Invitational, relays at Bigfork

The Daily Inter Lake

The Bigfork Invitational track meet today has assembled a 13-team field that should produce some quality times, distances and heights.

The event, now in its third season, begins at 10 a.m. Also competing are: Libby, Whitefish JV, Columbia Falls JV, Eureka, Ronan, Browning, Shelby, Cut Bank, Florence, Dutton/Brady, Thompson Falls and Charlo.

Normally Whitefish and Columbia Falls would have had their varsity athletes at this meet and Polson would also be attending. But those three schools are in Missoula for a 30-team invitational today.

The Missoula meet, traditionally held the first Saturday in April, was moved to this weekend because the Easter holiday was last weekend. Thus, the conflict.

"Some of the teams wanted to go to Missoula because that's where state is this year," Loeffler said.

"Polson (normally) would have come (to our meet).

"It's (still) gonna be good (talent wise)," Loeffler said.

"I like that."

Loeffler said Bigfork will be without one of its top athletes today - Andrew Whittaker. The junior sprinter (11.3) and pole vaulter (11-0) is sidelined with a hip flexor injury.

"Better now than later," said Loeffler of Whittaker's injury.

"(With him sidelined), that also hurts our short relay."

Loeffler looks for sophomores Dustin Haines, 200 and 400, and Donny Tudahl, shot put and discus, to turn in strong efforts for the Vikings.

For the Bigfork girls, Chari Miller, junior, sprints and relays; Brittany Hall, junior, both hurdles; Amy Vogel, junior, high jump (4-10); and Kaemyn Meagher, senior, shot put and discus, have all been doing real well.

"We're real young," Loeffler said.

"Lots of new kids out this year."

Then on Tuesday, it's the third annual Bigfork Relays, which begin at 3:30 p.m. Other teams attending are: Whitefish, Columbia Falls and Browning.

That event offers a different format on the track and in the field. It's all relays on the track and in the field events, there are three athletes per event on a team. The distances and heights of the three participants are added up for the team's score in that event.