Flathead looks to improve on the track

The Flathead Bravettes and Braves were seventh and 11th at last year’s State AA track and field meet, and a lot of those points are back.

There are positive feelings surrounding both programs, which begin the season Tuesday with a dual meet at Missoula Big Sky. 

A sturdy hurdles group of Alivia Rinehart, Zoey Bortz and Bristol Lenz — Rinehard, a senior, was third in the State AA 200 meters last May — leads the girls.

Senior Lilli Rumsey Esch is a major scoring threat in the 3,200 and 1,600, given that she was third and fourth in those events in 2022; Mikenna Conan qualified for state last year in the 800.

Add in the potential points in the jumps — Kennedy Moore in the high jump, Payzlee Boyce, Mia Stephan and Afton Wride in the long and triple — and that’s a nice nucleus.

“The hurdlers are pretty young, still,” coach Kaylee Fox said. “I think they're going to try some new events and diversify a little bit. I’m excited to see what that crew can do.”

Rinehart is the lone relay member to run at state, but the aforementioned hurdlers and sprinters all mixed in here or there.  The good news is that among 80 girls out, Fox figures to find more candidates.

“It’s hard to tell at the beginning of the year,” she said. “I think there might be some younger kids that build into some bigger roles. But for the most part I think we’re going to build around that group.”

Dan Hodge has 102 boys out for his club, which includes a promising freshman class but also a stout group of upperclassmen.

Brody Thornsberry is one: The senior was second in the triple jump at last year’s State AA meet and third in the long jump, a finalist in the 100 meters and Hodge plans to run him in the 200 with the relays a possibility again at state.

The Braves’ only state points in the timed events came in the long relay, and three legs return: juniors Kasen Kastner and Ben Bliven along with Thornsberry.

The rest of the points came in the field events — namely, Thornsbery and Trevin Olivier, who was fifth in the pole vault as a junior. 

Now that event has depth, with juniors Michael Mahar and Henry Stuerer. “I have three kids that are potentially 13-6 pole vaulters,” Hodge said.

He’s also excited about junior Lane Chivers’ potential in the 800 and 300 hurdles, and figures Blivens is a threat to score in the jumps and sprints. Kastner is solid in the distances as well.

Senior leaders include Gabe Sims in the javelin, Tanner Heichel in the sprints, Dominick Mitten in the javelin and Carter Bullins in the jumps.

That’s not to mention Jacob Dolezal, a state qualifier in the 110 hurdles and triple jump last May. He spent the winter with the Stumptown Track Club and on March 3 cleared 6 feet, 5.5 inches in the high jump at a Spokane meet.

And the biggest threat to score might be sophomore Wiliam Hollensteiner, who as a freshman was seventh at state in the 200 and long jump and in the top 10 in the high jump and 400.