Local throwers go long at Top 8 meet

The “Top 10” and “Top 8” high school track competitions for this part of Montana featured athletes from most of the Class AA and A schools in Western Montana, with some solid showings from local (Sanders-Mineral) tracksters sprinkled among the results. 

This past Tuesday, Missoula County Public Schools Stadium hosted the Top 10 event that attracted athletes, both boys and girls, from 38 area schools. Team standings were not kept. 

The Top 8 Northwest meet, featuring a much smaller field, was held this past Thursday in Eureka. 

Perhaps the most anticipated match-up in these individual events was the women’s discus throw, which was won by Seeley-Swan junior Lillian Boyd with a toss of 128-09.  Boyd edged out two-time defending state Class B discus champ Alexis Deming, the Plains thrower who won the title as a sophomore and again last year as a junior.  Deming had a mark of 126-10 in what was likely a preview of the state finals matchup on the horizon. 

Hot Springs junior Kara Christensen was seventh with a throw of 106-04. 

Deming also finished third in the shot put, heaving the iron ball 36-01.5 in the event which was won by Hamilton junior Gracie Werst (38-08).  Dillon’s Isabella Regan was second (38-04). 

Thompson Falls sophomore Addyson Deal placed second in the javelin with a throw of 122-10, a new personal record.  Helena Capital’s Kaelyn Saari won the event with a toss of 126-10.  Superior’s Maryisa Swope finished fourth with a mark of 114-08, also a new personal best. 

The Lady Bobcats from Superior also got a second-place finish from freshman Ava White in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 46.69.  Whitefish freshman Ginger Bergland won the event with a time of 46.27. 

In boys’ Top 10 events, Noxon senior Ricky Williams continued his outstanding season with a pair of fourth-place medals.  Willaims tied for fourth in the high jump with a leap of 6-2. 

Superior sophomore Landon Richards was second at 6-2 (fewer attempts).   

 Williams was fourth in the long jump with a mark of 20-5.75.  Flathead High’s William Hollenstein jumped 21-01.25 to win the high jump title. 

Also finishing high for local athletes was Thompson Falls senior Braedon Ferris, who placed sixth in the discus throw with a toss of 152-08.  Lane Voermans, Columbia Falls, won the event with a mark of 170-04. 

Plains freshman John Jermyn was seventh in the 3200-meter run (9:52.95).  Helena sophomore Mike Kauffman won the 3200 with a time of 9:30.57. 

And, Hot Springs senior Nick McAllister finished eighth in the 300-meter hurdles, crossing the finish line at 43.29.  Lane Chivers of Flathead won the race with a time of 39.22. 

Thursday in Eureka at the Top 8 NW meet, Noxon senior Shane Murray was a double-event winner, taking home first place in the javelin with a throw of 134-03, and a number one finish in the high jump (5-6). 

Noxon teammate Chance McDaid had several high place finishes, including third in the 400-meter run with a time of 57.46.  Josh Lambertson of Eureka won the event, breaking the tape at 53.35.  Noxon’s Zane Brown was fifth (59.56).  Brown was also fifth in the 300-meter hurdles (52.22).   

McDaid also placed fifth in the men’s 200-meter sprint (25.41).  Lambertson won the race with a time of 23.69.  Red Devils’ teammate Bran Parrish was sixth for Noxon.  McDaid added a sixth in the men’s 100-meter sprint, a fifth in the shot put (38-6.50) and tenth in the javelin (97-05) as part of his impressive all-around day. Parrish was seventh in the long jump (14.11). 

Next up for area track and field teams is the Kim Hines Invite this Saturday (May 3) at MCPS Stadium in Missoula, and the Archie Roe Invite this Saturday at Flathead High in Kalispell.