Pirates dominate divisionals

LIBBY - The Polson girls' track team sat pretty on top of the podium for six of seven events on day one of the two-day Northwest A Divisional meet in Libby. They added four more event titles Saturday before running away with the team championship for the second year in a row, scoring 216 points to Whitefish's 131.5.

Senior Nicole Davey stole the show, winning five events including the pole vault, with a personal best 10-6, 400 (59.58), 300-hurdles (45.9), and both relays.

She combined with juniors Breanne Kelley, Katie Finley and freshman Anna DiGiallonardo set a new divisional record of 50.54 in the 400 relay. Then, Davey, Finley, DiGiallonardo and senior Christa Redcrow joined forces for a winning time of 4:09.14 in the 1,600 relay.

Coach Bob Gunderson said he took a chance and ran DiGiallonardo in the long relay in place of Kelley, who competed in four individual events instead.

"Anna came through with a 61.11 split on her leg and we ran the best time of the year," he said.

Kelley went on to win the 100 hurdles (16.07); place second in the 400 (1:00.34), second between Davey and Red Crow (48.4) in the Polson sweep of the 300 hurdles (47.8) and third in the 200 (27.5) behind DiGiallonardo in second (27.48) and two spots ahead of Finley (28.78) in fifth.

Junior Mesa Starkey won the 3,200, breaking her own school record for the second week in a row. She lowered the mark to 11:51.82, almost five seconds faster than last week. This is after she ran a personal best to win the 1,600 on Friday.

Senior Loni Havlovick repeated as divisional champion in the shot put, won the discus and added a second place in the javelin, accounting for 28 team points in the meet.

Polson will send five girls to state in the pole vault event: Davey, McCall Banner (third, 7-6.01); Mckenzie Banner, (fourth, 7-6); Katharina Medland and junior Mariah Hamel with a tie for fifth (7-0).

"The A girls competition at state is the best that I've seen in years," Gunderson said. "Billings Central, Hamilton, Belgrade, Glendive, and Polson are all in the running for the title."

It would be the team's second state title in three years, after placing third in 2009.

The boys' team placed second in the meet to Columbia Falls with three Pirates capturing divisional championships. Senior Alex Havlovick won the shot put with a personal record of 46-5 1/2. The senior fouled twice and missed his shot at finals in the discus Friday, but proved his strength on the second day.

"He was the best thrower in the conference and one of our best chances to place at the state track meet next week," Gunderson said. "Athletics can teach us some of life's hard lessons at times and this was one of those times."

Senior Brock Picard took first in the javelin with a personal best throw of 180-4, followed in third by teammate senior Joe Andrews who threw 171-3.

Senior Ty Fouty led the Pirate pole vaulters' assault Friday reaching the 12-6 mark to top teammates junior Zion Lee, who came in second, senior Trae Fouty in third and sophomore Brock Bleazard in fourth, who all cleared 12-0.

Senior Colter Bull qualified for state in his events (800, 1,600 and 3,200). Bull bested in both the 800 (2:01.16) and 3,200 (10:33.90).

Joining Bull in the distance events, senior Miles Bieber will make his first trip to the state meet with two best efforts in the 1,600 (4:47.20) and 3,200 (10:43.13).

Sophomores Clark Rubel, Tyler Krell, and freshmanRiley Sampson all made the finals in the discus with personal best efforts. Rubel and Krell ended up placing second and third and Sampson earned a letter for his effort.

Tomorrow marks the first day of the state tournament in Laurel. The girls' will look for their second state title in three years. Multiple Pirates will also look for individual awards.