Bigfork track delivers strong performances in Triangular

Bigfork athletes stood tall during a competitive home triangular meet with Whitefish and Columbia Falls on Thursday, May 1.

The Bigfork boys sprinters made a strong showing in the 100 meters with Quinn Kerr placing sixth in 11.63 seconds and Tayden West close behind in seventh at 11.69. In the 200 meters, West led Bigfork with a third-place finish (23.65), while Francisco Zavala (27.85) and Zaiden Ruebling (28.51) also competed.

In the 400 meters, Sean Cotman ran a personal-best 54.05 to place third, and teammate Coulter Jessop clocked 1:01.73 for eighth. Austin Savik continued his dominance in the 110-meter hurdles with a first-place finish in 15.72. Bigfork did not field athletes in the distance events, but held their own in relays.

The boys 4x100 relay team of Treker Hickey, Alex Ochs, Zavala, and Dextor Anderson finished fourth with a 49.13. The 4x400 team of Reece Stanhope, Ochs, Fisher Sliter, and Ty Anderson placed second in 3:56.46. Bigfork’s SMR 1600 squad won the event in 3:52.16, while their B and C teams finished second (4:01.22) and third (4:03.86), respectively.

In field events, Bigfork shined in throws and jumps. Henry Carlson (42'4") and Trent Scherfenburg (42'0") placed second and third in shot put, followed by Treven Hall (39'11") and Vander Barnes (38'7.5"). In discus, Hall threw 121'9" for fourth, with Carlson (111'4"), Scherfenburg (109'1"), and Barnes (104'9") rounding out a strong group.

Treker Hickey won the javelin with a throw of 141'10", and AJ Gembala and Callen Ballard also competed. In the high jump, Tamret Savik cleared 6'0" to win the event. Bigfork swept four of the top six spots with Noah Pandina (J5'10"), Ochs (J5'8"), and Austin Savik (J5'8") following.

In the pole vault, Lance Peterson cleared 11'0" for sixth, and Gembala (7'6") and Ballard (8'0") also contributed. The Vikings showed dominance in the long jump as well, with Pandina winning at 19'4.5", followed by Kerr (19'1"), Stanhope (18'11.5"), and Lucke (18'7"). Savik also won the triple jump with a leap of 44'7.5", while Ochs (35'4.5") and Stanhope (35'1") rounded out the top five.

Bigfork’s girls turned in several strong performances led by Sofie Albiero, who placed third in the 100 meters (13.39) and won the 300-meter hurdles in 51.45. Olivia Carlson (13.89) and Somer Campos (14.10) also posted top-10 finishes. In the 200 meters, Charlotte Christ (31.40) and Sasha Steyee (31.61) finished third and fourth.

Kenley Wheeler took fifth in the 400 (1:12.51). In the 100-meter hurdles, Mickie Anderson placed second (18.33) and Colbie Sullivan was fourth (22.61). Anderson (56.86) and Sullivan (1:01.84) also placed top-seven in the 300-meter hurdles.

In relays, Bigfork’s A 4x100 team of Anderson, Campos, Peyton Benson, and Albiero placed third in 53.93, while the B team took fifth in 58.18. Bigfork’s A 4x400 squad of Emmry Hansen, Benson, Hadley Nollan, and Shannon Woll won the event in 4:37.28.

Millie Hall claimed first in the shot put with a throw of 34'9". Angela Farrier placed fourth (26'0"), and Sadie Panek (22'10.5") also threw well. In discus, Aspen Britt won with a personal-best 93'0", and Hall followed in third (84'1"). Madison Roland (66'4") and Panek (62'0") rounded out a solid showing.

In javelin, Britt threw 87'6" for third, and Ava Barrett (79'0") and Madison Roland (67'0") added to the point total. Farrier (61'6") and Alexandra Cash (62'6") also competed.

In jumps, Lillie Suffia placed second in the long jump at 14'3.75", followed by Campos (14'2.75"), Benson (13'5"), and Christ (13'1.75"). Krack and Suffia also posted marks in triple jump. Shannon Woll (7'6") and Angela Farrier (7'0") cleared solid marks in pole vault.

Bigfork Athletes Earn Top Finishes at Archie Roe

Competing against top athletes from across western Montana, several Bigfork competitors earned top-10 finishes at the prestigious Archie Roe Invitational, held Friday and Saturday at Legends Stadium.

The Valkyries' 4x100-meter relay team led the way on the track, placing 9th overall with a time of 53.10 seconds. The girls 4x400-meter relay also placed just outside the top ten, taking 11th.

In the field events, Bigfork’s Cami Gardner cleared 4 feet, 10 inches in the high jump to tie for 7th place, a strong mark against a large field. Valerie Bowman added a top-10 finish in the pole vault, tying for 8th by clearing 8 feet even.