Thinclads anxious to open season
NWA Polson
The Lady Pirates return state champion distance runner Bea Frissell (1600,3200) as well as twice cross-country state champion. Polson also returns strong distance runners such as Gwen Seeley along with some tough new freshman all pushing the pace with Frissell.
The Lady Pirates also return divisional champion (tj) as well as state placer (tj,lj) Mikaela Ducharme, divisional jumps placer Maggie Todd (tj), divisional hurdles placer Shayla Olson (300h) and a solid core for both their relays. Up and comers to watch include Karly Lawson in javelin, who PRed at both divisional as well as state, and Kyla Blixt in throws, who PRed at divisional in the shot.
Among the Pirate boys, returnees include state distance champion Quin Stewart (800), sprints state placer Trenton Adler (100), and two legs of their school record setting short relay team in Adler and Dugan Davis.
Polson track head coach Melinda (Owen) Withrow enters her second season at the helm. Withrow owns the school record in the pole vault and was a three time olympic trial contender in the same event. As the season progresses, one anticipates that her tutelage will result in some of her athletes reaching new heights in one way or another.
Withrow remarked, “I have been looking forward to this senior class since the first year that I arrived at Polson. We have a group of leaders that not only make it more enjoyable to coach, but easier. They set an example of work ethic at practice, that make me incredibly proud to coach them. Overall, I think this will be Polson’s best year yet!”
NWA Ronan
One encouraging sign at the beginning of the season is that participation numbers among the Maiden girls have risen. Returnees include junior Kinsley Barney, whose goal is to make the postseason podium. Barney took third in the 100 and 200 sprints at Divisional, but an untimely hamstring injury the day before the State meet prevented her from an opportunity to place last season. Consequently, Barney has invested effort in conditioning this year to avoid a derailing of her chances at making some noise on the State A stage.
Sophomore Lindsey Brooks PRed in the 400 at Divisional, tied tenth in High Jump and aims for a return trip to State this time around. She has invested in weight room conditioning to improve her 400 and 800 competitiveness along with improving her jumping capabilities this year.
Senior Kara Holmlund is focusing on conditioning to help avoid injuries that have hampered her optimal performance in the past. Should she maintain her goal of staying healthy this year, she may get an opportunity to showcase her wares on the State A stage.
Among Chief boys, junior James Normandeau is anticipated to be among the leaders in distance events. Normandeau placed in both 800 and 1600 at NWA Divisional last season and is now has cross-country all-state credentials as a barometer to spur him on to improve his times on the track with the goal of placing on the State A stage in his distance events.
Junior thrower Landon Lynch just missed out on state last year in the shot put by one place. Lynch has invested time during the offseason in conditioning with the aim of punching his ticket to State this time around.
Ronan third year head coach Brian Labbe has a core group of participants who have investing in off season conditioning and hopes to see this pay off as the season progresses. Labbe points out that, “To be a Champion you have to do what other are not willing to do.”
Both Ronan and Polson are slated to compete at the Gene Hughes Invitational in Corvallis on Saturday, March 23, assuming all the snow was able to be cleared from the venues.