Track team anticipates competition

By FAITH MOLDAN / Bigfork Eagle

Bigfork High School's track and field teams and coaches were eagerly awaiting the official start of the season Monday.

The teams, practicing regularly despite recent snow and rain, have yet to compete. Their first meet in Columbia Falls was cancelled due to weather. Bigfork was scheduled to compete in Kalispell on Tuesday, April 8, before hosting Saturday's Bigfork Invitational and the Bigfork Relays on April 15.

"We've still been able to practice OK," Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said. "It's a good group of kids that work really hard."

Dilligently working for the Vikes and Vals are a number of returning athletes. Many of them have added new events to their efforts.

Andrew Whittaker and Charlene Miller return in the 100 meter dash this season. Whittaker will also run the 200 and compete in long jump. Both are new events for him. Brittany Hall will also compete in long jump, as well as the 300 hurdles. She competed in both events last year.

Taylor Schiltz is set to try her hand, or feet as it would be, at the 300 hurdles. She will also compete in pole vault.

Kayla Carlson returns for Bigfork in the 800.

"It was something new for her last year," Loeffler said. "This year she's doing all three (800, 1,600 and 3,200).

Hattie Bowen added sprints this season to go along with the high jump. The senior competed in the high jump last year as well.

Mixed in with the returning athletes is a large number of underclassmen and some upperclassmen that are new to track and field. This season, the number of boys competing is larger than the number of girls.

"We have some pretty good runners who are just new to track," Loeffler said.