C-Falls thinclads win 21 of 32 events versus Libby

Columbia Falls won 11 boys events and 10 in girls competition in a dual against Libby on Tuesday at the CFHS track and field facility. It was a non-scoring meet, and places were awarded for the first four finishers in each event.

In the boys division, the Wildcats went 1-2-3-4 in three events, the 200-meter dash, 300 hurdles and triple jump. C-Falls took the first three places in the 1,600, and went 1-2 in both relays.

Stephen Baumgartner won one event for the Wildcats and tied for first in another. The Wildcat senior won the 200 with a time of 23.67. He tied with teammate Dean Phillips for first in the 100 in 11.4.

Shawn Whitman led a 1-2-3 finish for C-Falls by winning the 1,600 in 5:01.3. He nipped teammate Patric Jessat by two-tenths of a second for top honors. Justin Whitman was third, just a half-second behind Jessat.

Michael Kruse ran to first place in the 800 (2:21.7), and second in the high hurdles (19.19) and 400 (56.02). Other Wildcat event winners were Joe Gross in the 400 (55.9), Brandon Calvert in the pole vault (12-0), Mike Macijunas in the shot put (41-4), Derrick Williams in the triple jump (39-4) and Joel Ballard in the long jump (18-8 3/4). Gross was second in the 200 (23.8), and Calvert placed second in the long jump (17-2 3/4).

C-Falls was first and second in the 400 relay (44.52, 48.10) and 1,600 relay (3:39.2, 3:47.4).

At the Missoula County Invitational last Saturday, Phillips was fifth in the 100 (11.64). Placing eighth were Kaleb Johnson in the 400 and Kyle Howell in the high jump (6-0). Shawn Whitman, Johnson, Williams and Jacob Hader teamed for eight in the 1,600 relay with a season-best time of 3:38.

Nathan Thompson had a great day in the javelin, throwing 161 feet, and also had his best triple jump of the season. Macijunas threw well in the shot put and discus.

The Wildcats tied for sixth at Saturday's Bigfork Invitational. Jessat was second in the 800 and 1,600, and fourth in the 200. Kruse placed fourth in the 800, Billy Gross fifth in the 200 and Joe Gross sixth in the 800. C-Falls was third in the 1,600 relay.

For the C-Falls girls in the Libby dual, the Wildkats went 1-2-3-4 in three events and 1-2-3 in three others.

Earning wins were Iesha Holloway in the 100 (14.4); McKenzie Reeve, 110 hurdles (18.26); Jinise Osborne, 1,600 (6:50.2); Tianna Burns, 400 (1:05.35); Ashli Fairbank, 800 (2:49.7); Kelsey DeWit, high jump (4-10); McKenzie Kiser, long jump (13-6); and Ketti Wilhelm, pole vault (9-0). C-Falls was first in the 400 and 1,600 relay.

Cami Casazza placed second in the 110 hurdles (20.65) and 300 hurdles (52.9). Wilhelm was second in the high jump (4-10) and Kiser was second in the 200 (29.17).

Wilhelm placed fourth in the pole vault at the Missoula County Invitational at 9 feet. She was eighth in the high jump (4-10). Kelsey DeWit was eighth in the high jump. The C-Falls 400 relay team was eighth with Sophia Lewis-Peterson, Cedar Jordt, Alyssa Ladenburg and Reeve.

C-Falls athletes compete in the Libby Invitational on Saturday.