Polson, Ronan heat up at Iceberg Invite
The April 17 Iceberg Invite in Columbia Falls brought together dozens of western Montana’s top track and field athletes, and competitors from Lake County were right in the mix, picking up event wins, personal bests, and strong team finishes.
Ronan’s boys team placed an impressive fourth overall, while athletes from Polson and Charlo added key performances across sprints, mid-distance, and the field events.
Astin Brown and Polson throwers dominate ring
Polson senior Astin Brown once again proved why he’s one of the best throwers in the state. Brown unleashed a massive throw of 61-2.5 to win the boys shot put and set a new personal record. He followed up with a PR of 165-5 in the discus, taking second to Columbia Falls’ Lane Voermans in a showdown between two of Montana’s top power throwers.
Teammate Jerium Rushing added depth with a personal-best 40-9.5 in the shot put (8th) and sixth in discus (121-1), continuing a strong spring season.
In the jumps, freshman Luke Horner cleared a personal-best 5-8 in the high jump to place sixth, showing promising form in his first varsity season. Horner also placed 8th in the 800 meters (2:10.52 PR), continuing to build mid-distance depth for the Pirates.
Sophomore Keira Owen provided a highlight for the Lady Pirates, taking third in the 400 meters with a time of 1:07.57, a new personal best. Piper Adams added a 7th-place shot put mark of 28-5.5 to round out scoring for the Polson girls.
Ronan hits multiple podiums
Ronan senior Wade Qualtier had one of the strongest all-around performances at the meet. He won the 300-meter hurdles in 42.56 (season best), took second in the long jump (20-3.5 PR), placed eighth in high jump, and was tenth in the 100 meters — a full day of scoring across multiple disciplines.
Qualtier also anchored Ronan’s 4x400-meter relay team, which finished second in 3:35.28, joined by Jhett McDonald, Jacob Piapot, and Tayen Edmo.
Ronan’s distance team made a statement in the 800 and 3200 meters. Sophomore William Normandeau (2:06.71 PR) and senior Jacob Piapot (2:07.25 season best) went 5-6 in the 800, while junior Devon Bigmedicine placed second in the 3200 (10:46.59) and fifth in the 1600 (5:07.06). Benjamin Running Rabbit added a fifth-place finish in the 3200 (11:23.09 PR), while Saellah Nomee chipped in scoring for the girls with a PR in the 100 hurdles (21.10) and sixth in the 300 hurdles (54.89).
Ronan’s girls 4x100 relay also placed fourth (55.35), with Sophia Torgison, Destiny Finley, Alexis Finley, and Lauryn Buhr combining for a strong team showing.
Destiny Finley had an individual highlight as well, placing fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a PR of 54.40, while junior Annie Adams followed in seventh (55.23).
Sophomore Zailee Hewankorn had a busy day in the throws, taking 4th in shot put (29-4.5 PR) and 10th in discus (87-9). Junior Maddy Illig added a 10th-place finish in the long jump (14-0.25), setting a season best.