Arlee sends seven to state

MISSOULA - A little bit of determination goes a long way.

The Arlee track and field team toed the line at the Western C Divisional Championships in Missoula last weekend.

Next week, five Warriors will make the trip to the state meet in Great Falls, three of whom would not be going had they not recovered from a blunder at the district meet two weeks ago.

The Arlee boys' 400-meter relay team of senior Kyle Felsman, sophomore Zack Carver, sophomore Zack Tameler and junior Cole Rice dropped the baton exchange between the second and third legs, but recovered and finished the race anyway. If they hadn't picked up their dropped baton and finished districts, then they would not have had the chance to compete in divisionals at all.

"They ran in the slower heat, but finished with the third fastest time," coach Russ Baker said. "They were practicing their relay exchanges all week, they didn't want to drop it again."

Felsman will compete in two individual events as well: The high jump after placing fifth (5-10) and triple jump, in which he took fourth place. Felsman's distance of 40-3 was his best of the year, although Baker said they decided to move him to a different board and he scratched by a quarter-inch on what could have been the winning jump.

Junior Sam Nelson's throw of 153-6 got him fourth place in the javelin. It was just a little bit off what he won districts with the week before, Baker said, and Nelson needed every bit of that, as the competition was fierce in the event.

Sophomores Rachelle Meidinger and Becca Nelson will make their first trips to state representing a strong Scarlet throwing contingent.

Meidinger landed fourth in the shot put at 32-6, a throw that crushed her 30-10 1/2 personal best from the Polson Invite three weeks ago.

Her sister, sophomore Aspen missed her crack at a state appearance by the skin of her teeth. While she earned a medal for her sixth placing shot put mark of 30-10, she was just shy of beating Drummond's Patti Brown who threw 31-0 1/4 for the fifth and final ticket to state.

Still, both athletes turned in their best performances of the year and conquered the 30-foot barrier in a fashion that will no doubt motivate them for next season.

Nelson's fifth place in the javelin gives her a shot at state as well. Her 105-11 bested the 103-8 that she threw two weeks ago at districts.