Lake County trackstars excel at Lake County Invite

The Lake County track meet isn’t a typical track meet for any of the Mission Valley competitors, it’s a meet to not only showcase the talent and athleticism all of the Mission Valley schools have, but it’s also a meet for bragging rights.

The Polson Pirates, a team with a long-standing history in excelling in track and field events, showcased to the Mission Valley their own wide variety of track and field talent at the Lake County Track Meet.

Pirates dominate the 100-meter run

The Polson Pirates are collectively young, and they are peaking at an optimal time as they showcased not only their athleticism but their improvement in the 100, recording a total of five personal records in the top-5 placers.

The Pirates’ Dugan Davis finished first in the 100 recording a personal record time of 11.72 seconds. Parker Toth, Alex Wall-Wilbert, Ryker Wenderoth and Braunson Henricksen also finished two through five in the same event with all recording personal record times.

Toth finished second, with a time of 11.83, Wall-Wilbert placed third with a time of 11.91, Wenderoth finished fourth with a time of 11.98, and Henricksen, a ninth-grader, showcased his promise recording a time of 12.03.

Davis captured first in the 200, setting a personal record of 23.98.

Stewart captures 400, 800

Polson’s Quin Stewart has developed a reputation over the past three years of becoming one of the most dynamic athletes at Polson, and this year he continues to cement his reputation with his improved times in track and field.

Stewart captured first in the 400 recording a personal record time of 52.53 and finished first in the 800 with a time of 2:05.80.

Degrandpre, Normandeau dominate distance running

Charlo High School’s Wills Degrandpre and Ronan High School runner James Normandeau both got a chance to showcase in front of Lake County their distance running ability.

Degrandpre, from Charlo, is usually in the conversation to win whatever distance event he is in, and Normandeau, over the last couple of seasons, has also cultivated himself into an elite runner for the Chiefs.

Degrandpre captured the 1,600 recording a time of 4:41.03, and Normandeau finished first with a time of 10:51.39 in the 3,200. Both competitors look to be in state contention in their respective Montana High School Class C, and MHSA Class A state competitions.

Smith captures first in the 110-meter hurdles

Charlo High School Vikings track and field competitor Landers Smith is known for his ability to be a leader on the football field. Over the last four years, Smith has propelled Charlo into major MHSA Class C, 8-man football competitions, and his athletic prowess also allowed him to receive a football scholarship with Montana Tech University, an NAIA school, but Smith also excels in both track and field events.

Smith captured first in the 110 meter hurdles, recording a time of 16.27.

Couture captures the 300 meter hurdles

Ronan High School’s Zarec Couture captured first in the 300 meter hurdles recording a time of 46.84.

Pirates relay teams dominate

The Polson Pirates 4X100 relay team and the 4X400 relay team both captured first at the Lake County track meet Thursday afternoon at Polson High School.

The 4X100 relay team consisting of Dugan Davis, Wall-Wilbert, Wenderoth and Toth captured a first-place finish with a time of 45.60.

The 4X400 relay team that included Ethan McCauley, Quin Stewart, Wall-Wilber and Boston Goode captured first with a time of 3:38.93.

Lynch dominates throwing events

Ronan High School junior Landon Lynch captured first in both the shot put and discus events at the Lake County Invitational.

Lynch, who recorded a throw of 42 feet, 4.25 inches to win shot put, also set a personal record in the discus with a throw of 129-04, another first-place finish for the talented thrower who will look to carry his momentum into the MHSA Class A postseason portion of track.

Stringer showcases leaping ability

Arlee High School jumper Garrett Stringer, a junior for the Warriors, got to display his athletic potential in front of the home crowd of the Mission Valley. Stringer captured first in the high jump recording a height of 5-08, and the long jump with a length of 19-03.50 for back-to-back first-place finishes.

Other track competitors who shined in the Mission Valley events include thrower Jonathan Perez, who set a personal record in the javelin recording a throw of 145-09.

Pole vaulter Jarod Farrier cleared a height of 12-06 en route to a first-place finish. Pirates Ryker Wenderoth is known for his accolades on the gridiron, but it’s his overall athleticism that makes him formidable. Wenderoth placed first in the triple jump, clearing a cumulative distance of 38-05.