Libby's Wright soars in high jump

WHITEFISH - There's that monkey off Seth Wright's back.

The Libby high jumper had cleared 6-foot-4 at just about every meet this season, but 6-6 had eluded him.

At least it had until Saturday's Whitefish A.R.M. Invitational track meet.

Wright cleared it on his final try.

"The first (attempt) felt pretty good, but I was just too close to the bar. The second one … it wasn't a very good attempt. The third one felt good. I glided over it," Wright said.

Not bad for a guy who had a personal best of 6-0 before the season started.

"Six-foot-six was a stop point there for me for awhile. My PB before I even jumped this year was 6-0. Going up that high … it's intimidating. It's six inches over my head," he smiled.

He made a try for 6-7 1/2 - that would have given him both the meet and the Libby High School record.

His first try was close - the bar stayed tantalizingly close to staying on before finally slipping over the ledge.

"I just hit it with my calves," Wright sighed.

"But we're going up. We're moving up. We'll get it," he said.

He had Whitefish's Colt Idol to thank afterward - Idol claimed second place with a jump of 6-4.

"That was fun. It's nice to have somebody that can jump right up there with you. It pushes you so you jump better," he said.

Team-wise, the Glacier girls scored 107.14 points. Malta was second with 77 and Whitefish scored 72 for third place.

Among the boys, Havre scored 100 points, Hamilton had 87.33 and Whitefish claimed third place with 70.5. Eureka was fourth with 58.5.

Individually, Wright wasn't the only athlete to have a good day.

Two meet records fell - both to Whitefish distance runners.

Drew Coco ran the 1,600 in 4:25.44. The old record of 4:32.7 was set in 2007 by Ian Mallams, also of Whitefish.

Lauren Kuennen laid claim to the 3,200 mark. She ran the event in 11:46.29. The old record, by Bigfork's Lauren Dalton, was 11:48.64.

"The weather was good. No wind. It's probably one of the warmer meets we've had. I prefer running in warmer weather," Coco said.

"And it was nice being home, not having to travel … sleeping in a little bit. I was ready to run fast."

Coco had a plan for the 1,600 - he's had his eye on that record in his favorite event for awhile now.

"I was going to set a hot pace. I wanted to start out fast, run the first lap fast, knowing it would probably be my fastest lap. Then I wanted to kind of settle in, but press harder every lap," he said.

"His 1,600 time was impressive," said Whitefish coach Derek Schulz.

"The kid works so hard. He's a neighbor of mine. I saw a lot of the hard work he put in during the offseason. He definitely deserves that type of success," the coach said.

"Lauren Kuennen had a wonderful day, also," he added.

Like Coco, Kuennen won both distance races. Ten minutes after she finished the 3,200 she ran the 1,600 relay - and turned in her fastest split of the season.

"That takes conditioning. She's put in that kind of time, also," Schulz said.

"It was a great meet. The competition level was excellent. The weather cooperated, we had lots of good marks, and it was really fun to see these athletes from other schools come in and compete so well," Schulz added.

"I really think the weather made a difference for us," said Glacier assistant coach Brad Holloway.

"We've had a rough spring, and when you get the sun, the kids just kind of naturally get started. They do a better job of competing," he said.

"From what I've heard, there were a lot of personal bests," he added.

Glacier enjoyed competing against the Class A and B schools, Holloway said.

"What I like is it gives us different competition, good quality competition. You don't want to see the same group over and over. Whitefish was nice enough to let us in here," he said.

Whitefish A.R.M.

Saturday

Girls

Team scores: Glacier 107.14; Malta 77, Whitefish 72, Hamilton 68, Columbia Falls 66, Superior 34, Eureka 31.14, Havre 26, Shelby 14, Noxon 14, Ronan-St. Ignatius 7.28, Libby 6.28, Two Eagle River 2.

