Divisional track showdown for Flathead, Glacier

A little urgency can work wonders when it comes to productivity.

Not that the Glacier girls track team hasn't been productive. The Wolfpack has finished at or near the top of every scoring meet it's competed in up to this point.

But all along, coach Jerry Boschee has recognized their potential, even if the girls themselves didn't see it.

Then something changed.

"These last couple weeks, we've seen things clicking," Boschee said. "I think it was kind of the urgency, 'Oh, divisionals is here!' I think we have some kids that finally get it."

And not a second too soon.

Starting Friday afternoon in Missoula, the Western AA divisional track meet kicks off at Missoula County Stadium and continues Saturday.

Waiting comfortably are the returning champion Big Sky Eagles, who already have state qualifiers in 10 of the 17 events.

"We've talked about our goals," Boschee said. "We can only control our destiny. The girls know Big Sky is unbelievable."

But surprises have happened. Last year the senior-less Wolfpack girls made a splash when they took second with 93 points, qualifying seven girls for state.

"Last year we had a ton of things fall in place," Boschee said. "It just kept building the momentum. Whereas this year we've been there, we've done that, now let's do it again. Their expectation is they know what it feels like, and they want to be back there."

Thanks to this year's experimental AA qualifying standards, Glacier already has 11 girls lined up for the state meet. Those who have not qualified for state can do so at divisionals by placing in the top five.

The field events are particularly strong for Glacier, who is led by freshman Lexy Boschee (triple, long and high jump). Ali Armstrong, who coach Boschee describes as a "positive senior leader" on the team, has shined in the triple jump all season as well.

Leading the way on the track is junior Heather Fraley, who won the 1,600 and 3,200 at divisional last year, and three members of the reigning division champion 400 relay team. Maddey Frey, Kayla Smart and Nicole Hall are joined this year by sophomore Rachel Cutler. Currently the group has the second-fastest time in the state, just behind Billings West.

Frey has routinely been one of the fastest sprinters in the state and will vie for the gold in a strong 100-meter race field that includes Missoula Sentinel's Chantelle Grey.

Glacier senior Emilee Hashley, who won the shot put and javelin at last year's divisionals, is out with a injury.

Flathead boys

In the words of Flathead boys track coach Dan Hodge, "We're ready."

By now, track fans are used to this from the Braves, who surged late last season to grab another Western AA division crown with 130 points.

This season, it's been a different story.

"Our goal every season is to have people ready to go at divisionals," Hodge said. "This divisional meet, I'm going down with a really odd team for Flathead High School."

Of the 40 points that Flathead earned at the state meet last year, only seven returned this season, thanks to junior Leif Castren (3,200) and senior Tyler Thomas 'shot put).

But other than that, experience is thin for the Braves. Of the 36 boys competing in divisionals, 10 are freshman, eight are sophomores, seven are juniors and 11 are seniors.

"Normally, I might go with one or two freshman and a handful of sophomores, then have a predominantly junior-senior team," Hodge said.

But the Braves aren't using that as an excuse.

"They're going (to divisionals' because they've earned that spot," Hodge said. "Maybe getting those kids to a big meet will let them see what it's like to compete at that level, so next year they'll know."

With a group of fresh faces, the possibility for a surprise is there also. One such surprise to pop up from Legends Stadium this spring has been junior Jesse Bennett, who has the top AA time in the 800 statewide in his first year of track.

"He's really a rookie on the track," Hodge said. "He's learning how to run and each time he runs he's getting better and better."

Another Brave standout is Ian Damon, who is returning from an early season injury. He competes in the sprints and 400 relay.

"If he runs the way he has in practice, he'll do well," Hodge said.

Senior Duncan Aylor also has his name alongside the leaders in the state in the hurdle races and could garner big points at divisionals.

Mike VanArendonk has made it to the final flights of the high jump several times this season and earned a state qualification already.

The Braves have shown flashes of what lies ahead, topping crosstown Glacier at a dual earlier this season.

"I think the kids will go down and compete well and my hope is that each of them has an equally to, or better than, season best," Hodge said. "That's what our goal is."

Flathead girls

This season, senior Heidi Windauer has taken on a leadership role with a team that has a rich history.

The Flathead hurdler has also taken it in stride.

Consistently finishing near the front of the 100 and 300 hurdle races, Windauer has also been a mentor of sorts for freshman standout Tess Brenneman.

"Heidi Windauer is always pushing me and helping me out," Brenneman said earlier this season. "She just keeps telling me to work hard and to have fun with it even though sometimes you really don't feel like going, you just push yourself."

Flathead normally has a few seniors making waves at this point in the track season, but this year is an exception.

Brenneman, in her rookie season, has been nothing short of spectacular. The multi-sport athlete has already maxed out the number of events an athlete can qualify for state in, five. She'll contend in the long and high jumps, as well as the 100, 200 and 400 at divisionals.

The 400 will especially be exciting as Brenneman takes on Sentinel's Grey. The pair squared off at Archie Roe recently and both beat the meet record, but Grey had the better time by less than a second.

Freshmen Bailey Hughes and Sierra Maxwell (3,200) have continued to improve throughout the season for the Bravettes, who scored 26 points at divisionals last season.

Glacier boys

At the annual Archie Roe Invitational less than two weeks ago, the Wolfpack showed just how much it improved in a year by tripling its score from the previous season to win the 17-team get-together.

Expect the same multiplying improvements at this week's divisional as 39 Glacier competitors are slated for Western AA contention.

The divisional triple jump winner from last year, Kyle Montini, leads a loaded Glacier jump crew that includes Taylor Graham (long, triple jump), Shane Freese (high jump) and Ben Cutler (long jump). All four have already qualified for state.

Cutler also has the fastest 400 time in the west and races on the 1,600 relay team, along with Taylor Hart, Jake Glasman and George Werk.

Glasman has battled with Flathead's Bennett for tops in the 800 all season, while Glacier's Dan Burfeind keeps contending in the 3,200.

Jacob Leininger has one of the fastest times in the 110 hurdles and will battle with Flathead's Aylor and a pair from Helena Capital.

Glacier totaled 28 points at last year's divisionals and qualified six for state.

The AA and B state championship meets start May 29 at Legends Stadium.