Thinclads at Polson Time Trials on Saturday

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls High School has a bevy of athletes out for track and field for the 2008 season, and is loaded with youth.

There were 120 athletes in workouts this week, preparing for the season opener Saturday at Polson — since last Saturday's Columbia Falls Invite was canceled due to snow and cold weather. Of the 120, there are 50 freshman and sophomore boys, and 40 girls from those classes.

"We're a very young team, both boys and girls," second-year head coach Jamie Heinz said Tuesday, lamenting heavy graduation losses. "How we're going to be is an unknown."

He coaches the jumpers. Heinz's assistants are Wes Knutson, pole vault and relays; Kati Knutson, sprints and hurdles; Steve Gasche, distances; and Jessica Falcon, throws.

Senior sprinter Scott Palmer will be depended upon to score some points for the Wildcat boys. He was on the state champion 4-by-100-meter relay team last season. He also runs the 100 and 200 and is a long jumper.

"A lot of our success will depend on how he does," Heinz said. "He's a big cog in our team."

Heinz also has high expectations for senior Chase Fairbank. He cleared 6 feet, 2 inches in the high jump at divisionals, but did not quality for state. The six best Class A jumpers in the state were in Columbia Falls' conference.

"He's using that as motivation," Heinz said.

The Cats has a strong distance crew, led by Patric Jessat, Shawn Whitman and Tripp Gimbel. The will all run the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 this season.

Leading the way for the boys in the discus and shot put is senior Nathan Klug.

Senior Emily Stoltze is the lone returning state place-winner for the Wildkat girls. She was fifth in the pole vault in 2007, and also run both hurdle events at state. Senior Sam Ladenburg qualified for state in the shot and discus.

Jylisa Fields performs in the long jump and 4x100 relay and fellow senior Colyne Hislop is in the long jump, triple jump and relays. Junior Ketti Wilhelm competes in the high jump, pole vault and 4x100, and Alyssa Ladenburg, another junior, is in the long jump, triple jump and 4x100.

"Early in the season we want to refine our technique and skills and build a good foundation," Heinz said. "We need to find out who we are and where we can be our best."

The Whitefish girls are expected to dominate in the conference, while the Polson and Whitefish boys will be tough, along with defending state champion Libby.