100: 1. Maddy Frey, Gla., 12.79. 2. Jessica Sperry, Sup., 13.03. 3. Alicia Toews, Ham., 13.15. 4. Brook Berg, Mal., 13.28. 5. Shelby Cooper , Sup., 13.37. 6. Bailey Malecha, Eur., 13.44.

200: 1. Michelle Jones, Ham., 26.59. 2. Maddey Frey, Gla, 26.81. 3. Jessica Sperry, Sup., 27.41. 4. Shelby Cooper, Sup., 27.60. 5. Brook Berg, Mal., 27.79. 6. Sophia Lewis-Peterson, CF, 28.00.

400: 1. Bobbi Knudsen, Mal, 1:00.81. 2. Malecha, Eureka, 1:02.07. 3. Sperry, Sup., 1:05.22. 4. Sarah Blessum, Hav., 1:05.50. 5. Taylor Linse, R-SI, 1:06.78. 6. Tabitha Carlson, RSI, 1:06.94.

800: 1. Knudsen, Mal., 2:28.59. 2. Brianna Seubert, Shel, 2:31.28. 3. Ashli Fairbank, CF, 2:36.96. 4. Malecha, Eureka, 2:37.81. 5. Blessum, Hav, 2:38.66. 6. Makayla Mitchell, Gla, 2:39.00.

1600: 1. Lauren Kuennen, WF, 5:28.77. 2. Heather Fraley, Gla., 5:32.78. 3. Brianna Seubert, Shel, 5:37.70. 4. Stella Holt, WF, 5:46.69. 5. Jackie Cassidy, WF, 5:53.28. 6. Frankie Romano, Ham., 5:55.00.

3200: 1. Kuennen, WF, 11:46.29. (new meet record: old record 11:48.64 - Lauren Dalton, Bigfork, 2004) 2. Fraley, Gla, 12:29.44. 3. Romano, Ham., 12:45.36. 4. Loni Hanson, WF, 12:45.85. 5. Cassidy, WF, 12:46.88. 6. Holt, WF, 12:51.00.

100 hurdles: 1. Ashley Ferda, WF, 15.73. 2. Kim Moore, Nox., 16.49. 3. Kylee Denham, Mal., 16.54. 4. Emily Stoltz, CF, 17.06. 5. Ariel Ducote, WF, 17.16. 6. Jade Hansen, WF, 17.21.

300 hurdles: 1. Michelle Jones, Ham., 47.51. 2. Denham, Mal., 47.72. 3. Moore, Nox., 47.89. 4. Hanna Wells, Hav., 50.25. 5. Megan Baker, Ham., 51.48. 6. Ducote, WF, 51.82.

400 relay: 1. Malta A (Czereda, Katie , Berg, Brook , Denham, Kylee , Knudsen, Bobbi ), 52.62. 2, Columbia Falls A, 53.03. 3. Hamilton A, 53.11. 4. Glacier A, 53.41. 5. Libby A, 53.92. 6. Eureka A, 54.23.

1600 relay: 1. Malta A (Grandlund, Kaycee , Denham, Kylee , Berg, Brook , Knudsen, Bobbi ), 4:14.50. 2. Whitefish A, 4:18.57. 3. Hamilton A , 4:20.33. 4. Ronan-St.Ignatius A, 4:24.31. 5. Havre A, 4:24.46. 6. Eureka A, 4:28.07.

High jump: 1. Stacey Pitt, Gla., 5-0. 2. Ketti Wilhelm, CF, 4-10. 3. Jennifer Weaver, Mal., 4-10. 3. Madison Ruff, Hav., 4-10. 3. Stoltz, CF, 4-10. 6. Devon Hoyer, Lib, 4-8. 6. Cernick, Rachel, Libby, 4-8. 6. Kelsey Dewit, CF, 4-8. 6. Kelsey Cable, RSI 4-8. 6. Jonna Yost, Eureka, 4-8. 6. Chelsea Rosean, Gla., 4-8. 6. Adessa Durglo, RSI, 4-8.

