. Tibeault finished third in the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.24 seconds, was part of the 4X400 relay team that consisted of Garrison, Alex Erosa and Danny Hoisington that placed fifth recording a time of 3 minutes, 51.91 seconds.

Erosa also placed third in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2 minutes, 14.37 seconds.

Tibeault showcased his athletic versatility by finishing fifth in the long jump recording a distance of 18 feet, 1 inches.

Alex Erosa and Parker McConnell did well in the 1,600-meter and 3,200-meter distance runs. Erosa recorded a personal record in the 1,600 for second place with a time of 4 minutes, 56.04 seconds and McConnell finished right behind Eros, recording his personal record with a time of 4 minutes, 56.91 seconds in third place.

McConnell also showcased his endurance in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 11 minutes, 4.63 seconds to finish in fourth place.

Robert Bonney finished fourth in the 110-meter dash with a time of 18.49 seconds and Cody Garrison placed third in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.03 seconds.

The Bluehawks have athletes that can place in every realm of track and they had plenty of competitors that excelled at throwing events. Cody Burk finished second in the shot put recording a personal record of 130 feet, 8 inches and Cody Garrison finished fourth in the javelin with a throw of 147 feet, 6 inches.

Thompson Falls also has its fair share of track contestants that can levitate. Harrison Hughes placed fifth in the high jump clearing a distance of 5 feet, 4 inches and Garrison set a new personal record in the pole vault clearing a distance of 12 feet for a second-place finish.

Not to be outdone by their Bluehawk counterparts, the Lady Bluehawks boasted of nearly as many top-five finishes as the boys team.

Though the Bluehawks only had nine top-five finishes as opposed to 12 top-five finishes, they were the team that came away with Thompson Fall’s only first-place finish of the meet.

The 4X400 relay team that consisted of Josey Neesvig, Sarah Detlaff, Sierra Hanks and Haley Morgan captured a first-place finish recording a time of 4 minutes, 46.05 seconds.

The 4X100 relay team that consists of Kacey VanZanten, Haley Morgan, Gabrielle Pallister and Maya Stiles placed second with a time of 54.79 seconds.

Neesvig also showcased her speed individually and finished third in the 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 41.46 seconds.

Riley Wilson finished fifth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 19.11 seconds and Kacey VanZenten placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 55.12 seconds.

Thompson Falls also showcased their throwing ability.

Jody Detlaff finished fifth in the discus with a throw of 80 feet, 1 inches, and VanZenten recorded a javelin throw and a personal record of 94 feet, 7 inches, to place fourth in that jav competition.

Detlaff is not just a thrower, she can also jump and she showcased her ability by placing fourth in the high jump recording a distance of 4 feet, 8 inches. Stiles finished second in the pole vault clearing a distance of 8 feet, 6 inches.