Bravettes, Pack go 4-5 at Optimists meet

GREAT FALLS — While the Gallatin Raptors soared the Glacier Wolfpack and Flathead Bravettes didn’t lag very far back on Friday. 

Gallatin won the Great Falls Optimist Club track and field meet with 87 points. Helena High was next at 67, one of six teams to score at least 50 points. Billings West was third at 63.5 and Flathead was a tight fourth at 62; then came Glacier at 59. 

Flathead’s Alivia Rinehart set two personal records at the annual all-girls meet, which drew all 16 Class AA programs. Her time in the 200 was 25.24 seconds; she also won the 110-meter hurdles in 14.61, the best mark in AA. Rinehart was third in the 100 meters, clocking 12.66. 

The Bravettes also had wins from Josie Wilson, who ran a PR of 11:33.46 in the 3,200 and now ranks fourth in Class AA; and Alice Dolezal, who won a hotly-contested triple jump with a mark of 35 feet, 6.5 inches. Dolezal’s mark sits fourth in AA. 

Flathead also found points from Bristol Lenz, who was fourth in the 100 hurdles. 

Not every Montana standout ran all her races Friday: Freshman burner Quinlyn Simmons of Helena High was noticeably absent from the sprints, for example. 

But Gallatin’s Isabella Donaghey, who owns the best time in the 200 this season, ran second to Rinehart in that event. Donaghey did win the 100 in a photo finish, clocking 12.49 with Missoula Hellgate’s Sofia Szollosi next at 12.50. 

Rylee Bigelow led Glacier’s effort, hitting a PR in the discus with a mark of 122-11 and taking fourth in the shot (35-9.5). Bigelow ranks fifth in AA in the shot and second in the discus. 

Dacia Benkelman was second in the 800; Lauren Bisson was second in the 1,600, running a season-best 5:12.47 that sits third in AA.  

Carmen Eddy ran her PR (46.41) and finished third in the 300 hurdles, with teammate Addison Brisendine fifth (47.57, another PR). The top six placers, topped by Helena standout Madilyn Todorovich (44.71), are 1-6 in AA.  

Todorovich also cranked out a winning long jump of 18-6.5, tops for all classes; she also has the top high jump in AA at 5-7, set a week ago. 

Glacier's Breanna Barnes was fourth in the pole vault, clearing 10-6. 

Among the many other standout performers was Gallatin’s Hazel Cooper, who ran the state’s best 1,600 in 5:07.66. 

Full results can be found at athletic.net.