Top Warriors advance to state meet

MISSOULA — It was a weekend of ups and downs for Arlee track at divisionals in Missoula. On the one hand, a few warriors earned spots at the state tournament with great performances. On the other hand, no Scarlets were able to finish in the top five and the dedicated team will have to cheer on the boys from the sidelines this week.

Arlee senior Wyatt O’Neill triple jumped and high jumped for two silver divisional medals. Head coach Sue Carney said O’Neill just about cleared the 6-foot mark in the high jump and was already celebrating when the bar fell. But his 5-foot-10-inch jump is still good for one ticket to state in the event.

O’Neill just missed going to state in the long jump, falling 2 inches short of the competition and placing sixth.

O’Neill won’t be attending the state meet alone.

Another senior, Warrior Jake Trujillo placed fourth in the 3,200 and fifth in the 1,600-meter races.

Carney said the 3,200 was never Trujillo’s favorite and that finishing so well was exciting for coach and athlete alike.

“I’m glad he did it. He couldn’t have made me any happier than running both,” she said. “I was ecstatic for Jacob.”

The other boys who will attend state will do it as part of the short and long relay teams. The Warriors finished fifth in each relay, and took four seconds off their best 1,600 relay time.

Ethan Willoughby, Zach Carver and Cubby Pierre joined O’Neill in the short race, and Pierre, Carver, Trujillo and O’Neill ran the mile.

Pierre just missed state in the 110 hurdles after finishing in the top three during trials. He ended up sixth, good enough for a place but not a ticket to the big show in the event.

It is the senior’s first year of track.

“Doing as well as he did, he should be really proud of himself,” Carney said.

Having her athletes come so far and get so close isn’t easy, she said.

“Probably the hardest thing to do is watch those kids who place sixth and seventh and do really well and don’t get to go on,” she said.

There were many Scarlets that might have went to state if they had hit their marks.

Freshman Becca Nelson couldn’t find her best javelin toss and ended an impressive year at divisionals - on her birthday no less.

“Her warmup throws were beautiful. I don’t know if it was the pressure or what,” Carney said.

Freshmen Aspen and Rachelle Meidinger and senior Tela Whitman also fell short on their marks in the shot. They needed throws in the 32-foot range and landed 29’s.

Junior Chelsea Allaire took four seconds off  of her best time in the short hurdles to finish eighth.

“I’m looking for her to come back in those hurdles next year. She did a fabulous job,” Carney said.

Carney was happy to see Cassandra Kline and Courtney Dix throwing well.

Carlee Allestad is the team’s other departing senior. Carney was pleased to see her make divisionals in her first year competing in track and field.

Arlee competes at Class C state at 9 a.m. on Friday and Saturday at Bulldog Stadium in Butte.