Ronan's Crenshaw and Pitts cap off track careers with a medal

GREAT FALLS — Ronan senior Kira Crenshaw went out on top breaking a school record and earning a state medal. Crenshaw ran the 3,200 in 12:14.40, setting a new school record, one previously held by Yvonne Clairmont since 1983. The time placed her fifth in the state 'A' track and field meet Saturday.

"This has been a goal for Kira and I am so happy to see her accomplish it," said head girls track coach Crystal Pitts.

Crenshaw is the only one the Ronan/St. Ignatius girls are going to lose to graduation. Pitts said that she is going to miss Crenshaw's senior leadership.

The girls finished last at the meet with two team points.

"Great Falls is an eight-lane track, which limited athletes' ability to advance to the finals in any sprint that went around the track," Pitts said.

"With three heats in the 300 hurdles, 400 open, 400 relays, and 1,600 relay you had to finish in the top two of eight to advance. But the experience was worth the trip," she added. "The girls got to witness some great competition and think about where they want to be next season."

Pitts has high hopes for next year's team saying, "We have some good 8th graders coming in from both Ronan and St. Ignatius middle schools that could make the Ronan-St.Ignatius girls track team very competitive next year. I know you shouldn't count your chickens before they hatch, but the girls and I are excited about what could be lying ahead for us in the next two to three years."

Pitts thanked her assistant coaches Jamie Courville and Noelle Oakland as well as coach Aaron Griffin for their support and assistance.

"They are greatly appreciated," she said.

A total of 10 boys went to state with Cameron Barber placing fourth in the high jump and Zanen Pitts taking fourth in the 3,200 with a time of 9:53.29.

Head boys coach Aaron Griffin said that it was the 80-degree heat that did them in.

"When went from our kind of weather [cold, rainy] to 80 degrees," Griffin said. "The heat hurt us."

RSI boys are losing two seniors to graduation — Jared Broxterman and Pitts.

"They are going to be hard to replace," Griffin said.

All in all, Griffin is satisfied with the season and he looks forward to next year.

"We have a good nucleus of kids coming back next year," he said.

Plus, he has spotted some good talent coming from the Middle School that will serve as strong freshman athletes, he said.