Wilhelm leads CFHS thinclads at A.R.M. Meet

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Led by junior Ketti Wilhelm, the Columbia Falls High School girls finished eighth in the A.R.M Invitational on Saturday (April 26) in Whitefish. Wilhelm was the winner of the pole vault and was second in the high jump.

Glacier took the team title with 107.14 points. Malta (77), Whitefish (72), Hamilton (68) and Columbia Falls (66) rounded out the top five. Following were Superior with 34, Eureka 31.14, Havre 26, Shelby and Noxon 14, Ronan-St. Ignatius 7.28, Libby 6.28 and Two Eagle River 2.

Brandon Calvert tied for third in the pole vault and sprinter Scott Palmer placed in two events for the Wildcat boys, who were eighth. Havre was the boys champion with 100 points. Then came Hamilton (87.33, Whitefish (69.5), Eureka (58.5), Glacier (53), Libby (49), Malta (43), Columbia Falls (22), Superior (18), Plains (11), Ronan-St. Ignatius (10) and Shelby (6).

The Wildkat girls scored 47 of their 66 points in field events.

Wilhelm won the pole vault, clearing 9 feet. She was second in the high jump at 4-10. Colyne Hislop earned second in the triple jump at 32-2 1/2, a season's best. Emily Stoltz was third in the pole vault (8-6), tied for third in the high jump (4-10) and was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles (17.06).

Stoltz, Wilhelm, Alyssa Ladenburg and Sophia Lewis-Peterson teamed for second in the 400 relay. Their season-best time was 53.03.

Ashli Fairbank placed third in the 800 (2:36.96). Sam Ladenburg was fourth in the shot put (33-4 1/2) and fifth in the discus (85-0). Anna Downen placed fourth in the discus (88-9 1/2). Lewis-Peterson was sixth in the 200 (28.0), and Kelsey DeWitt tied for sixth in the high jump (4-8).

The Kats competed again without Jylisa Fields, who is sidelined with a knee injury.

Calvert had a personal best of 11 feet while tying for third in the pole vault at the A.R.M. Invite. Palmer was fourth in the 200 (23.44) and fifth in the 100 (11.59). Both were season's bests.

Dean Phillips was fourth in the triple jump (39-8 1/2), and Chase Fairbank was fourth in the high jump (6-0). Phillips, Fairbank, Palmer and John Woody ran the legs of the Cats' 400 relay squad, which placed fifth (45.75). Woody, Shawn Whitman, Kaleb Johnson and Steven Brennan teamed for sixth in the 1,600 relay (3:46.25). Whitman was sixth in the 800 in a time of 2:09.70, close to his personal best.

CFHS coach Jamie Heinz said that Johnson ran very well in the 400, clocking a time of 54.7.

"That's really awesome for a freshman," the coach said.

According to Heinz, Nathan Klug threw the discus "amazingly well," but could not get any of his three throws inside the sector.

"They were way out there," Heinz said of the throws.

Since the CFHS track and field teams are so young, all but a few athletes competed in the Whitefish JV Meet on Tuesday (April 29). The meet was hampered by rain and cold temperatures, and slippery conditions, according to Heinz. Due to those conditions, the CFHS teams left before the meet was over.

As many as 1,800 thinclads are expected to be at Legends Stadium in Kalispell on Saturday (May 3) for the Archie Roe Invitational, which begins at 10 a.m. There will be varsity, JV and freshman divisions for boys and girls.