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.