Pirates keep marks high

Polson track and field has suffered with the absence of junior Nicole Davey who has come down with an unidentified virus at the beginning of the season.

“We miss her leadership and presence a lot on this year’s team,” Polson head coach Bob Gunderson said.

Davey has been unable to compete much, a major loss after she won the 300-meter hurdles, placed second in the pole vault and 400, placed first with the 1,600 relay and second with the 400 relay team at last year’s Class A state championship meet.

“We will hopefully find something out soon and pray that it is not a serious issue. She is one great kid,” Gunderson said.

Despite Davey’s key absence, Polson had kept high enough spirits to qualify a slew of boys into this past Tuesday’s Top Ten Meet in Missoula.

Among them was senior Ryan Kelley and juniors Trae and Ty Fouty in the pole vault.

Also joining them were junior Joe Andrews in the javelin and junior Jason Bowman in the 100 and 200 dashes and the 400 and 1,600 relay teams. The short relay is made up of Andrews, Bowman, senior Chris Alfiero and Ryan. The long relay features Andrews, Alfiero, junior Brock Picard and senior Tucker Morigeau.

The Pirates and Lady Pirates competed in two meets this past week, staring things off at the Big Sky Triangular on April 21 and then the Stone Invitational on Saturday.

At Big Sky, the Polson boys highlighted their efforts with a sweep of the pole vault. Ryan snagged first (13-0), followed by Ty (12-0) and Trae (11-6).

Kelly added a fourth place finish at the 110 hurdles (16.56) to complete a strong day on the track and a great one in the field.

At the 200, it was almost another sweep. Bowman took gold (23.5), junior Tim Rausch went second (23.9) and Andrews finished fourth (24.01) in that event.

Rausch also finished first in the triple jump (40-1.5) and second in both the long jump (19-7.5) and 100 (11.79).

The short relay nailed a 44.60 for first and the long relay went second.

Polson’s distance runners made their mark as well with junior Colter Bull taking first in the 800 (2:11) and junior Mile Bieber taking the honors in the 3,200 contest (12:08.49). Bull was right behind Bieber in second, just a half-second off his mark.

Polson thrower Picard took second in the javelin (145-7), junior Alex Havlovick took second in the discus (137-10) and senior Derricke Big Sam took fourth in the shot put (40-01).

Polson finished second to Missoula Big Sky in the meet.

At the Stone Invite, Polson foraged another third place finish. Alfiero had a stand-out meet.

“Chris Alfiero had a good meet for the boys winning the 300 hurdles and lowering his mark by almost two seconds,” Gunderson said.

Alfiero took the 300 hurdles in 42.80. Kelley was the other gold medalist in that one with a first place finish at the 110 hurdles (16.57).

At Big Sky, Lady Pirate junior Christa Redcrow starred among the AA competition.

“Christa Redcrow had an outstanding meet posting her best ever long jump and triple jump marks. Christa just started triple jumping last week so hopefully as she gets a little more technique her mark will continue in the event,” Gunderson said.

Redcrow went gold in the long jump (16-5.5) and second in the triple jump (33-6).

Other top finishers were senior Sierra Pete at the 400 (1:02), junior Loni Havlovick at the discus (120-1) and senior Tara Johnson at pole vault (9-0).

At the Stone Invite, Pete won the 400 again (60.82) and the team cleaned up in the 1,600 relay. Redcrow, sophomore Breanne Kelley, sophomore Katie Finley and Pete led the way in that one.

After the Top Ten Meet this past Tuesday in Missoula, Polson competes next at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday in Whitefish then hosts the Lake County invite at 4 p.m. on Tuesday in Polson.