Pole vault: 1. Wilhelm, CF, 9-0. 2. Baker, Ham., 8-6. 3. Stoltz, CF, 8-6. 4. Rachel Sweedman, Libby, 7-6.

Long jump: 1, Karla Hellegaard, Hav.,15-0.25. 2. Sperry, Sup., 15-0. 3. Engebretson, Gla., 14-10. 4. . Alicia Toews Ham., 14-9.25. 5. Hailey Farmin, WF, 14-8. 6. Averyl LaSalle, Ham., 14-5.75.

Triple jump: 1. Kayla, Smart, Gla., 33-8.50. 2. Colyne Hislop, CF, 32-5.50. 3. Farmin, WF, 32-1.50. 4. Brandi Parmelle, Gla., 31-10.25. 5. Baker, Ham., 31-7. 6. Heather Melcer, WF, 31-6.75.

Shot put: 1. Emilee Hashley, Gla., 38-4. 2. Brook Berg,Mal., 36-8. 3. Megan Hannay, Eureka, 34-11. 4. Samantha Ladenburg, CF, 33-4.5. 5. Jessica Henry, Mal., 33-0. 6. Jaylen Carpentier, Two Eagle River, 32-1.

Discus: 1. Hannay, Eureka, 103-7.50. 2. Hashley, Gla., 100-10.25. 3. LaSalle, Ham., 94-3. 4. Anna Downen, CF, 88-9.50. 5. Ladenburg, CF, 85-0. 6. Charla Brown,Two Eagle River, 84-6.

Javelin: 1. Hashley, Gla., 112-3. 2. Ferda, WF, 111-8. 3. Jenelle Hoover, Gla.,104-0. 4. Kadie Latimer, Gla., 103-7. 5. Nyssa Cole, Mal.,101-5. 6. Brianna Tatafu, Mal., 99-11.

Boys

Team scores: Havre 100, Hamilton 87.33, Whitefish 70.5, Eureka 58.5, Glacier 56, Libby 49, Malta 43, Columbia Falls 18, Superior 18, Plains 11, Ronan-St. Ignatius 10, Shelby 6.

100: 1. Presley Armstrong, Eureka, 11.35. 2. Kyle Finneman, Hav., 11.44. 3. Ryan Turley, Ham., 11.56. 4.Matt VanWinkle, Mal., 11.58. 5. Scott Palmer, CF, 11.59. 6. Tyler Mason, WF, 11.64.

200: 1. Turley, Ham., 22.76. 2. Anto Daoud, WF, 23.28. 2. Kyle Finneman, Hav., 23.28. 4. Palmer, CF, 23.44. 5. Chad Price, Eureka, 23.50. 6. Tyler Holley, Ham., 23.68.

400: 1. Armstrong, Eureka, 51.13. 2. David Repke, Sup., 52.0. 3. Allen McCarty Ham., 53.31. 4. Loran Nelson, Libby, 53.40. 5. Dalton Rice, WF, 53.78. 6. Wyatt Lawrence, Ham., 54.19.

800:1. Lawrence, Ham., 2:04.72. 2. Ben Jessop, Ham., 2:05.59. 3. Repke, Sup., 2:08.15. 4. Bajin Smith, Sup., 2:08.66. 5. Dan Burfiend, Gla., 2:09.53. 6. Shawn Whitman, CF, 2:09.70.

1600: 1. Drew Coco, WF, 4:25.44. (new meet record: old record, 4:32.7 Ian Mallams, Whitefish, 2007). 2. Andy Keim, Hav., 4:44.26. 3. Jessop, Ham., 4:44.31. 4. Burfiend, Gla., 4:45.66. 5. Ian Curtiss, Ham., 4:46.57. 6. Dan Howell, Gla., 4:48.99.

