Meets aplenty for Arlee track

MISSOULA - Arlee is showing they have no shortage of performers

as the Warriors and Scarlets ran the gauntlet of three track meets

in three days and didn't let that slow them down.

MISSOULA - Arlee is showing they have no shortage of performers as the Warriors and Scarlets ran the gauntlet of three track meets in three days and didn't let that slow them down.

At the Jim Johnson Invitational track meet at Dornblaser Field in Missoula last Wednesday, freshman Whitney Malatare showed that she should have a promising career for the Scarlets by placing second place in the long jump at 14-8.

Senior Becca Nelson placed in multiple events, getting third in the javelin (97-5) and sixth in the shot put (27-4). Her teammate, Rachelle Meidinger placed second in the shotput (31-7).

On the boys side, speed was the name of the game as Zack Carver placed second in the 100-meter dash (11.65) and fourth in the 200-meter (24.01). Clayton Trimble placed sixth in the 200 (24.01).

Carver continued to show that speed on Thursday at the Bluehawk Invitational in Thompson Falls as he won the 100 (11.90) and 200 (25.15).

"He's got the speed," Arlee head coach Rus Baker said. "I think he's the fastest kid in the district."

Trimble placed second in the 200 (25.58) behind his teammate and sixth in the 100 (12.37). Poor weather conditions slowed down the times but couldn't dampen the Warriors' spirit.

"They were running in the mud," Arlee head coach Rus Baker said.

Carver also placed sixth in the pole vault (10-0) while Trimble placed fourth in the shotput (39-8 ½). Teammates Brady Potts and Nelson Big Sam took second (42-6) and sixth (38-1/2) respectively.

For the girls at Thompson Falls, the twin engines of Arlee, Rachelle and Aspen Meidinger roared up in the shotput event.

Rachelle took first (32-4) and Aspen took third (30-5 1/2) from a standing position.

"She had some good 35 foot throws in warm-ups," Baker said of Aspen.

Malatare wowed in a bevy of events, placing second in the high jump (4-4), third in the long jump (14-5 ½), fourth in the 200 (31.24), fourth in the triple jump (29-9 ½) and fifth in the 100 (14.69).

Nelson was impressive in numerous field events, earning second in the javelin (108-6), fifth in the discus (82-2) and third in the high jump (4-2).

But the girls saved the best for last in Hot Springs on Friday for the Dave Tripp Memorial Track Meet. With just three girls from Arlee competing, the Scarlets still managed to score 126 points.

"They all did five events and they all placed in them," Baker said.

Nelson placed first in the high jump (4-5), discus (87-11 1/2) and javelin (94-9) and then placed fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (21.40). Malatare placed first in the long jump (13-8), second in the triple jump (28-4 1/2) and 200 (32.86), and third in the high jump (4-4) and 100-meter hurdles (21.27). Jenna Pablo placed second in the high jump (4-5) and long jump (12-11 1/2), third in the triple jump (27-6) and fourth in the discus (74-0) and shot put (24-4).

"If they got all five events they could have scored 150 points but they competed in some of the same events so that couldn't technically happen," Baker said.

For the boys, Carver continued to excel in the sprint lanes by sweeping the 100 (11.65) and 200 (25.63) again. He also placed second in the 100-meter hurdles (20.89).

Trimble placed third in the 100 (12.50), fourth in the shot put (38-11), and sixth in the discus (100-10). Potts also earned good points by getting third in the shotput (40-7) and fifth in the discus (104-1/2). Nelson Big Sam was fifth in the shot put (35-10).

In distance running, Dakotah Paul took fourth in the 3,200 (15:36.45) and fourth in the 1,600 (7:01.04). The runners and the weight men also teamed up in the short relay and placed second.

"If they would have had another few feet they would have caught the first place team," Baker said.