Thinclads shine at Archie Roe

By JOE SOVA / Hungry Horse News

Columbia Falls track and field coaches knew it was just a matter of time before Nathan Klug would get untracked.

The Wildcat senior unleashed a throw of 156 feet, 5 inches to capture the discus title at the Archie Roe Invitational on Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell. That was a personal best by nearly 10 feet.

Klug threw very well in the A.R.M. Invitational the previous Saturday, but all three of his throws sailed out of the sector.

How did Klug overcome the obstacle?

"He said he got angry," CFHS head coach Jamie Heinz said. "Things just came together for him. He had a great series (of throws)."

Teamwise, the Wildcat boys finished in 11th place, scoring 22 points, with personal records nearly across the board.

Chase Fairbank was third in the high jump (6-1). Heinz said the senior's legs were tired after hard workouts last week.

Steven Brennan placed fourth in the javelin (167-11, a PR). Austin Roberts was fifth in the triple jump (40-1/2, PR).

"That was very nice to watch him do that," Heinz said. "To hit that mark on tired legs is outstanding."

The Cats' 1,600-meter relay quartet did not place at the Archie Roe, but had the best time of the season. John Woody, Michael Kruse, Steven Brennan and Kaleb Johnson ran the legs of the race. Patric Jessat is the other Cat vying for a spot on the squad.

The CFHS 400 relay team had one "ugly" handoff and had a sub-par time, according to Heinz.

Junior Ketti Wilhelm led the Wildkat girls to seventh place at the Archie Roe Invite. The team scored 25 1/3 points. As did the boys, most of the CFHS girls turned in personal bests.

Wilhelm earned third in the pole vault at 9 feet, and tied for sixth in the high jump (4-11).

"She had a great day," Heinz said. "I was very happy with her."

Ashli Fairbank ran "awesome" in the 800. Her third-place time of 2:28.96 was a PR by eight seconds.

Colyne Hislop was third in the triple jump with a leap of 33-2 1/4, a PR by nearly a foot.

Emily Stoltz, Wilhelm, Alyssa Ladenburg and Sophis Lewis-Peterson teamed for fourth in the 400 relay (53.47). Stoltz placed fifth in the pole vault (9-0). Ladenburg was sixth in the long jump (15-1 1/2, PR).

"As a team, I walked out of there very encouraged with where we are," Heinz said, "where we compare in the conference. I'm very excited about the next couple of weeks."

CFHS hosts Class AA Glacier in a non-scoring dual meet Thursday (May 8). The field events start at 3:30 p.m. and the first running event begins at 4 p.m. The Polson ABC Meet is on Saturday's (May 10) slate.

"We're trying to get them used to a two-day track meet," Heinz said, adding that athletes won't compete in all their events on both days. "It will be pretty scattered in events."