Friends in high places: Ronan, Arlee excel

by Brandon Hansen & Sports Editor
| April 12, 2012 8:00 AM

RONAN — In front of the hometown fans, there was lots of speed and strength on display at the Ronan Invitational Tuesday, April 3. With Arlee and Ronan both competing at the non-scoring event, Mission Valley teams placed 61 times in the nine-team field.

BOYS

Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Jalen Bell placed first in the long jump (20-0.50) and triple jump (41-8), and notched a fifth-place finish in the high jump (5-8).

“I feel he’s getting his timing back in the jumps and he is already further ahead than he was this time last year,” Ronan head coach Crystal Pitts said.

Bryce Hegwood placed fifth in the long jump (18-9.50) for Ronan-St. Ignatius and Arlee’s Sam Nelson was second in the triple jump (39-5.25).

“Sam has been jumping in the 39s consistently now so that’s good,” Arlee head coach Russ Baker said.

In the pole vault, Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Connor Benn cleared 9-6 for fifth place. Ronan-St.Ignatius’ Riley Dennis continues to be a speedster and placed in both the 200 and 400-meter race for the second straight week. Dennis was second in the 200-meter (24.46) and third in the 400 (55.07.).

“Riley has worked hard all year preparing for the track season,” Ronan-St. Ignatius head coach Crystal Pitts said.

There were plenty of runners joining Dennis in the short distance races. Arlee’s Brandon Hergett has quickly emerged as a good 100-meter runner and placed third (11.50) in the event. Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Barrett Sargent wasn’t far behind in sixth (11.75). Michael Knabe placed fifth in the 400 (56.49).

“Brandon is one of our fastest kids,” Baker said. “Zack Carver and him are really close.”

In the long distance races, Paden Alexander “The Great” grabbed a pair of second-place finishes in the 1,600 meter (5:02) and 3,200-meter (10:33) race. Alexander shaved nearly half a minute off his time in the 3,200 meter race in Corvallis two weeks ago and has set his sights high for the season.

“He is thinking and we are planning on getting the St. Ignatius school record and then see where that time places him,” Pitts said.

Ronan cross country standout Danny Romero placed fifth in both distance races (5:17 and 11:27), and Arlee’s Donovan McDonald took sixth (5:19).

“Donovan wants to get closer to five and well under five for the district meet,” Baker said.

Ronan-St. Ignatius had a pair of placers in the shot put event, with Lucas Gerhardt getting second (40-9) and Barret Sargent getting fifth (38-8.50). Two weeks ago in Corvallis, Brennan Andrews also recorded a personal best in the javelin (130’06”).

“The throwers, Lucas and Brennan showed that strength improvement helps,” Pitts said.

In the 400-meter relay, the Ronan-St. Ignatius boys took second (45.99) and Arlee took fourth (46.57). In the 1,600-meter relay, Ronan-St. Ignatius was third (3:48.30) and Arlee was sixth (3:51.16).

GIRLS

RONAN — Jade Grey led the way for Ronan-St. Ignatius, picking up a first place finish in the 3,200-meter race (13:08) while shaving off nearly 40 seconds from her time two weeks ago in Corvallis.

“Jade has to believe she can run faster and once she does it she can continue to improve,” Pitts said. “I hope to see her time continue to drop.”

Grey placed second in the 1,600-meter race (6:15). Teammate Courtney Heath placed in both distance races too, notching sixth in the 1,600-meter (6:34) and 3,200-meter race (14:06). Another talented Ronan-St. Ignatius runner, Nikki Jo Mays, was fifth in the 3,200-meter race (14:15).

In the 800-meter race, Courtney Clairmont showed her speed and placed first (2:41.88) for Ronan-St. Ignatius, while her teammate Victoria Crenshaw was fifth (3:16.51). Crenshaw was fourth in the 400-meter race (1:20). Also in the 400-meter race, Arlee’s Jessica Knoll was third (1:16), Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Josie Adams was fifth (1:20) and Arlee’s Tiffany O’Neill was sixth (1:20).

Becca Nelson took first for Arlee in the discus (97-2.50) and was followed up by teammates Aspen Meidinger in second (93-8.75), Rachelle Meidinger in fourth (86-9.50) and Jenna Pablo in fifth (85-8.50). Rachelle Meidinger had to battle a sprained ankle and was on crutches the morning of the meet but still threw.

“Her foot was still in the big boot that morning,” Baker said. “She threw well, she didn’t do a spin but still placed. She’ll be back for us. The throws have been key for us every year. We’ve been dominating them and we hope to do it again this year.”

Also taking first for Arlee was Whitney Malatare in the long jump (14-8). Fellow Scarlet Alex Adams was third (14 -2.50) and Pablo was sixth (13-7.50). In the triple jump, Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Kaylie Durglo was third (30-5.75), Malatare was fourth (29-9.50) and Ronan St.-Ignatius’ Auxie Cates was sixth (28-1). In the high jump, Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Kianna Howell was third (4-8), Arlee’s Nelson was fourth (4-8) and Malatare was fifth (4-8).

“We had three girls clear 4-9 which is good,” Baker said. “We did excellent in the jumps.”

In the short races, Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Howell placed third in the 100-meter (14.10) and sixth in the 200-meter race (29.90). Arlee’s Malatare was fifth in the 100-meter (14.26).

After they threw some hurdles on the track, Stephanie Lewandowski placed second in the 100-meter hurdles (17.95) and fourth in the 300-meter hurdles (54.43).

Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Twyla Hogge was second in the shot put (32-10), followed by Arlee twins, Aspen Meidinger in third (32-6) and Rachelle Meidinger in fourth (31-6). Ronan-St. Ignatius’ Aspen Jore, who set a Ronan school record in the javelin two weeks ago in Corvallis, placed fifth in the shot put (29-5).

The Ronan-St. Ignatius girls relays were strong, picking up two second place finishes in the 400-meter relay (56.85) and the 1,600-meter relay (4:51.7). A second Ronan-St. Ignatius 400-meter relay team placed fourth (57.86) and Arlee was fifth (57.92).

Ronan-St. Ignatius will head up to Bigfork on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and then will attend the Kalispell Glacier meet next Tuesday. Arlee will attend the Dave Trip Invitational in Hot Springs on Thursday.