Flathead squads in trophy picture

The Flathead Braves head into today's Western AA divisional track meet with plenty of P.M.A.

That would be Positive Mental Attitude, according to Braves head coach Dan Hodge.

"We've had a good week of practice. We've had some kids that have really performed well at practice," Hodge said.

The meet begins at 2 p.m. today and at 10:30 a.m. Saturday. The top five in each event advance to next week's Class AA state meet in Butte.

Today's events are 400, 110 and 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 800, 100, 3,200 and the trials for 200. Field events are boys and girls pole vault, boys high jump, boys and girls long jump, boys and girls javelin, boys and girls shot.

"I really feel like we'll be in the top three. The kids feel real good about it," Hodge said.

"I think we're legit this year.

"I think the main team competition is Butte, Big Sky and us," he said.

Flathead has already won two major events - the Missoula County Invitational and the Archie Roe, but placed third at the Swede Dahlberg Invitational April 22. Billings West won that meet and Butte placed second.

"I think Butte has the best shot of winning. First of all, when we went to Butte, they beat us," Hodge said.

He also gives a nod to Big Sky. The Eagles edged Flathead out of a state trophy last year.

"It was close. Maybe two or three points.

"They have a pretty well-rounded team," Hodge said.

"They did extremely well with those guys. Once you get the taste of winning, you get hungry for it again."

"I hope my kids are hungry," he added.

Flathead defeated Big Sky at the Missoula County meet by the slimmest of margins - 124-123 - on the last event of the day.

Of the 38 guys on Flathead's travel roster, Hodge believes 15 have a good shot at going to state.

"That's my hope is to get as many qualified to state."

Hodge is proud of Flathead's weight crew and it's distance team.

For starters, senior Dan Ogden is the defending state champion in shot put and he's thrown among the state best in both discus and javelin, too. His marks include 168-9 in discus, 54-1 in shot, and 186-11 in javelin.

Ogden's discus is currently the best in Class AA, his shot put is fourth and his javelin is third.

The javelin group has four guys capable of going over 170 feet - Ogden, Coltin Weber, Luke Fischer and Justin Kersteter.

"If they can all do it at one time, that's some good points," the coach said.

Seth Grossman leads the Flathead distance team. He's got the best times in the state right now in both the 1,600 (4:20.9) and 3,200 (9:27.3).

Grossman, Orion Bras and Carl Nystuen "have done a nice job this year of consistently placing at meets and dropping their times," he said.

The other athletes from whom Hodge is expecting big things are Weber (javelin) Clint Manning (hurdles), Bras (800), Nystuen (1,600 and 3,200), Richie Carter (long jump, triple jump and pole vault), both relay teams and Reed Watkins.

"Reed could potentially qualify for state in five events (400, long jump, triple jump, high jump and 400 relay)," the coach said.

As for the Bravettes, they enter today's divisional hoping to add another title to their string of six straight.

"We're going to know pretty dang fast what the outcome will be," said head coach Jerry Boschee.

"We have the pole vault right away, we have the long jump right away. It could be between us, Butte and Big Sky. It should be a good competition and we're going to know where we sit right away."

The shot, pole vault, long jump and 400 are all today.

"Those events are going to tell us a whole lot," the coach said.

"I like the people we have in our events, but unfortunately, the rest of our division is pretty tough in those events, too," Boschee said.

For starters, Flathead has four long jumpers who could do well - seniors Sarah Griffith and Samantha Gunlikson and juniors Kelsie Norwood and Kendalyn Habel.

But the Western AA is loaded with 16-plus long jumpers, the coach said.

The Bravettes also have Emilee Hashley in the shot. Hashley threw 38-3 1/4 last weekend. That's the third best throw in the state and the second best in Class AA.

"She's got a chance of winning the division," Boschee said of the sophomore.

They've got Shannon Ross with her 2:21.2 in the 800. That's the second best time in Class AA.

And they've got the 1,600 relay team with the best time in Class AA (4:03).

Others from whom the coach expects big things are: Janae Lister (200, 400, 800 and relays), Ross (400, 800 and 1,600 relay), Ashley Younkin (hurdles, 1,600 relay), Gunlikson (hurdles, long jump), Elysia Andrews and Tera Klein (distances), Brekken Jahner (javelin) and Nicole Hall (relays).

"It'll be good to get on the bus and get going," Boschee said.