Roe draws a diverse, talented field

Twenty-four schools, six track meets taking place at the same time and four athletes sporting state best times or marks should make for a royal track extravaganza today at the annual Archie Roe Invitational at Legends Stadium.

Action gets under way at 10 a.m. with the 100-meter dash trials, varsity only, and will conclude in the early evening hours with the 1,600 relay.

The field events also begin at 10 a.m.

There will be varsity, junior varsity and freshman meets for boys and girls.

"I have a different outlook this year on how I'm approaching Archie Roe," said FHS girls coach Jerry Boschee.

"As a team, it would be nice to win it, but this time I'm looking at it more from the athlete's point of view. I want to get them ready for divisional."

Boschee says he has quite a few kids that need to "step it up," before it's too late. And the time is now.

"This meet is an opportunity to get a few things taken care of," he said.

Flathead swept both team titles a year ago while Missoula Big Sky second in the boys and girls standings.

"It might work out well," said Boschee of defending the title. "I think the points will be pretty scattered. We might come out looking well."

Today's field will be dominated by Class A schools, which have 10 entrants. There are three AA teams. Class B and C teams make up the rest.

"The only way we will win a meet like this is because we have some depth," said FHS boys coach Dan Hodge.

"Scoring 1-2 in events, rather than just one placer."

Like Boschee, Hodge is looking for some positive results this weekend.

"This is the time when we'd like to really starting jelling," he said.

"I hope. I'd like to start peaking this week or next."

What follows are the Western Divisional in Butte May 19-20 followed by state in Helena May 26-27.

The four athletes competing who are leading the state are: Chris Hicks, Whitefish, high jump (6-6); Brooke Andrus, Bigfork, 800 (2:16.1); Taylor Ferda, Whitefish, 110 hurdles (14.39); and Kara DeWalt, Darby, 1,600 (5:05.8).

Hicks, who won five events at the ARM Invitational in Whitefish last week, will not be as busy this week.

The senior is tentatively entered in the long, triple and high jump along with the 300 hurdles.

"Right now, it's a little bit unclear on what he's going to do," said WHS coach Derek Schulz.

"He has a sore knee, one of those things he's had over time. It kinda comes up and goes away, comes up and goes away not for any special reason. We will assess what he will do (as the meet goes along). If he was completely healthy, we would consider running him in more events."

Schulz says the Archie Roe is a big meet for Hicks, "but we still have some bigger meets down the road (divisional and state). That's where our focus is."

Schulz is also taking a cautious approach with Ferda. He will not run the short hurdles, but will compete in the 400 and both relays.

Ferda missed last season with a broken back.

Whitefish has two solid pole vaulters in Cort Rogers (14-0) and R.C. Carter (13-6) and a talented weight man in Todd Harthan.

The Bulldogs' two relay teams should battle for top times.

For the WHS girls, Ashley Ferda was a double winner at this meet a year ago in the hurdles. She will compete in both of those races again along with two relays.

Teammate Courtney Ferda will have a modified meet schedule because she's taking entrance exams for college today. She will miss the 100.

"That will change things for us a little bit," said Schulz.

"She will just come and do the best she can."

The WHS girls also have two talented relay teams, Carmel Johnson in the pole vault and Erin Greiner in the triple jump. Greiner could be a "meet time decision," as she's been bothered with a hip flexor injury.

"She says she's ready to go," said Schulz.

"It's just a matter of how much we let her do."

For the FHS boys, Dan Ogden should be a force in the shot put and discus, distance runners Seth Grossman, Carl Nystuen, Elliot welder and John Fairweather will push for top times.

Sean Clark is back to defend his Roe 800 title.

Reed Watkins, 400, and Beau Watkins, 200, could make for some fast times in the sprints.

Bravettes expected to challenge for firsts are: Janae Lister, 200 and 400, Shannon Ross, 800, Elisha Andrews, 1,600 and 3,200, Liz Myers, triple jump and 300 hurdles, Sam Gunlikson, long and triple jump, Becky Johnson, discus, and Tabitha Spencer, javelin.

Boschee has loaded up his 1,600 relay team with Lister, Ross, Kendalyn Habel and Myers.

"First time we've run it like this," he said.

"They've never been together. We're looking for something special in that race."

School: Hellgate, Columbia Falls, Hot Springs, Big Sky, Plains, Bigfork, Browning, Charlo, Corvallis, Cut Bank, Darby, Frenchtown, Hamilton, Libby, Eureka, Loyola, Polson, Ronan/St. Ignatius, Shelby, Troy, Two Eagle River, Whitefish, Victor and Thompson Falls.