Ronan Chiefs capture Western C Divisional track title

The Ronan Chiefs captured the Western C Divisional Crown in Thursday and Friday’s meet at Frenchtown High School.

The Chiefs combined all phases of track and field competition to capture the title and catapult their team to state.

Colin McGuyer punched his ticket to state in the 100, 200-meter dash, 4X400 relay, and the pole vault.

Steven Flesch qualified in the 400-meter and the triple jump.

Duffey gets the trifecta

Star Chiefs’ distance runner Jackson Duffey swept all three events in the 800-meter, 1600 meter, and 3,200 meter race.

Other teammates that will join Duffey in that event include James Normandeau and Nathan Dennis. Normandeau and Dennis also will participate in the 800-meter, 1600, and 3200 meter race.

Flesch, Duffey, Dennis and McGuyer also qualified in the 4X400 meter relay.

Maidens take fifth at Divisionals

The Ronan Maidens took fifth place at the Western B Divisional in Frenchtown this past weekend and will be sending a representative contingent to the State B meet at Bulldog Memorial Stadium in Butte this coming weekend.

Multi-event qualifiers include MSU-Northern recruit Ashley McCready in all the distance events along with relay, Micalann McCrea in all the throws events along with the 100 meter sprint, Kinsely Barney in the shorter sprints along with relay and Lee Camel in both throws (sp) along with jumps (lj). Both McCready (1600,3200) and Camel (tj) were all-state placers last season.

Lady Bulldogs send three to state

The Mission Lady Bulldogs, Bulldogs track and field program will send three to the Class AA-B track meet Friday and Saturday at the Bulldog Memorial Stadium at East Middle School.

The Lady Bulldogs will send Nalani Linsebigler, who placed fifth at discus and Karolyna Buck qualified to run the 800-meter and the high jump.

“Karolyna ran an amazing race on Friday, coming from behind and placing 5th,” Lady Bulldogs’ coach Chris Eichert said. “Karolyna, a freshman, has had a great year competing in the 400, 800 and 1600m. She has placed in almost every meet in these events. Karolyna is a terrific athlete and has improved a great deal this year. The future looks amazing for this young athlete.”

Afton Brander qualified for third in long jump, fourth in the triple jump, and fifth at high jump.

“Afton Brander is one of those athletes that coaches love to have,” Bulldogs’ Coach Trenna Ferris said. “She comes out to practice and knows what she has to do. She went to the State meet last year in the high jump as a freshman, and just missed out on placing (7th). I think that experience really helped Afton this year because she wanted to go back and try it again. She had it in her mind that she was going to go to State to compete.”

Ferris expressed that she was proud of Linsebigler.

“Her first State appearance was last year when she made it in the discus,” Ferris said. “That experience helped Nalani this year because she knew she wanted to make it again. She is out-sized by many of her opponents but has worked hard on technique and strength. She is a very coachable athlete. I am so excited for Nalani. I am proud of her accomplishments this season and all four years she has been a part of the program.”

-John Heglie contributed to story