C-Falls boys second at A.R.M. Meet; Wildkats tie for seventh

Propelled by strong scoring in the distance events, Columbia Falls earned second place in the boys division of the 11th annual A.R.M. Invitational on a pleasant Saturday in Whitefish.

Class AA Glacier took the team title in the 16-school meet, scoring 106 points. C-Falls was runner-up with 71 1/2. Plains, a Class B power, was third with 55, followed by Whitefish with 53, Polson 48, Flathead and Libby 40 and Bigfork 27.

In the girls division, C-Falls tied for seventh with Havre, each scoring 23 points. Glacier eased to the team crown with 140 points. Polson had 92, Whitefish 61, Cut Bank 60 and Bigfork 31.

SENIOR KETTI Wilhelm provided the highlight for the Wildkats. She broke the meet record in the pole vault by clearing the bar at 10 feet. The meet mark of 9-6 was set by Kelsey Smith of Columbia Falls in 2003, and tied the next year by Sarah Hislop of Havre.

The C-Falls boys had three place winners in the 400-meter dash. Patric Jessat was third (52.70), Derrick Williams fourth (52.78) and Kaleb Johnson sixth (53.96).

Jessat had an excellent meet, also placing third in the 1,600 (4:47.50).

Michael Kruse ran very well in the 800, finishing second (2:08.66). Freshman Justin Whitman had a solid outing in the 1,600, coming in second (4:47.46).

Shawn Whitman placed third in the 3,200 (10:36.12). Tim Chopper was fourth in the 800 (2:10.14).

Senior sprinter Stephen Baumgartner found tough competition at the A.R.M. Invitational. He was third in the 100 (11.19) and sixth in the 200 (23.31).

Joel Ballard scored in two events, coming in third in the pole vault, clearing 12 feet, 6 inches, and sixth in the 100 (11.33).

Kyle Howell placed fourth in the high jump (6-2). In the triple jump, Jake Haverkorn was fifth (40-1) and Nate Thompson sixth (40-0).

The Wildcats had a solid outing in the 1,600 relay, placing second (3:38.50).

McKENZIE REEVE scored in two events for the C-Falls girls. The junior earned fourth in the 300 hurdles (50.40) and sixth in the 100 (13.04).

Kayla DeWit placed sixth in the high jump (4-8), and teammate Alyssa Ladenburg was sixth in the long jump (14-9 1/4).

C-Falls was fourth in the 1,600 relay (4:27.00) and fifth in the 400 relay (53.04).