After 41 years, the Archie Roe Invitational has developed a long-standing reputation as a premier showcase of high school track and field and a preview of state championship contenders.
Last weekend’s latest edition didn’t disappoint. The Flathead Valley’s rich track tradition is alive and well.
The Flathead Braves, the reigning state champs in Class AA, ran away with the boys team title among 12 teams at Archie Roe on May 7, propelled by multi-winner Keaton Krantz and distance standout Jake Perrin. The Glacier girls, who are poised to be a top contender for a team trophy at state in the coming weeks, earned top honors, led by sophomore phenom Annie Hill. The Bigfork girls, top contenders in Class B, and the Columbia Falls boys, chasing gold in the Class A ranks, also flexed their muscles last weekend.
The track season is poised for another exciting finish as the final weeks commence. Many local teams will travel to Polson this weekend for one of the final regular-season competitions while Class B teams will compete at the district meet, May 14. The Western AA Divisional meet is in Helena while the Northwestern A Divisional meet is in Frenchtown, May 20-21. The Western B and C Divisional Meet is May 20 in Missoula. Then the season concludes with the Class AA and Class C state meets in Missoula and the Class A and Class B meets in Bozeman, May 27-28.
Based on the performances at Archie Roe last weekend, the Flathead Valley is once again loaded with talent and in contention for top trophies.
On a sunburst Saturday in Kalispell, Hill blazed to victory in both the 1600 (4:52.46) and the 3200 (10:31.74), continuing her all-time great pace that puts her in contention for state trophies and records.
The local long-distance tradition is rich as always this spring. The night before racing, Perrin talked on the phone with his older brother, Zach, a former state champion runner who is now continuing his success at the University of Colorado.
Zach urged his brother to set a goal: break his meet record in the 3200.
Jake followed his brother’s advice and came away with his name in the record books. The senior clocked 9:13.00 to narrowly edge Zach’s meet record of 9:13.29, set in 2013.
“I felt good going into it,” Jake said. “The last 200 was rough. I’m glad I got (the record).”
Perrin’s time is the fastest in Montana this season. The all-class state record is 9:12.38, set by Hellgate’s Adam Peterman in 2013.
Bigfork senior Logan Morley, a standout in his own right with state title aspirations in Class B, finished second in the 3200 with a time of 9:25.91. Morley’s time is the fastest in Class B this spring and also broke his own school record. Flathead freshman Ben Perrin, Jake’s younger brother, placed third in 9:45.32.
In the boys 1600 race, Morley emerged victorious, running an impressive 4:17.81, the fastest time in Class B this spring. It also broke a 40-year-old school record held by Bruce Ross since 1976 (4:23.7).
Flathead’s Krantz came away victorious in both the long jump (20-10.5) and triple jump (42-6.25). Flathead’s Josh McCracken won the shot put (50-6), Micah Bucy won the high jump (6-3) and Jaden Anderson won the 800 (1:58.64).
When it comes to defending their state title, the Braves will have stiff competition from the east side of the state; Billings Senior and West both boast talented squads alongside Helena.
The Glacier boys should be in contention, too. Wolfpack senior Aaron Robinson remains one of the top hurdlers and sprinters in the state. He won the 110 hurdles on Saturday (14.57) and the 200-meter dash (22.88). He ranks second best in AA in the 300 hurdles and third best in the 110 hurdles. He also ran a leg on the short relay team that set a new meet record on Saturday. The Glacier boys — Robinson, Scout Willcut, Ethan Larson and Drew Turner — ran 42.86, breaking the 2002 record of 42.90 held by Missoula Hellgate. The boys’ time ranks first in Montana.
Willcut won the 300 hurdles (40.41) and ran a leg on the winning long relay along with Tim Chalfant, Tyler Combs and Elijah Boyd (3:28.94). The boys’ time ranks fourth best in Montana. Larson also won the 100-meter dash (11.30).
“I’m really looking forward to divisionals and state. We’ve got a lot of good kids and were just keeping a positive attitude,” Robinson said. “It’s going to be a great finish.”
In Class B, the Bigfork girls look ready to bring home another team trophy from state for the first time since 1992. The Vals are led by Bryn Morley and Anya Young in the distance races, Haile Norred in the sprints and Mattison McAnally in the hurdles.
In the Class A ranks, the Columbia Falls boys are a favorite to bring home gold. Tanner Dana is a podium contender in the 100, 200 and 400, while also running on the short relay and long relay. On Saturday, the Wildcats’ short relay team narrowly missed a school record, running 43.87. The old record is 43.84. Both relay teams rank second in Class A. Also, Logan Kolodejchuk ranks high in the triple jump and javelin, Kyler Burns has all-state potential in the high jump and Dakota Bridwell is a top thrower in the javelin.
Whitefish senior Luke May is entering the final weeks of his senior track season with another state title on the mind. He won Archie Roe with a throw of 199-2, just shy of his season-best 205-4, the top mark in Montana and the seventh best in the nation. The all-class state record is 213-4, set in 2005 by Nate Bache, and the Class A state record is 212-1, set by Blaine Baker in 2005.
“It will be fun to see what happens at state,” he said.