Polson track teams have personal bests at Archie Roe

The Polson track teams had a few quality showings at last weekend's Archie Roe meet in Kalispell, but will turn their attention to playing host again for ABC meet this weekend that promises to have plenty of great match-ups.

The Archie Roe meet had a few ups and downs for some of the athletes, many of whom had spent six or seven hours on their feet helping with the junior high track meet the day before. But their were some good times and distances turned in, considering the stiff competition of both A and AA schools from around Western Montana.

Chris Ogle shaved two seconds off last week's time in the 800 to take second, with Olin McCrumb getting sixth just five seconds behind Ogle.

"That was their best times ever for both of them. Olin had to run in the so-called 'slow heat' so he might have done even better in a faster heat," boys head coach Bob Gunderson said.

Gunderson will be keeping an eye on Ogle this week, who might have sustained a groin injury in PE class, of all ironies. Gunderson said he hopes it doesn't prove serious for one of his top runners.

Gunderson said Friday's work at the junior high track meet in which a lot of the students spent all day on their feet might have cost some of them.

Andy Nelson was a tad slower in the 110 hurdles, taking fourth with a time of 16:48, almost a second slower than last week.

"He just didn't have the bounce that he's had before. We were a little slow on the long relay too. We were a step behind all day," Gunderson said.

Kevin Owen had the same height in the pole vault, taking fourth with 12 '6.

"Kevin didn't vault as good as he can, but he only had one day to practice last week after going on a recruiting trip," Gunderson said.

Terry Lundeen just missed making the finals in the triple jump after meet organizers decided to limit it to the top six instead of the top seven or eight as is often done in bigger meets. Mac Gordon had the same fate, taking eighth in the discus by one inch, and missing placing because they only took the top seven.

"Some of the coaches were upset at that," Gunderson said.

In the javelin, Isaiah Thomas and Owen managed to place fifth and sixth, respectively, even though race organizers forgot to announce them for the final toss, meaning the other athletes got three extra throws but the Polson one didn't, Gunderson said.

"Isaiah could have improved by three feet (in the finals), and I know (Justan) Kinsel would have made the finals, too," he said. "It was a little frustrating."

Both the boys and girls teams took ninth place out of a field of 16 teams.

On the girls side, Danielle Rowe proved why she's one of the tops in the state by taking first in the high jump, besting her height by four inches over last week's performance.

Karelia Mowbray took fourth in the pole vault with a height that was a few inches off from last week, but Kara Walker surpassed Bekah Stoltz in the shot put, taking third, in a battle that's been going on all season.

Tanna Bull had a good showing in the 400, taking sixth with a time of 1:04:52.

This weekend's ABC meet should be a dandy one, Gunderson said, with strong athletes filling every event across the board. Polson will host nine other teams from the south and northwestern conferences, with each team bringing some good talent.

"It will be one of the better ABC meets we've had. We have some of the top kids in the state competing in the 800. The 400 and the 1,600 should be good, and we have top kids participating in the triple jump, the shot put, the discus, you name it," Gunderson said.

The field events start at 9:30 a.m. and the running events are at 10:30. Polson High School officials are looking for folks who would be interested in helping out Saturday. If so, contact athletic director Scott Wilson at 883-6350.