Terrific track at Top 10

KALISPELL – The top track and field athletes in the western state of Montana gathered Tuesday April 23. for the 15th annual Russ Pilcher Western Montana Top 10 meet, and Lake County was well represented. 

Athletes from class C to AA competed head-to-head in the ultimate battle for Montana track and field supremacy.

Ronan’s Jalen Bell, representing Mission-Ronan’s track team, showed he was the best leaper in the west – regardless of class. The senior Chief placed first in both the long jump (21-0) and the triple jump (44-5). 

Teammate Paden Alexander also impressed in the 3200-meter run, finishing second with a time of 9:49.79. 

Polson’s Will Davey finished fifth in the long jump with 19-11 ½. Teammate Riley Sampson, who usually dominates the shot put event, placed second. The Polson senior was second only to Big Sky’s Darby Maier, who threw a meet record 55-11 in the shot put. Sampson threw 51- 3/4.  

Charlo’s Tra Ludeman finished fifth in the 110-meter hurdles with 16.07 and Webb O’neill placed second in pole vault to round out Lake County male top finishers.

On the girls side, Polson runners Anna DiGiallonardo and Claudia Hewston gave an inspiring showing for the Lady Pirates. DiGiallonardo’s fourth place finish in the 100-meter dash (13.28) and Hewston’s fourth place finish in the 800-meter run  (2:27.42) showed Polson’s girls track team can compete with the best in the western part of state.

Polson’s speed was also showcased in the 400-meter relay, where the Lady Pirates finished fifth with 51.58.

Lake County Top Finishers

GIRLS

100 – 1. Marlow Schulz, Whitefish, 13.05; 2. Callie Kanthack, Helena, 13.12; 3. Kinzie Windgard, Hellgate, 13.19; 4. Anna DiGiallonardo, Polson, 13.28; 5. Tess Porch, Florence, 13.37.

800 – 1. Ayden Eickoff, Corvallis, 2:19.81; 2. Ellen Ruby, Hellgate, 2:25.47; 3. Hanna Smith, Corvallis, 2:26¾ ; 4. Claudia Hewston, Polson, 2:27.42; 5. Patricia Martin, Helena, 2:28.84.

400 relay – 1. Butte 50.09; 2. Big Sky 50.24; 3. Corvallis 50.27; 4. Whitefish 51.20; 5. Polson 51.58.

BOYS

3,200 – 1. Chris Herrick, Hellgate, 9:41.15; 2. Paden Alexander, Ronan, 9:49.79; 3. Anthony Smalz, Hamilton, 9:50.25; 4. Aiden Reid, Helena, 9:54.53; 5. Nick Hamilton, Sentinel, 9:57.91.

110 hurdles – 1. Brian Sinrud, Capital, 15.47; 2. Jay Owens, Big Sky, 15.94; 3. Preston Schubert, Thompson Fal, 15.94; 4. Silas Hasselbrook, Loyola, 15.99; 5. Tra Ludeman, Charlo, 16.07.

Pole vault – 1. Dominick Speranza, Capital, 14-6; 2. Webb O’Neill, Charlo, 14-0; 3. Dominique Holt, Thompson Falls, 14-0; 4. Sean Foley, Whitefish, 13-6; 5 (tie). Gunnar Hillborn, Helena,13-6; 5. David Diehl, Frenchtown, 13-6.

Long jump – 1. Jalen Bell, Ronan-St. Ignatius 21-0; 2. Nico Graham, Big Sky, 20-5½ ; 3. Sean Foley, Whitefish, 20-2½ ; 4. Nakia Alexander, Columbia Falls, 20-1; 5. Will Davey, Polson, 19-11½ .

Triple Jump – 1. Jalen Bell, Ronan, 44-5; 2. Kyle Ball, Victor, 44-1½ ; 3. Nico Graham, Big Sky, 42-6½ ; 4. Bobby Erbaugh, Frenchtown, 41-11; 5. Abe Westfall, Hamilton, 41-9.

Shot put – 1. Darby Maier, Big Sky, 57-7¼; Brandon Forson, Deer Lodge, 2011); 2. Riley Sampson, Polson, 51-¾ ; 3. Kyle Moore, Dillon, 48-5; 4. Ben Gorham, Plains, 47-10; 5. James Foote, Big Sky, 47-3¼.