fbpx

Track Roundup: Hill Runs Sub-5 in 1,600, Plains’ Holmes Launches Discus

This Saturday is the Archie Roe Invitational meet at Legends Stadium

By Dillon Tabish
Glacier freshman Annie Hill. Beacon File Photo

Annie Hill officially joined the elite sub-5 club last week.

The Glacier freshman became just the ninth high school girl in Montana history to break the 5-minute barrier in the 1,600-meter race. At the 17th annual Russ Pilcher Top 10 track meet in Missoula on April 21, Hill clocked 4:51.35, 11 seconds better than the previous meet record. Only nine other girls have ever ran sub-5 in the 1,600, according to Montana High School Association record books.

Hill’s time was the third fastest ever. Makena Morley ran 4:50 at last year’s Western B divisional meet and Chiara Warner of Townsend set a new all-class state record at the state meet in 2013 with 4:48.24. Last week Billings Senior’s Christina Aragon also ran sub-5, clocking 4:59.90.

Amazingly enough, Hill’s time last week wasn’t even her personal best. As an eighth grader, she ran 4:48.

Also of note, Hill had an impressive race with another freshman phenom, Bryn Morley of Bigfork, last weekend. The two girls went step-for-step in the 800-meter race at the Whitefish A.R.M. and Morley edged Hill by less than one second, 2:11.32 to 2:11.96. Both girls broke the meet record of 2:19.56 previously held by Bigfork’s Brooke Andrus. Morley’s time is the fastest in Montana, ahead of Aragon’s 2:11.48. The Class B state record is 2:10.52, held by Warner. The all-class state record is 2:08.31, held by Aragon’s sister, Danielle.

Morley also set a new top time in Class B time in the 400, running 58.86 last weekend. Aragon holds the top overall time with 57.62.

Here’s a breakdown of the other local tracksters who are standing out in the field of athletes:

Kayla Holmes of Plains is the top discus thrower in the state after last weekend. Holmes threw 145-6 to win the A.R.M. meet. Her toss would set a new Class B state record if it were at the state meet. Larry Jo Christensen holds the top mark of 137-10, set in 1993. The all-class state mark is 154-10, set by Polson’s Bree Fuqua in 1999. Holmes broke Fuqua’s meet record at A.R.M.

Bigfork’s Logan Morley has the top time in state in the 3,200, 9:34.74. Morley achieved the impressive mark at the Top 10 meet, which he won. Flathead’s Sylas Schutt has the third fastest time in Class AA in the 3,200, 9:37.37.

Flathead’s Jess Beaman still holds the best marks in the state in both the long jump and triple jump. Beaman has reached 22-0 feet in the long jump and 44-9 feet in the triple jump.

Whitefish’s Jed Nagler remains the best high jumper in the state. He has hit 6-6. Troy’s Sean Opland ranks third overall and No. 1 in Class B with 6-4. Bigfork’s Josh Sandry is next with 6-3.

Whitefish’ Luke May took over the top spot in the javelin at last weekend’s ARM Invitational in his hometown. The defending state champ threw 199-6, taking over the top spot from Tyler Olsen of Corvallis, who tossed 197-1.

Glacier’s Keyawna Larson, the two-time defending state champ, has the top overall throw in the javelin, 141-11.

Hailey Phillips of Plains has the top Class B time in the 200-meter dash. Phillips ranks first overall in the 300-meter hurdles, 44.21, and second in Class B in the 100-meter hurdles, 15.28.

Samantha Mundel of Columbia Falls holds the top Class A time and third best mark overall in the 1,600, 5:08.45. Flathead’s Gillian Maness ranks third in Class AA and fourth overall, 5:09.77.

Autrey Hannum of Thompson Falls ranks third overall and second in Class B in the long jump, 17-1.5. Hannum also ranks first in Class B and third overall in the high jump, 5-5.

Carla Nicosia of Columbia Falls is second in Class A in the triple jump with 36-4.5.

Melanie Gassaway of Glacier is second in Class AA in the shot put, 39-8.

Flathead’s Jake Perrin narrowly ranks second overall in the state in the 1,600 with a time of 4:23.77. Belgrade’s Jonathan Eastwood holds the top time, 4:23.32. Flathead’s Schutt is third, 4:26.45.

This Saturday is the Archie Roe Invitational meet at Legends Stadium.

For a complete breakdown of track times from across the state, visit Montanatrack.com.