Ronan-Mission track runs toward state
POLSON — Ronan-Mission track’s best competed at the divisional tournament in Polson this weekend and plenty made marks and times good for one ticket to the 2009 class A track meet.
The Maidens took third as a team, but the meet’s most impressive individual may have been Ronan senior Sadie McMillan.
She earned her way to state in five individual events, taking gold medals in three.
No other Northwestern A athlete left with a first place finish in the 100-meter dash, the 200 or the 100 hurdles - those were all McMillan territory.
She will also compete in the 300 hurdles, which she went fourth in, and the high jump, where she earned a silver medal.
McMillan said she runs every event just like the athletes who have but one specialty.
“I run my butt off no matter what because you never know if it’s going to be your last chance,” she said. “I’ve done it every year since I was a freshman so it’s kind of routine now.”
Winning medals at state is also routine for McMillan but so far the gold has evaded her. The closest she came was in the 100 hurdles her sophomore year, when on a course to win, she stumbled and ended up with bronze.
This year, she thinks the 100 dash is her best shot.
“I just want to be a state champ. It’s what I’ve worked so hard for,” she said.
Her final attempt will be this weekend.
Mission sophomore Adessa Durglo was the team’s other gold medalist. Her 35-foot triple jump also set the Mission school record.
Durglo also took bronze in both the high and long jumps.
Both Ronan relays placed and Tabitha Carlson placed in three individual events.
Other Maidens who will attend the state meet to compete individually are Kelsey Cable in the pole vault and Lisa Larsson in the javelin. Christina Williams was on the fourth place relay team which earned a spot in state competition.
The Ronan-Mission boys had some strong showings in the two-day meet. Ronan’s senior hurdler, Jamie Engeldrum took the team’s only gold with a first place finish in the 110 hurdles.
“Jamie has been completely focused on both hurdle races all season long and with one hurdle race behind him he had finished half of what he set out to do,” Ronan boys coach Noelle Decker said.
On Saturday, things didn’t go quite as smoothly in the 300 hurdles but Engeldrum still finished with bronze.
“He struggled in the race and was never able to recover enough to win the thing. He was very disappointed but he qualified and this week is a whole new race,” Decker said of state.
Marcus Hungerford, a freshman, placed fifth in a heated battle for state qualification in the 800.
“He had been running in the fifth place position most of the race and when they came around the last corner he continued to fight the others off and absolutely gave it everything he had.” Decker said. “It was an exciting race and I was tickled for him.”
Senior Danny Beavers finished fourth in the 3,200.
“He loves this race and I am happy for him. This has been his goal all season, to make it to state in the 3,200,” Decker said.
Beavers has led with his work ethic all season, she said.
“I will sure miss that kid,” she said.
Senior Adam Skogen will be headed to state with a fifth place finish in the javelin and Evan Waldron managed to place fifth in the long jump despite being sick.
The 1,600 relay team dusted Bigfork for fifth place as well.
The state meet begins at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday in Butte.