FHS hopes to check-in, check-out with titles
This time, they do have motel rooms.
"We (double) checked on Monday," said Flathead High School boys track coach Dan Hodge.
That's a much different scenario than the last time Flathead competed in a Class AA state track meet in Helena.
When Flathead arrived in the Capital City for the 2003 edition of this event, the team's motel reservations had never been processed.
"We stayed at Carroll College (in a dorm)," said Hodge.
And the coach liked the accommodations. There were no televisions, no telephones. A lot of time to focus on track.
Flathead repeated as state champions that year for a fourth-straight time while the Flathead girls placed second, just two points short.
Well … both teams are back in Helena for the 2006 state meet, which begins today at 10:30 a.m. with the boys long jump and shot put and girls discus and high jump. The first running event is at 10:45 a.m., the boys 400 meter relay.
The Flathead boys, divisional runners-up a week ago in Butte, could challenge for a state championship along with the Bravettes, who are coming off their sixth straight divisional title.
The FHS boys have 16 athletes competing in 14 events (no entrants in the pole vault, long jump and high jump) while the FHS girls have 17 qualifiers, also in 14 events (no entrants in the shot put,
pole vault and long jump).
"We just have to go in and do what we're capable of doing," said Hodge.
"Run our best and hope things fall in our favor."
The Braves had three individual winners at the divisional - Sean Clark in the 800 (1:57.23), Damian Farrier in the javelin (176-6) and Dan Ogden in the shot put (54-3 1/2) - and the team's 1,600 relay posted the best time (3:24.94).
Running the relay were Garrett Smith, Clark, John Fairweather and Reed Watkins.
"We're capable of winning it," said Hodge.
"I'm still waiting for us to get on the track and hit that one hot track meet were everyone is clicking on all cylinders. We haven't done that all year."
Divisional champ Helena Capital along with Billings West and Missoula Big Sky are the main team challengers. West won the Eastern divisional title last week.
Billings Skyview's Nolan Real Bird won the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 at state plus ran a leg on the team's long relay a year ago. He's back.
One of Flathead's strengths is in the distance events with Fairweather, Seth Grossman, Carl Nystuen and Elliot Welder.
The Bravettes, defending state champions, are one of three schools expected to battle for the team title. Bozeman and West are just as strong and talented.
West won the Eastern divisional title last week.
"I haven't done the math," said FHS girls coach Jerry Boschee of trying to predict the weekend meet.
"Everyone else has. (Former FHS coach) Joe McKay called and he has it all figured out. One of my assistants has. They have it figured out between Bozeman, Billings (West) and us. That's great company to be in."
Boschee does expect those three schools to be "within 10 to 15 points of each other.
"Bozeman is the better team on paper," he continued.
"We need some things to go our way (for us to win it)."
The Bravettes are coming off a strong showing at the divisional. Elizabeth Myers was a double winner, 100 (12.56) and 300 hurdles (45.97). Chelsea Hart, 100 hurdles (15.77) and Ally Krautbauer, high jump (5-0) also won events.
The Bravettes did have six girls finish with seconds - Jenea Lister in the 800 and 200, Elysia Andrews in the 3,200, Tabitha Spencer in the javelin, Kelsey Norwood in the high jump and Becky Johnson in the discus - in addition to Myers, who was the runner-up in the 200 and triple jump.
The Bravettes also took second in the 400 relay.
"We're kinda the underdog, the sleeper," said Boschee.
"All the pressure is on the east side. I like this role."
The meet ends Saturday.