Kelley finishes ninth at nationals

EUGENE, Ore. - Mission Valley track and field added another champion early this summer. Polson's Ryan Kelley, 14, set a new Montana state record in USA Track and Field Junior Olympic competition in Bozeman June 12. His mark of 9 feet, 6 inches set a new record by a foot.

The soon-to-be eighth grade honor roll student at Polson Middle School went on to win the Junior Olympic Regional pole vault competition, clearing nine feet in Boise, Idaho, on June 29. Regionals included the best athletes from Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.

Kelley moved on to the National USA Track and Field Junior Olympic meet in Eugene, Ore., where he cleared 9'-4" to finish ninth. The meet was held at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon and included 14 vaulters in the 13-14-year-old age group.

Ryan, who has pole vaulted for two years and has cleared 10'-6" in practice, is the son of Rob and Laura Kelley. Rob is an assistant track coach, including pole vault, for Polson Middle School.