Ronan/St. Iggy track teams get back in the groove

LIBBY - Ronan / St. Iggy boys settled into a comfy fourth spot with 63 points at Libby Saturday. 11 teams participated, putting Ronan in the top half.

With Andrew Graham and Zanen Pitts both winning events, it looks like the RSI boys are starting to find their groove.

Graham ran 2:08.90 for the 800, beating the competition by a good two seconds. He also took third in the 1600 with a 4:52.63, right behind Theron Truman of Eureka.

Pitts, who hasn't participated prior to Libby's meet due to a shin fracture, was back in action. Pitts out ran Browning's Marlin Blackwolf by 42.59 with a 10:17.41 in the 3200.

"Its good to have Zanen back," said head RSI boys coach Aaron Griffin.

Alan Skogen, who has been consistent with the discus since the beginning, placed second, right behind Noxon's Daniel Beaudin who out threw Skogen by over 23 feet.

Sophomore Skogen is really going to come into the weight events, Griffin said.

Jared Broxterman took third in the 110 hurdles with a solid 17.00, an impressive feat considering practice for that event has been extremely limited.

Ronan's track is ill-equipped for players to hone their hurdling skills, Griffin explained.

Though Broxterman's performance was respectable, Griffin said the he would like to see Broxterman at about 16.5 in the 110 hurdles next time around.

Cameron Barber placed in two events. He took third in the triple jump and put himself in a four way tie with a 5-8 high jump.

Tylar Espinoza double placed as well, earning sixth in the 200 and fourth in the 400.

Missing from the meet was Michael Fisher who came down with the flu and nearly the entire Mission team was gone due to prom.

"They're pretty young," Griffin said of his team. "Our younger kids are getting better and putting the time in."

As for the girls, they picked up 28 points, placing seventh out of eighth, with most of the girls doing multiple events. Briana Malmquist did five events placing in all five, Kaneesha Benson did three and placed in all three. Malmquist and Benson did well on the track, recording times at their personal bests or surpassing them.

"Malmquist did all five sprints for the first time in her track career and realized she could do it and survive," said Head RSI girls Coach Crystal Pitts. "She had a great day."

Benson's 1600 time was her best by 10 seconds. Her 3200 time of 12:47 qualified her for the Top Ten at Missoula Big Sky.

Kelsey Salomon was back on the track after a week off to attend the Jazz Band Tour. She took seventh in the 800, with a personal best of 2:39. Salomon also tried the 200 meter in the JV and finished with a 30.73 for 5th place.

Tenille Hennessy placed sixth in the 200 and topped her personal record by five seconds in her 400 meter leg with a time of 65.9.

Stephanie Salomon upped her personal record in the 1600 relay by two seconds clocking a 67.5.

"The relay team just keeps getting better," Pitts said.

Kelly McMillan continued to show improvement in the throwing events with her best shot put of 29-8.50. McMillan just missed placing by two inches. She also beat her best discus by five feet for a throw of 74-2.50.

Ali Anderson ran all three sprint races in the JV and ran some of her best times of the season, according to Pitts. She placed fifth in the 400 with a time of 69.0.

RSI boys and girls go to Big Sky Invitational Tuesday at Missoula. They will be in Polson Friday with Big Sky and Frenchtown followed by a Saturday meet at the Whitefish ARM.

Libby Invitational

Boys

Team scores: Columbai Falls 111, Libby 81, Whitefish 73, Ronan/St. Ignatius 63, Browing 61, Eureka 50, Noxon 38, Clark Fork, Idaho, 27, Cut Bank 15, Charlo 8.

100- 2, Shea Sammons, Charlo, 11.84.

200- 6, Tylar Espinosa, Ronan/St. Ignatius, 24.97.

400- 4, Tylar Espinosa, Ron/St. Ign, 53.97.

800- 1, Andrew Graham, Ron/St. Ign, 2:08.90

1,600- 3, Andrew Grahm, Ron/St. Ign, 4:52.63

3,200- 1, Zanen Pitts, Ron/St. Ign, 10:17.41; 5, Erick Stedje, Ron/St. Ign, 11:14.21.

100 hurdles- 3, Jared Broxterman, Ron/St. Ign, 17:00.

400 relay- 6, Ron/St. Ign, 47.86.

1,600- Ron/St. Ign, 3:42.50.

Discus- 2, Alan Skogen, Ron/St. Ign, 142-4.

Triple jump- 3, Cameron Barber, Ron/St. Ign, 39-8.25.

High jump- 2 (tie) Cameron Barber, Ron/St. Ign, 5-8.

Girls

Team scores: Libby 89, Eureka Lions 77, Columbia Falls 76, Whitefish 76, Cut Bank 68, Charlo 61, Troy 34, Ronan/St. Ignatius 28, Noxon 18.

100- 4, Briana Malmquist, Ron/St. Ign, 14.04.

200- 3, Briana Malmquist, Ron/St. Ign, 29.03; 6, Tenille Hennessey, Ron/St. Ign, 29.12.

400- 5, Briana Malmquist, Ron/St. Ign, 1:08.94.

800- 2, Adi Hammond, Charlo, 2:30.37.

1,600- 4, Kaneesha Benson, Ron/St. Ign, 5:48.54.

3,200- Kaneesha Benson, Ron/St. Ign, 12:47.97.

400 relay- 5, Ron/St. Ign, 53.80.

1,600- 5, Charlo, 4:27.36; 6, Ron/St. Ign, 4:31.54.

Shot put- 1, Amanda Murphy, Charlo, 35-0.

Discus- 1, Amanda Murphy, Charlo, 103-11.

Javelin- 3, Stevie Sammons, Charlo, 98-2, 4 (tie), Rhondell Esterby, Charlo, 96-9; 6, Hayley Carr, Charlo, 92-1.

High jump- 3, Samijo Kain, Charlo, 4-8.

Pole vault- Adri Hammond, Charlo, 8-6, 4, Hayley Carr, Charlo, 7-6, 6, Rhondell Esterby, Charlo, 6-6.