Polson tracksters get moving

KALISPELL — After a canceled meet left them one more week of practice, the Polson track teams laced them up for the first two meets of the season.

It started at the Flathead Time Trials on April 14.

When it came to sprinting, Polson junior Jason Bowman made his mark. Coming off a torn hip flexor, he wasn’t sure how he’d do.

Now all eight teams at the meet know he can still run just fine - he might even be quicker than before.

“It’s nice to come back and be better,” Bowman said. “I had no idea, I’m just happy. I’ve just been waiting, and sitting and stretching. I was starting to get a little impatient.”

That impatience gave way to a first place finish in the 200-meter dash with a time of 23.38, and a fourth place finish in the 100 and 200.

Bowman was also a part of the 400-meter relay team that took gold with a time of 44.45. The relay combining senior Chris Alfiero, juniors Joe Andrews, Tim Rausch and Bowman is just three-tenths of a second off the Polson High School record.

“That’s the big one, I think we can get that one,” Bowman said.

He also has his eye on the 11-second mark in the 100 sprint, another school record.

Polson took second in the 1,600-meter relay, powered by senior Tucker Morigeau, junior Brock Picard, Alfiero and Bowman.

Polson senior Ryan Kelley snagged a bronze finish at the 110-meter hurdles, and Alfiero took fifth at the 300 hurdles to round out the running for the boys in that one.

Rausch took second in the triple jump and fourth in the long jump and Polson pole vaulters had a strong showing as well. Ryan took second, junior Trae Fouty finished third with brother Ty, also a junior, right behind him in fourth. Now they just need to go for that gold.

Andrews’ javelin throw was good enough for a second place finish in Kalispell and a third place finish at the Missoula invite on Saturday. Picard took seventh in the event at the big second meet. 

Polson junior Alex Havlovick also threw long in Missoula, sending a discus 131-feet-10-inches for a sixth place finish.

The Pirates snagged a fourth-place finish at the 400-relay and the Fouty brothers took fifth (Trae) and sixth (Ty) in the Pole Vault.

The Polson boys scored 23 points for an 11th place finish in Missoula.

The Lady Pirates were not to be out done. Distance-wise it was Polson sophomore Mesa Starkey representing in Kalispell. Starkey took silver at 1,600 and fifth at 3,200.

The Polson 1,600-meter relay team, made up of sophomore Breanne Kelley, sophomore Katie Finley, junior Christa Redcrow and junior Nicole Davey, went gold (4:20.33).

Breanne also finished first at the 300-meter hurdles, second at the 100 hurdles and second at the 200 sprint. Redcrow took fourth in the long jump, sailing 15-feet-6-inches. Lady Pirate thrower senior Jessica Huntley threw the shot put 29-feet-4- inches for sixth and teammate junior Natasha Lafferty tossed the discus 84-feet-2-inches for sixth as well.

When it comes time for the pole vault, Polson looks to senior Tara Johnson. Johnson won with her 9-foot-6-inch jump, a height she was also able to take second with in Missoula. Johnson has been trying to hit the 10-foot mark in meets for some time. Now it is her senior year and she hopes to finally do it in the two upcoming meets.

For the first time of her career, she has hit the mark regularly in practice.

“It’s just something about meets. It’s just in my head I guess. Either I’m gonna get it tomorrow or this week later,” she said on Monday. “I better. I have to.”

At Missoula, Breanne snagged third in the 100 hurdles and seventh in the 200 dash. Sierra Pete took fourth in the 400 dash and Redcrow bounded for a sixth-place finish in the long jump. The 400-meter relay team took fourth (52.87).

Junior Loni Havlovick threw her way just shy of gold in the discus (120-5) and to a bronze finish in the shot put (35-11).

Johnson’s protégé, junior Nicole Davey, placed second in the pole vault at Kalispell (9-6) and fifth in Missoula (9-0).

Polson head coach Bob Gunderson was pleased with the performance in Missoula.

“Our kids competed well in a very tough meet. A number of athletes on both the girls and boys teams had PR’s in their events but finished out of the running for a place. Hopefully the weather will continue to be good and we  will be able to continue the improvement,” he said.

Polson competed at the Big Sky Trials in Missoula on Tuesday and competes 10 a.m. on Saturday at the Frenchtown invite.