Hot Springs track teams flash speed at Top 8

The Hot Springs boys and girls continued their surge in local track performances with several high finishes at this past week’s John Cheek Top 8 Western B/C golf invitational in Anaconda.

The meet, which was open to Top 8 finishers who have not taken part in other Top 10 or Top 8 track and field meets this season. 

Jefferson High (Boulder) won the boys team title with a runaway score of 122, nearly doubling the point total of second place Anaconda (64). 

Hot Springs’ boys, meanwhile, placed sixth with 44 team points, while Thompson Falls was twelfth (20) and Alberton tied for sixteenth with Granite (14). 

The girls team crown was won by Shields Valley, which amassed 91 points, well ahead of runner up Anaconda (63). 

Tops among local teams was Hot Springs, which was thirteenth in the girls' team chase (24.5). 

In the girls’ individual events, Hot Springs senior Georgia Uski was second in both the shot put and discus events for the Lady Heat.  Uski had a second place throw of 30-4.  The event was won by Twin Bridges junior MaRae Smail with a throw of 32-0. 

In the discus throw, Uski had a throw of 106-4, just five inches behind event winner London Ostby of Jefferson.  Alberton’s Georgia Fredette was tenth with a toss of 82-1. 

The St. Regis girls also got points from sophomore Lanet Jakabosky, who tied for sixth in the high jump with a leap of 4-4.  Lincoln’s Jordyn Zarske won the event with a jump of 4-10. 

Jakabosky also finished ninth in the long jump (13-10), while Zarske won the event with a mark of 15-7. 

Thompson Falls’ girls got a tied for fourth effort from senior Peighton Kenney in the pole vault (7-0), and a ninth-place finish from sophomore Evy Edwards in the women’s 3200-meter run (15:09.36). 

Senior David Chapman led the Hot Springs boys with a first in the 110-meter hurdles, breaking the tape at 15.49.  Sophomore Ben Aldridge was fourth in the event at 17.63.  Aldridge also had a fifth-place finish in the men’s 300-meter hurdles.  Chapman was also tenth in the shot put (38-7). 

Aldridge added a ninth place in the long jump (18-7). 

Senior Wesley Adams was also a big point getter for Hot Springs, placing second in the men’s 3200-meter run and third in the 1600-meter event.  Teammate Wyatt Campbell was fifth in the 3200 and ninth in the 1600. 

Thompson Falls freshman Weston Block placed fourth in the 3200. 

Hot Springs sophomore Daniel Slonaker picked up a fifth in the 200-meter sprint (24.05) and a sixth in the 100-meter event. 

Alberton got team points from junior Shea Fredette, who was fourth in the triple jump (40-5), fourth in the 400-meter run (55.99) and fifth in the 800-meter event (2:15.68). 

Thompson Falls’ boys were led by senior Ian Myers, who was second in the javelin (144-3), and tied for second in the high jump (5-8).  Senior Zach Ames had ninth place in the discus (113-3), while teammate Brylon VanElswyk was ninth in the javelin (115-10.5). 

Next up for area track and field athletes is the district tournaments this weekend, with the Class C meet in Missoula this Friday and the Class B district meet this coming weekend in Eureka.