3200: 1. Coco, WF, 10:00.. 2. Curtiss, Ham., 10:36.9. 3. Howell, Gla., 10:50.51. 4. Andy Keim, Hav.,10:53.0. 5. Levi Maughan, RSI, 11:19.59. 6. Patrick McGunagle, WF,11:21.07.

110 hurdles: 1. Matt VanWinkle, Mal., 15.18. 2. Jason Mudrow, Hav., 15.38. 3. Cory Greenwood, Eureka, 15.53. 4. Jamie Engledrum, RSI, 16.34. 5. Dillon Peterson, Eureka, 16.36. 6. Seth Wiley, WF, 16.48.

300 hurdles: 1. Taylor Hart, Gla., 40.91. 2. Greenwood, Eureka, 41.66. 3. Mudrow,Hav., 42.62. 4. John Perrodin, Hav., 42.74. 5. George WerkGla., 43.40. 6. Wiley, WF, 43.43.

400 relay: 1. Glacier A (Corpron, BJ , Hart, Taylor , Werk, George , Wilson, Kramer ), 45.12. 2. Hamilton A, 45.28. 3. Havre A, 45.52. 4. Whitefish A, 45.59. 5. Columbia Falls A, 45.75. 6. Malta A, 45.90.

1600 relay: 1. Hamilton A (Crowley, Kyle , McCarty, Allen , Holley, Tyler , Turley, Ryan), 3:33.96. 2. Glacier A, 3:36.87. 3. Havre A, 3:38.97. 4. Libby A, 3:39.91. 5. Whitefish A, 3:44.83. 6. Columbia Falls A, 3:46.25.

High jump: 1. Seth Wright, Libby, 6-6. 2. Colt Idol, WF, 6-4. 3. Mudrow, Hav., 6-2. 4. Chase Fairbank, CF, 6-0. 4. Dillon Fryxell, Plains, 6-0. 6. Allen McCarty, Ham, 5-10.

Pole vault: 1. Kaleb Prestegaard, WF, 12-6. 2. Alex Martin, Ham., 11-6. 3. Jeff Handley, Mal., 11-0. 3. Brandon Calvert, CF, 11-0. 5. Dillon Wood, Ham., 10-6. 6. Dillon Peterson, Eureka, 10-0. 6. Andy Erickson, WF, 10-0. 6. Leif Holm, Ham.,10-0.

Long jump: 1. Aaron Tkachyk, WF, 20-0.75. 2. Cutler, Gla., 20-0. 3. Teske, Hav., 19-8.25. 4. Michael Hickman, Hav., 19-7.50. 5. Wright, Libby, 19-6. 6. Riley Hoyer, Libby, 19-0.

Triple jump: 1.Wright, Seth, Libby, 41-08. 2. Hoyer, Riley, Libby, 40-11.75. 3. Teske, Jack, Hav., 39-10. 4. Montini,Kyle, Gla., 39-07.75. 5. Tkachyk, Aaron, WF, 39-05.50. 6. Hart, Taylor, Gla., 39-03.50.

Shot put: 1. Jordan Gragert, Libby, 46-4. 2. Robert The Boy, Hav., 45-9. 3. Logan Sims, Mal., 45-6. 4. Trent Thompson, Plains, 45-2. 4. Durglo, RSI, 45-2. 6. Grayson Winsor, Hav., 44-11.50.

Discus: 1. Luke Truman, Eureka, 156-9. 2. The Boy, Hav., 143-7. 3. Trevor Simser, Mal., 141-3. 4. Sims, Mal., 139-8. 5. Ethan Harvey, Plains, 138-2. 6. Thompson, Plains, 136-4.

Javelin: 1. Tanner Newell, Eureka, 163-3. 2. Jake Handley, Mal., 158-5. 3. Brandon Ballantyne, Shel, 156-1. 4. Kyle Finneman, Hav., 155-8. 5. Thompson, Plains, 154-5. 6. Dustin Beck, WF, 151-9.