Polson starts season with title

MISSOULA - After only 10 days of practice, the Polson girls' track and field team took first at the Gene Hughes Invitational last weekend in Corvallis.

During their regular-season debut, the Lady Pirates amassed 145 points to take the crown, 37 points ahead of second-place Hamilton.

"I am glad we were able to go to a meet early in the season as it gives us a measuring stick for what we need to work on," head coach Bob Gunderson said. "We were by no means fully prepared for this meet."

Even with the short amount of practice time, eight athletes placed in individual events and two relays took first place.

Senior Nicole Davey took home four blue ribbons on the day. She took first in the 400-meter dash in 63.47 as well as in the pole vault with a height of 8' 6.

This was Davey's first meet after missing last year with Mononucleosis.

"She was nervous about her first meet in two years," Gunderson said. "She ran a very good 400 considering she wasn't pressed by anyone."

She was also a part of the two relays that took first in the 400 and 1600 races, joined by junior Katie Finley, senior Christa Redcrow and junior Breanne Kelley. Davey's leg of the 1600-meter race was 61.5 seconds as she came from behind to catch the Corvallis runner on the final turn.

Finley took third in the 100-meter with a time of 13.69 and fifth in the 200-meter while also acting as the lead off runner in both winning relays.

In the 200-meter, junior Breanne Kelley took third and placed first in the 300m hurdles with a time of 49.29 and second in the 100m hurdles in 16.55. Gunderson said she individually accounted for 25 team points,

"Her hurdle times are both better than they were at the beginning of last season," he said.

Geri Slyvester took fourth in the 400-meter dash and sixth in the 800-meter run.

Junior Mesa Starkey took fourth in the 800-m run with a time of 2:41.63. That was her first time running the race. She also took third in the 1600m run.

Senior Loni Havlovick took first in both the shot put and discus while teammate senior Natasha Lafferty took second in the shot put and third in the discus. Those two each placed at the state tournament during the last two seasons.

"They consistently give us good efforts," Gunderson said.

Redcrow took third in the long jump and second in the triple jump.

Junior Sierra Pete is out for the season with an ACL injury but Gunderson said the Pirates did a good job of picking up the slack.

"We miss Sierra Pete," he said. "All are doing multiple events and competing well in them. This core group of young ladies have a state title and a third place trophy because of this effort."

Polson doesn't compete this weekend but will travel to Columbia Falls next week.

Boys

The Pirate track and field team was incomplete during their first meet of the season, the Gene Hughes Invitational hosted by Corvallis. Injuries and incomplete practices hindered Polson as it took third, two points behind second-place Thompson Falls.

"We only had 10 practice days and some of the kids missed due to illness or school related activities," Gunderson said.

Freshman Mike Devlin and senior Ty Fouty were the two Pirates to walk away with first place. Devlin won the 400m race and placed fifth in the long jump. Gunderson said his finishes were personal bests.

Fouty jumped 12 feet in the pole vault to take first and placed fourth in the 300m hurdles.

In the 100m race, junior Vince DiGiallonardo took fourth and senior Traven Hoyt finished fifth.

Sophomore Chris Cote took sixth in the 200m and fifth in the 400m.

In the 800m, seniors Miles Bieber and Colter Bull finished fifth and sixth, respectively. Bull also took fifth in the 1600 while Bieber took sixth in the 3200.

Senior Alex Havlovick took third in the shot put and fifth in the discus while Devlin finished fifth in the long jump.

Senior Brock Picard took third in the javelin, his only competition during the meet. Gunderson said this is because of a hamstring injury from football season.

"He was able to wrestle with it but is not able to spring," he said.

Senior Trae Fouty is out until May with in injury suffered during football season while freshman Jason Bowman and senior Joe Andrews were absent from the sprints and sprint relays.

The Pirates have the weekend off but will travel to Columbia Falls next weekend.