Flathead has a rich, storied track tradition

Flathead head girls track coach Jerry Boschee gave a short speech at the end of track practice one night this spring.

He introduced assistant coach Kirtlye Lohof - who will become the head Flathead girls track coach in 2008 - and then he started to talk about the past.

Boschee (who will be the head girls track coach at Glacier next year) and his assistant coaches are emphasizing 1961 this year - the year track came to Kalispell.

The girls team was the Timberettes, the team symbol was a tree and Neil Eliason was the head coach.

The first four state track titles were won under the Timberettes name, according to Boschee.

"Here's where we've come from. Don't forget your history," Boschee told the 2007 Bravettes.

The history for both Flathead teams is long and successful.

The girls have won 25 divisional titles and 18 state championship. The boys have won 13 divisional titles and six state championships, including four straight between 2000 and 2003.

Eliason came to one of the first practices this year to talk to the girls and to keep the memories fresh. Boschee plans to bring in a different speaker every few weeks.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun," the coach said.

But talking that night?

"I almost starting crying," Boschee said. "Big ball in my throat.

"It's tough to split (into two schools next year). There's a lot to look forward to, but when you start talking about it … it's hard to split."

The answer right now is to concentrate on this year.

"I'm really excited with the numbers we've had," Boschee said.

Last year, both the boys and the girls were in the 60-70 range for participants.

This year there are 105 girls out for track and 138 boys.

Eighty-six of those are freshman. There are 42 freshman girls and 44 boys.

The 138 boys ties an all-time record, according to boys coach Dan Hodge.

"I feel good with the numbers," Hodge said. "We're doing something right to get that many kids. The coaching staff is doing a good job recruiting.

"My hope is out of quantity, you'll find some quality," Hodge said.

"I have a good base of kids. I have some kids that are working hard, working really, really hard," he said.

" I don't know what kind of talent they have, but it'll be fun to find out," Hodge said.

The Bravettes graduated three seniors from the team that captured third place at the Class AA state meet last spring.

They are Chelsea Hart, Liz Myers and Tabitha Spencer. Spencer and Myers, who combined for 37 of Flathead's 73 points at state - are both competing at the college level this year. Spencer is at Montana State, while Myers is at Notre Dame.

The Bravettes return 33 letterwinners.

Among the returners who figured into Flathead's state finish were senior Jenae Lister (sprints, middle distance, relays), junior Kendalyn Habel (sprints, relays), senior Elysia Andrews (distance), senior Sam Gunlikson (hurdles, jumps) and junior Ally Krautbauer (jumps).

Other key returners that placed at divisional include junior Bri Ori (middle distance), senior Shannon Ross (middle distance), junior Ashley Younkin (hurdles, relays), sophomore Kayla Smart (jumps, relays), sophomore Nichole Hall (sprints, relays), senior Sarah Griffith (jumps, sprints, relays), junior Kelsie Norwood (jumps), junior Ali Christensen (throws) and junior Rebecca Johnson (throws).

According to Boschee, Bozeman is the Class AA team to beat among girls.

"Bozeman has an unbelievable team. They are definitely the cream of the crop. Then after that, I think it's really going to be a toss up.

"There are so many teams that are right there," he said. He included Billings West, Billings Senior, Butte, Flathead and Big Sky among those teams.

"It doesn't hurt at all that Bozeman, West and Senior are on the east side. That makes us so much stronger. We're going to battle, but I don't think it's going to be like them on the east side," he said.

The Braves graduated several state placers last year.

They were Beau Watkins, Sean Clark, John Fairweather, Elliot Welder, Garrett Smith, Damian Farrier and Jason Russell.

But they also return good experience from the team that placed fourth at the Class AA meet.

Returning state placers are Clint Manning (hurdles), Reed Wakins (400, 1,600 relay, triple jump), Carl Nystuen (1,600, 3,200), Seth Grossman (3,200), Richie Carter (triple jump) and Dan Ogden (shot).

Returning divisional placers are Sam Tedrow (400 relay) and Coltin Weber (javelin).

Hodge expects the Butte boys to be the power of Class AA.

"Butte has not had a state champion for a long time. They have the potential," he said.

Coaches for Flathead are: Hodge (sprints), Boschee (sprints), Bill Epperly (boys and girls high jump), Brad Holloway (long jump, triple jump), Arie Grey (long jump, triple jump), Jeff Day (pole vault), Jim Kola (hurdles), Gary Moen (javelin), Dirk Niebaum (girls shot and disc), Bob Raeth (boys shot and disc), Paul Jorgensen (boys distance), Mike McLean (girls distance).

Flathead's first meet is a dual with CMR on Thursday at Legends Stadium.