Chiefs, Maidens successful at state

Ronan High School distance runner Jackson Duffey took several first-place finishes throughout the entire track and field season and captured multiple first-place trophies in the 800-meter, 1600-meter, and 3200-meter runs.

During the season, Duffey captured three first-place finishes in the 800, six firsts in the 1600, five firsts in the 3200, and one first-place finish as a member of the 4X400 relay team that consisted of Steven Flesch, Nathan Dennis, and Collin McGuyer.

Duffey, who carried all of these accolades and the momentum of finishing first in the 800, 1600, and 3200-meter races at the May 19 Divisional races at Frenchtown High School, was a heavy favorite to end up on the podium at the MHSAA & B state meet Friday and Saturday at Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Butte.

Duffey didn’t end up at the top of the podium but lived up to his billing as one of the top racers in not only Mission Valley but also Class-B.

Duffey finished fifth in the 800 and second in the 1600-meter run. In the 800-meter run, Duffey finished with a time of 2 minutes, 2.67 seconds and in the 1600 he finished with a time of 4 minutes, 38.61 seconds.

The Chiefs’ senior, also known for accolades in cross country, capped his career off finishing two seconds shy of capturing the state crown in the 1600. The winner in the event was Bryant Edgerton of Broadwater High School, who finished with a state-winning time of 4 minutes, 34.82 seconds.

Duffey’s teammate, James Normandeau, PRed and finished two slots behind Duffey with a seventh-place finish in the 800-meter finals with a time of 2 minutes, 2.94 seconds. Chiefs’ Kiry Detwiler also competed in the 800 and PRed at state, recording a time of 2 minutes, 5.52 seconds. Ronan’s Nathan Dennis finished 13th with a time of 2 minutes, 6.64 seconds.

Though Duffey was scratched in the 3200, teammate Nathan Dennis finished 10th recording a time of 11 minutes, 3.97 seconds and Normandeau finished 15th with a time of 11 minutes, 26 seconds.

In the 4X400 relay, Steven Flesch, Dennis, Duffey, and McGuyer finished 12th in the finals with a time of 3 minutes, 34.17 seconds.

McGuyer PRed with a distance of 12 feet, 6 inches in the pole vault.

Steven Flesch PRed in the triple jump recording a leap of 39 feet, 11 inches.

Maidens’ Micalann McCrea elevates performance at state

Throughout the season McCrea has won her fair share of first-place accolades to her name.

McCrea entered the MHSA state meet Friday and Saturday at Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Butte with confidence. Five combined first-place finishes in both shot put and discus gave her the additional vote of confidence headed into the biggest meet of the season.

McCrea qualified for state in four individual events: the 100-meter dash, shot put, javelin, discus and a relay. She finished in the top 5 in two of the five events she participated in.

McCrea PRed in shot put, recording a throw of 37 feet. The throw was good enough to land her in the top 5 of the pool. The winning throw was Ariel Clark of Powell County who PRed and threw 38 feet, 2.25 inches.

McCrea placed fourth in discus, recording a throw of 114 feet, 1 inches.

In the 100-meter, McCrea’s teammate Kinsley Barney excelled with a ninth-place finish of 13.35 seconds. McCrea finished 19th the in 100.

McCrea PRed in the jav with a throw of 119, 1 inches that landed her sixth place.

Barney also PRed in the 200-meter dash to a 15th place finish, recording a time of 27.38 seconds.

Ashley McCready finished 8th in the 1600-meter run, recording a time of 5 minutes, 48.81 seconds. McCready also finished 19th in the 800-meter race with a time of 2 minutes, 43.83 seconds.

The 4X400 relay team of Barney, Sacorra Reum, Penni Weyant, and McCrea finished 15th with a time of 4 minutes, 26.05 seconds.

Lee Camel finished 14th in the long jump, leaping to a distance of 15 feet, 3.75 inches.

Brander caps season with top-10 finishes

Mission High School sophomore sensation Afton Brander finished her season with two top-10 finishes at the MHSA AA & B competition Friday and Saturday at Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Butte.

The St. Ignatius standout finished her season in the top-10 in the long jump and triple jump.

Brander finished with a leap of 16 feet, 1 inches in the long jump and 34 feet to finish 7th in the triple jump.

Brander also finished 11th in the high jump with a distance of 4 feet, 8 inches.

Karolyna Buck finished 17th in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2 minutes, 37.79 seconds and leaped to 4 feet, 8 inches in the high jump, a distance that put her in 11th place.

Nalani Linsebigler finished 12th in discus with a throw of 95 feet, 4 inches.