Track squads land at divisional meets

In the last 28 years, a Kalispell boys track team has come home with a Class AA divisional trophy 27 times. Sixteen of those plaques have been championship gold, nine have been silver and two were bronze.

Starting today in Helena, the chase for No. 28 is on.

The Flathead Braves, home to all but one of those plaques, have the momentum heading into this year's Western AA divisional meet that could land them their first gold plaque since 2008. Among the seven teams in the West, Helena Capital looks like the top team standing in the way.

The Braves are relying on the state's fastest distance running duo - Zach Perrin and Leif Castren. Perrin holds the top AA time in the state in both the 1,600 and the 3,200, while Castren isn't far behind.

Glacier is the reigning boys champs and has two-time defending triple jump winner Kyle Montini leading the defense.

Not to be overshadowed in success over the years, a Kalispell girls team either won divisionals or placed second every year in the last decade.

From 2000-2007, the Bravettes were unrivaled all but once - in 2000 - when they finished second. These past two years, the Glacier girls have been divisional runners-up.

The Wolfpack returns a pair of defending state champs - senior Maddey Frey (100, short relay) and sophomore Lexy Boschee (high jump). Both girls turned in record-setting performances at the divisional last year in Missoula. After winning the 100, Frey ran a leg on the 400 relay team that won in 49.23, breaking Flathead's 2003 record. Boschee broke a 25-year-mark by jumping 5-foot-7 1/2.

This season, Frey is second-best in AA across the state in both the 100 and long jump, and ranks top 10 in the 200. Boschee has the best all-class high jump and the third best long jump in AA.

The Bravettes, without a top-three trophy since 2007, are led by a strong group of underclassmen that includes one of the state's best all-around track and field athletes, Tess Brenneman. Brenneman has the top 400 time and long jump in the state for all classes, and is third in AA in the 200.

At AA and A divisionals, the top five place winners move on to state, while the top six at the Western B divisionals qualify. For the second year in a row, AA has had state qualifying standards that automatically send athletes who surpass set marks to the state meet.

Class A

The Whitefish boys and Polson girls will try and defend their Northwestern A divisional crowns starting today in Libby.

Whitefish has won the divisional three of the last four seasons, and graduated a number of strong senior competitors.

Anto Daoud is helping pick up the slack. The senior has the state's best 400 and Class A's best 200. He also is near tops in the 100 and runs on the long relay team, which is second best in A barely behind Belgrade.

Polson has one of the most well-rounded teams in the state; add experience plus health and the Pirates could be poised for success beyond this weekend.

Loni Havlovick, who is slated to compete at Montana State University next year, is one of the best throwers around, leading A in the discus and shot put this season. Nicole Davey has some of the state's best marks in the pole vault, 400 and 300 hurdles. Mesa Starkey leads A in the 3,200.

The Columbia Falls boys have a crop of talent that could earn them their first divisional title since the mid-1990s. The short relay team is the best in A while Derrick Williams (800, 1,600), Patric Jessat (400) and Nate Thompson (javelin) rank near the top statewide for all classes. The Wildcats' long relay team is just behind Whitefish's top time also.

Class B

The Bigfork girls are fresh off their first district title since returning to Class B this school year and would like to add a divisional plaque alongside it at today's two-day Western B divisional in Missoula.

The Vals are led by three-event district champs Kayla Carlson (1,600, 3,200, 800) and Mallery Knoll (100, 100 and 300 hurdles), and aim at unseating defending champ Florence.

The Bigfork boys, led by sprinter Keenan Evans, will have their sights set on Darby, the defending divisional champs who recently won their second-straight District 6B title.

The Eureka girls are paced by Bailey Malecha, who won the district 400. The boys team has one district champ, Hunter Price, who swept the hurdles last week.

Correction: A Kalispell's boys track team has finished in the top three at divisionals 27 times in 28 years, not 26 in 27 as was previously reported.