Ronan track comes up big at ABC Invite

Zach Urness

Leader Staff

Should Spider Man ever decide to employ the help of a sidekick, he might consider looking for candidates on the Ronan/St. Ignatius track and field team. There is Cameron Barber, capable of leaping buildings in a single bound, and of course the Skogen brothers, Adam and Alan, skilled in the deadly arts of javelin and discus launching.

These three prospective sidekicks put their talents on display at the Polson ABC track and field meet last weekend as each dominated their specialty events to lead the Chiefs/Bulldogs to a third place finish among a very talented field.

“It seems like these boys are putting things together at the right time of the season,” said boys head coach Noelle Decker. “I was more than pleased with the boys’ performances this past weekend. Our inexperience definitely showed at the beginning of the season but we have had some boys step up into leadership roles and their hard work and dedication rubbed off.”

On a day of top performances, Cameron Barber’s was the best. Barber made sure the large crowd that gathered for the high jump final did not go away disappointed, as he not only hit six feet, four inches to win the meet, but continued to push and made six feet and six inches to claim the top mark in the state. He added third place finishes in the long jump (20’ 3 1/2) and triple jump (40’).

“Cameron hit the 6’6” mark in the high jump and it was pretty,” noted Decker. “Coach Pitts and he have really worked hard on his high jump and it was fun to watch.”

The Skogen brothers were also impressive, as state-best discus record holder Alan added yet another notch to his belt with a win at 161 feet and three inches. His little brother Adam wasn’t far behind, tossing the javelin 168 feet and two inches for the first championship of his young career. He also got third place in the shot put (47’ 4”).

Skogen’s discus mark and Barber’s high jump marks are not official state records unless they repeat their performances at the state track meet, but they’re both leading the state at this point, for Class A schools.

Tylar Espinoza also had a good day, placing second in the 200 meters (23.5), third in the 400 (51.57) and fourth in the 100 (11.82).

Jamie Engeldrum also placed in two events, taking third in the 110 hurdles (16.74) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (43.7). Danny Beavers also got into the winners circle, with a fifth place finish in the 3200 meters (11:04).

“As long as we stay focused on the tasks at hand as a team and peak at the right time we will see good things the next few weeks,” commented Decker. “It seems like the boys are becoming confident in their abilities and I think some of them have actually surprised themselves with how well they have done.”

The girls also had a nice meet, scoring 36 1/2 points.

“This was a good pre-divisional meet,” said head girls coach Crystal Pitts. “It helped the girls see where they are in their events in the division and in the state.”

Briana Malmquist was solid in the sprints as usual, taking third place in both the 100 meters (13.17) and 200 meters (27.0). Terinee McCready ran a very strong 800 (2:30) which was her season best and placed her second. She also posted a season best to earn third in the 1600 meters (5:33).

Kelsey Cable earned fourth place in the high jump (4’10”) and hit a season best of in the triple jump (32’ 0.50”) for fifth place. Ishan Wylie had a nice mark in the shot put (33’ 8.50”) which was also good enough for sixth place and placed fifth in the high jump (4’ 8”).

The 400 relay of Stephanie Salomon, Ishan Wylie, Kelsey Cable, and Briana Malquist took fifth (52.7).

“This was a good meet to compete in but it was not as important as the next meet,” said Pitts. “So when Stephanie had a thigh strain flare up after the relay she did not compete the rest of the meet. Hopefully the rest will help her to be ready next Friday.”

Both teams will head to divisionals this Friday and Saturday at Whitefish.