Talented field returns for Archie Roe track meet
A pair of record setters are back to defend their titles at the Archie Roe Invitational track meet today at Legends Field.
Despite predicted poor weather, there’s a plethora of top marks heading to Kalispell this weekend, with 16 schools scheduled to compete from all around northwest and central Montana. The meet starts at 10 a.m.
Whitefish senior Marlow Schulz takes her final swing at the meet, having set records in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes at the Archie last season. The two-time defending Class A state champion in each of those events, Schulz is the only athlete to hold more than two records at the meet. Flathead distance runner Zoe Nelson still holds records in the 1,600 and 3,200 set in 2004.
However, she’s not the only record-setter returning to the meet this season. Plains junior Hailey Phillips set a new mark in the 300 hurdles last season and has started out this season fast as well, with the second-fastest 300 hurdles and fifth fastest 100 hurdles mark in the state.
Bigfork’s Makena Morley returns after winning the 3,200 last season and could see Schulz in the 800, where both runners have posted top five times in the state this season. Morley holds the top time in the 1,600.
Flathead’s Emma Andrews and Rhiannon Sturgess also return as meet champs after topping the high jump and 100 hurdles, respectively. Hellgate’s Taylor Pfister returns as winner of what is shaping up to be a very competitive javelin competition featuring five of the top eight throwers in the state.
All the record setters on the boys side took off for college after last season, but there’s still a lot of talent coming back to the track.
Glacier brings a handful by itself. Logan Jones, Evan Epperly, Nathan Connell, Noah James and Todd Ogden all won events last season and are scheduled to compete again this season. The Wolfpack’s Lonnie Sherman currently has the top pole vault mark in the state.
Flathead’s Matt Quist, the state leader in the high jump, also will be making his final leaps at the meet. The Braves’ Jess Meaman leads the state in long jump.
The race in the boys 100 should be one of the best of the season, with three of the top four times in the state at the meet in Jones, Eureka’s Christian Langston and Troy’s Sean Opland. Columbia Falls’ Nakia Alexander and Eureka’s Khaz Yanak hold two of the top three marks in the triple jump.
Whitefish’s Luke May holds the state’s top mark in the javelin and will throw against three-time Class AA champ Todd Ogden, who threw into the top 10 in the state in his first appearance last weekend.
Archie Roe Invitational
Meet records
As of 2013
Boys
100 - 10.7*, Craig Galle, Flathead, 1995; 200 - 21.9*, Ralph Dempsey, Cut Bank, 1991; 400 - 49.25, Cody Henning, Whitefish, 2004; 800 - 1:55.9*, David Vidal, Flathead, 2001; 1,600 - 4:16.64, Zach Perrin, Flathead, 2013; 3,200 - 9:13.29, Zach Perrin, Flathead, 2013; 110H - 14.1*, Jamison Banna, Flathead, 1988; 300H - 38.91, Drew Owens, Big Sky, 2010; 400 relay - 42.9*, Hellgate, 2002; 1,600 relay - 3:23.80, Whitefish, 2004; Long jump - 22-7.5, Trevor Gunlock, Polson, 2000; Triple jump - 47-5.5, Matt Tokarz, Flathead, 2013; High jump - 7-0, Mark Koefelda, Hellgate, 1993; Pole vault - 15-6, Curt Rogers, Whitefish, 2007; Shot put - 60-5.5, Scott Steckel, Havre, 1980; Discus - 187-7, Lee Tillman, Havre, 1987; Javelin - 206-4, Nate Bach, Thompson Falls, 2005.
Girls
100 - 12.5, Marlow Schulz, Whitefish, 2013; 200 - 25.5, Marlow Schulz, Whitefish, 2013; 400 - 57.26, Marlow Schulz, Whitefish, 2013; 800 - 2:16.3*, Kasey Harwood, Polson, 2003; 1,600 - 5:07.3*, Zoe Nelson, Flathead, 2004; 3,200 - 10:27.9*, Zoe Nelson, Flathead, 2004; 100H - 14.4*, Lexi Miller, Flathead, 1979 and Claudine Robinson, Hellgate, 1989; 300H - 44.61, Hailey Phillips, Plains, 2013; 400 relay - 49.34, Flathead, 2013; 1,600 relay - 4:03.12, Flathead, 2007; Long jump - 18-7, Tess Brenneman, Flathead, 2010; Triple jump - 37-4.5, Kasey Harwood, Polson, 2004; High jump - 5-9, Lexy Boschee, Glacier, 2012 and Brenda Naber, Havre, 1992; Pole vault - 12-3, Melinda Owen, Polson, 2003; Shot put - 44-6.25, Laine Botchek, Big Sky, 1999; Discus - 148-9, Bree Fuqua, Polson, 1999; Javelin - 141-6, Marissa Tschilda, Loyola Sacred Heart, 2005.
*- hand-timed