Track: Polson takes third at A.R.M.

WHITEFISH - The Polson girls took third at the Whitefish A.R.M.

track meet last Saturday.

WHITEFISH - The Polson girls took third at the Whitefish

A.R.M. track meet last Saturday.

"The girls had a good meet in not so good weather," head coach Bob Gunderson said. "It alternated between clouds, rain, wind and on a few instances, sunshine."

Senior Breanne Kelley ran her best 300 hurdle time (47.54) since her sophomore year and placed second in the event. She also took third in the 100 hurdles (16.38) and ran a 61-second split in the 1,600 relay - which placed third.

"She continues to work hard and the results are showing it," Gunderson said.

Sophomore Anna DiGiallonardo continued her excellent speed events, placing third in the 100 (13.40) and second in the 200 (27.54). She was also fifth in the long jump (14-4.5) and ran for both the 400-relay and the 1,600 relay, which placed second (4:14.64).

Senior Sierra Pete placed fifth in the 400-meter (1:03.89).

"Sierra continues to improve her time in the 400," Gunderson said. "She is doing quite remarkably considering the two ACL operations she has endured over the last two years."

The distance running for Polson was exceptional with senior Mesa Starkey taking fourth in the 800 (2:35.74) and teammate Claudia Hewston took fifth (2:36:04). Hewston also took fourth in the 1,600 (5:43.98) and Starkey took first (12:01.52) in the 3,200.

Jewel Zakit-Ackerman took fifth in the discus (92-9).

Bjorge lead Pirates

WHITEFISH - Polson's Jimmy Bjorge broke the barrier.

"Jimmy was the highlight of this meet as he broke 5 minutes in the 1600-meter for the first time, placing third in that event," Gunderson said. "He has always been a hard worker and it paid off for him on Saturday."

Bjorge ran a time of 4:55.73. His teammate Alex Nystrom placed fifth (10:57.24) in the 3,200 meter run.

Gunderson also made some changes in the lineup and got some positive results.

"I ran Chris Cote in the 800-meter for the first time and he ran a very good 2:10 time," Gunderson said. "We will try to double him (400 and 800) the rest of the year and hopefully he will see the results when the divisional track meet gets here in three weeks."

Cote placed fourth in the 800. Meanwhile, Mike Devlin placed sixth in the 400 (54.20). Then three of the Fantastic Four, Polson's pole vaulting crew, placed in their event.

"The strength of our team in these large meets still centers around the pole vaulters and weight men," Gunderson said.

Brock Bleazard placed second (12-0), Drew Fouty tied for sixth (11-6) with Zion Lee.

However injuries limited the Pirates in this meet.

"We were without Dale Big Sam (Shotput and Discus) for this meet and Zion Lee (Pole Vault, 110 Hurdles, 300 Hurdles, 1600m Relay) is nursing an ankle injury so he didn't compete in most of his events," Gunderson said. "We didn't run the 1600-meter relay in this meet as two of legs were missing. Zion is injured and Travis Hayes was not at the meet."

The remaining weightmen did do well. Clark Rubel placed fifth in the shot put (44-10.5).

"Rubel had a PR in the discus even though he didn't place as did Riley Sampson in the shotput and the discus," Gunderson said.