Valley athletes shine at Pilcher Top 10

MISSOULA — The 23rd Russ Pilcher Top 10 meet brought in solid spring weather Tuesday, along with the best track and field athletes within a 150-mile (or so) radius of MCPS Stadium.

Given that the marquee Class AA meets were snowed out last weekend, they’ll take it.

“It’s kind of a little preview of what State’s going to look like,” Flathead’s Kennedy Moore said, moments after claiming the high jump title. “It’s just the West, and I’ll be seeing a lot of girls at State. Then we’ll get a mix of girls from the East, but I think it’s just a good opportunity. It’s something you’ll always remember, too.”

Moore cleared 5 feet, 4 inches and won her signature event on criteria; Helena’s Madeline Todorovich also cleared 5-4, and both missed three times at 5-6.

“I think that my second attempt (at 5-6) was a lot better,” Moore said. “My last attempt I was anticipating that I was going to knock it off again. So I just kind of jumped a little scared.

“I’ve only attempted 5-6 a couple times. But I’m proud of myself and (Todorovich).

Flathead hasn’t long been a participant in this meet, this being the second time coming to this all-class jamboree. Moore, who has consistently cleared 5-2 this season, is a fan of the Pilcher, and the sport.

“You get to go outside and everything, and it keeps you in shape for summer basketball,” said the 6-2 Division I hoops candidate. “It’s fun. All your friends do it, and the coaching staff is awesome. I love them.”

Making more memories were a few Glacier boys that were here a year ago, like Kash Goicoechea and Jeff Lillard. Injuries sidelined both last spring.

All Goicoechea did was beat an uber-talented field in the 100 meters, running a personal-record 11.08 seconds. Then he ran anchor on Glacier’s 400-meter relay that won in 42.22 seconds, breaking the 22-year meet record of 42.72 set by Butte High.

If Goicoechea, who fought a hamstring injury last football season, started slow in the chilly early-season you can’t say that anymore.

“I’m feeling good now,” the junior said. “Sophomore year I was out the whole season (after shoulder surgery), and then I just missed a few meets earlier this year with the hammy. But now it’s feeling great.”

The relay win was more impressive in that senior Jackson Hensley — presumably one of the four fastest Glacier sprinters — sat out with a sore ankle. The Pack, starting with Evan Barnes and continuing with Ethan Anderson and Lillard, still flew.

Barnes, who also missed this meet a year ago, also had a big day. He finished second to Helena Capital standout Merek Mihelish in the 110-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.01.

“PR’d by a .72, something like that,” Barnes said. “This is a blast. This is my first time here. Last year I didn’t quite make the cut. This year, I kind of shined out a little bit. I’m happy.”

Not much later Lillard surged to an impressive win in the 400. Sitting sixth going into the back corner, the senior won in 49.66 seconds. That was a PR, as was Ethan Anderson’s time of 39.82 in the 300 hurdles (he was third).

A few more of those and Glacier, second at the 2022 State AA meet, will keep making noise.

“If we can get everybody healthy, we’ve got a pretty good team this year,” Goicoechea said. “I’m excited.”

Aiden Krause was third in a talented discus field, throwing a season-best 153-4. Glacier teammate Xavier Stout hit his PR in the long jump — 21-5.25 — though he was third, behind Flathead’s Brody Thornsberry (22-0.25) and Frenchtown’s Carter White, who broke the meet record set by Polson’s Trevor Gunlock in 2000 with a mark of 22-10.25.

A host of Flathead Valley athletes excelled Tuesday, including Libby’s Cy Stevenson, who won the shot put with a PR of 53-2.5.

Columbia Falls junior Malaki Simpson breezed to the 200 title in 22.05 (Frenchtown’s White was second). Bigfork’s Jack Jensen was second in the 1,600.

On the girls side, Whitefish junior Brooke Zetooney came with .02 of the meet record in the 100 meters, clocking 12.53. The 11-year record still belongs to Whitefish’s Amanda Foley.

The Bulldogs’ Hailey Ells was second in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 100 and 200.

Columbia Falls’ Ally Sempf was second in the 400 to Stevensville standout Claire Hutchison, whose time of 57.82 broke a 7-year-old meet record.

Flathead junior Lilli Rumsey Eash was third in the 1,600. Her teammates Alivia Rinehart and Bristol Lenz finished 3-4 in the 100 hurdles.

In the javelin Bigfork’s Zoey Albert was second while Flathead’s Tali Miller tied for third.

Glacier’s Kai Johnson threw 37-2.5 to finish second in the shot put.

The fourth meet record to fall was in the boys 800, where Henry Ballinger clocked 1:54.66. Keagan Crosby of Missoula Sentinel ran 1:55.21 a year ago; he ran 1:58.07 Tuesday.