Area schools eye titles in track

When it comes to state track meets for Whitefish and Flathead, the hosting cities of Great Falls and Bozeman have special meanings for both schools.

"An easy one (date) to remember," said WHS coach Derek Schulz of when the Electric City last hosted state for Class A.

"It was 1997; that was the first time the (Whitefish) boys had won (state) in 39 years."

Whitefish has won three more state titles since then - 1998, 2003 and 2004.

Great Falls is playing host to this year's Class A event, beginning today at Memorial Stadium.

Over in Bozeman, Class AA will be on the track and field for two days of competition, also starting today. It's been five years since AA has ventured back to that city.

Flathead won it that year, which started a run of four straight titles. The Braves last year finished 12th, but are riding high once again and expected to challenge for a team title.

The Braves have qualified 17 athletes in 13 events. They have no entrants in the long jump, discus, 100 and pole vault.

"If they believe hard enough, picture themselves being a winner, they can come out a winner," said Hodge this weekend.

Hodge says Butte "has the most solid team going in," to state. Helena High and Billings West will also challenge.

"To this date, we've only come in second at one track meet," said Hodge. "Everything else, we've won."

Ryan Ross will be FHS' busiest athlete, competing in four events - 110 and 300 hurdles and both relays. John Fairweather will run the 800, 1,600 and 1,600 relay.

"Nobody doing five events," said Hodge.

Hodge said "two sophomores surprised everyone in the stadium," last week at the divisional. They were Seth Grossman and Carl Nystuen, who finished 1-2 in the 3,200.

Elliot Welder is still nursing a pulled muscle, but will compete in the distance events.

"If those three runners put it together, it would help us tremendously," said Hodge.

"I still think some of our kids still have their best yet to come. I just hope its Friday and Saturday in Bozeman."

The Bravettes have qualified 17 athletes in 15 events. They have no participants in the shot put and pole vault.

This will be the first state meet for 11 of the Bravettes. Of that group, eight are sophomores and three are freshmen.

The Bravettes have qualified three athletes in five events - 100, 400, 800, 1,600 and javelin.

"We have a lot of kids on the track," said FHS coach Jerry Boschee.

"Our strength has to be the distance races with Zoe Nelson and Chelsea Burfeind in the 1,600 and 3,200."

Nelson will also run the 800 along with Shannon Ross and Elysia Andrews.

Nelson is also Flathead's only returning state champ. She won both the 1,600 and 3,200.

Helena High, which has qualified 12 athletes, is expected to test Flathead along with Billings West and possibly Bozeman.

Flathead won state in 2002, but has finished second the last two years.

In Class A, points will be at a premium as several schools have legitimate shots at winning the team title.

The Columbia Falls girls, second to Polson a year ago, are in the running again along with Whitefish, Anaconda and Bigfork.

On the boys side, Columbia Falls, Polson, Colstrip, Stevensville, Corvallis and Glendive all have a shot.

"It's going to take a lot less points to win a state championship than it has been," said Schulz.

"Just the way it's been split up this year. In the 60 range (this year) to win it."

Last year, the Whitefish boys piled up 85 to win going away. Livingston was next with 47.

Polson's girls totaled 58 to 51 1/2 for Columbia Falls.

"It looks like a lot of teams have a few good kids," said Columbia Falls coach Wes Knutson.

"It should be interesting."

Columbia Falls is led by triple threat Bekah Stoltz, javelin, shot put and discus, Kim Pearce, high jump, and Cassie Stoneman, triple jump and long jump.

Stoltz is the defending state champ in the discus.

"Our field event kids are looking real good," said Knutson.

"One of our weaknesses in the past has been not scoring on the track. On paper, it looks like we have some potential to score some points on the track."

That would be with Jessica Boyer in the 800 and 1,600; Lyndee Thueson in the 300 hurdles, Desiree Marjerrison in the 3,200 and the 400 relay team of Danielle Vukonich, Amber Lampman, Thueson and Boyer.

The Whitefish girls have two supertalented youngsters in freshman Ashley Ferda, hurdles, and sophomore Courtney Ferda, sprints. Those two could account for four firsts.

Bigfork's Brooke Andrus should dominate the distance events - 1,600 and 3,200 - and add another top finish in the 800.

The Columbia Falls boys are led by several standouts - Devin Schmit, 400 and 800; Kyle Rosenbaum, jumps; Jace Ladenburg, weight events; and two relays.

Whitefish's Chris Hicks won five events - 200, triple jump, high jump, long jump and 300 hurdles - at divisionals. Duplicating that again this week "would be a Herculean effort," said Schulz.

"I just want him to do his best."

Polson will be led by Chris Ogle, 400 and 800, Mac Gordon, weight events, Terry Lundeen, jumps, and Kevin Owen, pole vault.

Libby should score well in the javelin with Blaine and Kyle Baker.

Class B will also take place in Bozeman and Eureka will have three top hurdlers in action - Laura Cameron, Stephanie Sanders and Matt DeLong - and Emmy Bentley in the distance events.