Local track athletes back in the medal hunt
Despite being one of the best prep runners in the country, Glacier junior Annie Hill has had a road block in front of the gold medal at Class AA state track and field meet the last two years.
Hill, one of the fastest runners in state history, has been stuck behind Billings Senior graduate Christina Aragon. Aragon, now a freshman at Stanford University, won six of the seven races Hill has entered in her short career, Hill only able to beat her two years ago in the 3,200 at Legends Stadium.
This season, as the tournament starts on Friday in Butte, the Wolfpack phenom is way out front, but not so far she can’t be caught.
Hill holds the state’s top times in the 800-, 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and has the second fastest time in the 400. She should be pushed in the distances, however, from another Senior standout, cross country champion sophomore Tiahna Vladic, and Bozeman’s Camila Noe. In the middle distances, West’s Maddie Brockel is the only Class AA runner to eclipse Hill’s times in the 400 and Sentinel’s Madeline Hamilton is within reach in the 800.
Hill will be running five events at the state tournament, including the 1,600 relay.
Glacier seniors Brynn McChesney and Nikki Krueger are back to defend their state titles. Krueger won the discus title last year and is again near the top of Class AA in the event, with the second best throw in the class this year, and has been the best shot putter in any class. McChesney isn’t at the top of the long jump distances this year, but will be in the event with a chance to conjure up another title.
Flathead sophomore Madde Boles is one of the top high jumpers in the class.
The Glacier boys have won most of the events they’ve entered this season and will be one of the favorites to capture the team title, based heavily on its sprinters.
Wolfpack junior Drew Turner won both the 100 and 200 at the Western AA divisional and along with teammate Ethan Larson is one of the favorites in the event. With those two powering the team, the Glacier 400 relay has won the last two state titles and has the fastest time in the state yet again. Senior Scout Willcut has been a member of the two previous championship teams and is back for a chance at a third title.
Flathead’s strength in the boys races comes in the distances, where senior Jaden Anderson and sophomore Ben Perrin have been at the top of the standings all season. Perrin’s brother, Jake, set all-class records in the 1,600 and 3,200 last season.
Braves juniors Chad Hemsley and Dawson Rinehart have leapfrogged back and forth all season in the 300 hurdles, with Hemsley setting the fastest time in the state last week at the divisional meet.
Glacier’s Hunter Nicholson and Flathead’s Micah Bucy are also in contention for medals in the jumps.
Glacier swept the top three podium spots in the javelin at divisional, with senior Tadan Gilman near the top of the standings all season.
Class B
On the same track, in a different tournament, the Bigfork girls will try to close the gap on last season’s second place finish to claim the first state title in 15 years.
The Valkyries are among the favorites to win this season with strengths everywhere..
Junior Haile Norred has the top times in the class in the 200 and 400 and is near the top in the 100. Junior Bryn Morley has the top times in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 with sophomore Anya Young holding the second-best times in the two longer distances. The Vals also have the top times in both relays and a divisional winner in pole vault with senior Gabby Eaton, who has the second-best height in the state after clearing 10 feet two weeks ago.
Libby’s Emily Mossburg has powered a Logger team that could do some damage in its last year in Class B. She is one of the top high jumpers in the state with fast times in the 200 and 400 and runs on two relay teams that have pushed Bigfork this season.
Eureka’s Mckay Guckenberg, Tyann Totten and Kaylee Kronsperger also have a chance to make some noise at the meet.
The Eureka boys, already winners in football and wrestling this season, are strong in the field this season with a chance at some individual titles to go with this year’s championship haul.
Ronan’s Jackson Duffey has some of the top distance times this seaosn, including the top time in the 800. Libby’s Brian Peck has been one of the state’s top hurdlers.
Class A
The Columbia Falls boys are strong across the board and will have a chance at the team title when competition gets underway in Laurel on Friday. Sidney and Dillon will have tough teams.
Wildcats senior Sage Wanner is the top distance runner in the class and Dakota Bridwell has the best distance in the javelin.
Polson’s Matthew Rensvold, Danny DiGiallonardo and Connor Lanier also have posted top times this season as has Whitefish’s Alex Barker in the high jump.
Polson’s Bea Frissell is a contender in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 as is Columbia Falls’ Kimberly Peacock.
Whitefish’s Lauren Schulz and Lydia Kryshak should compete in the springs and Columbia Falls’ Angellica Street enters with one of the top marks in the javelin.
Both meets start Friday and conclude on Saturday.