Page 61 - Flathead Beacon // 5.20.2015

Kalispell is hosting the state championship track meet for only the second time ever.
Bigfork senior Makena Morley concludes her brilliant prep career this weekend.
FLATHEADBEACON.COM
TRACK AND FIELD STATE PREVIEW
MAY 20, 2015 | 61
In the B girls race, Makena Mor- ley could cap her brilliant prep career with one final milestone; the Class B state record is 10:35.85, set by Warner in 2013. Makena passed her sister, Bryn, at last weekend’s divisional, 10:36.59 to 10:45.99.
Watch for the Morley sisters’ broth- er, Logan, to lead the pack in the Class B boys race. Logan enters with the fastest time this spring (9:34.53).
110-METER HURDLES
Taylor Trollope of Billings Skyview is the runner to beat in the Class AA boys race (14.43). Gabe Susler, a fresh- man from Billings Senior (14.72), could be fast on his heels, along with Derrick Olsen of Helena (14.94).
Bryce Green of Townsend (15.24) will chase the tape in the B boys race against Neth of Manhattan (15.32).
100-METER HURDLES
Watch for Phillips of Plains to stand out as multi-event placer this weekend. Her 15.13 ranks among the best in the state for all classes. She’ll face stiff competi- tion from Alexa Archun of Manhattan (15.17) and Sophia Stiles of Malta (15.21).
In the AA ranks, Morgan Evans of Great Falls (15.10) could lead the pack, followed by Hailey Copinga of Billings Skyview (15.26).
300-METER HURDLES
Josh Barrows from Helena is in line to vie for the championship in the Class AA boys race with the top-ranked time entering this weekend (39.36). His best
competition could come from Trollope of Billings Skyview (39.65) and team- mate Nolan Davis (40.05).
Copinga from Billings Skyview is seeded No. 1 among Class AA girls (44.95). Several girls will be on her heels, including Big Sky’s Hannah Coburn (46.04), Great Falls’ Evans (46.21) and Helena’s Josey Smiedala (46.23).
Manhattan’s Neth is seeded No. 1 among B boys (39.64).
In the B girls race, it’s Phillips once again. The Plains senior and defending state champ has the fastest time for all classes (44.21).
400-METER RELAY
Helena has the fastest relay team in Montana for any class. The boys won the divisional title in 42.87, but five other AA boys teams are within one second, including Flathead and Glacier.
In the girls race, Big Sky (48.92), Bozeman (49.74) and Billings Skyview (49.78) should put on a show.
In the B ranks, the Manhattan boys are top ranked with 43.67 while the girls race will feature a strong Bigfork squad (51.36).
1600-METER RELAY
The final race of the weekend, this race will feature a nail biter between the Bill- ings West boys, Helena and Helena Capi- tal as the top-ranked teams.
On the girls side, Billings Senior (4:00.34) and Helena (4:01.37) could be neck and neck for gold. Glacier shouldn’t be far behind either.
In the B ranks, the Bigfork girls are
ranked No. 1 by over 10 seconds, 4:06.93. Manhattan leads the pack of Class B boys teams (3:26.51) ahead of Jefferson.
LONG JUMP
Flathead senior Jess Beaman is poised for a great weekend. He’s already landed 22-0, best among AA boys. Glacier’s Aus- tin Cook could be his top competition, (21-11.25).
Big Sky’s Porch has landed the top mark among AA girls (17-7.5).
The reigning champ for Class B boys, Neth of Manhattan is already ahead of last year. This spring he has hit 22-2.25, the best mark in Montana for all classes.
For B girls, Sophia Stiles from Malta has the best mark for all classes (17-8).
TRIPLE JUMP
Flathead’s Beaman is in line to contend for this title, too, among AA boys. The senior leads the state for all classes with a top jump of 44-11, nearly a foot ahead of his closest competitor.
Big Sky’s Porch leads the AA girls field with a top mark of 36-5.5, just ahead of Mims from Billings Senior (36-4.5).
In the B ranks, it’s again Stiles lead- ing the girls field with 37-6, best in Mon- tana. On the boys side, Tristin Gone of Harlem has hit 44-7, nearly two feet ahead of the next best competitor.
HIGH JUMP
Five AA boys have hit 6-3 or better, in- cluding Flathead’s Chade Gonter. Bill- ings Senior’s Keaton Anderson has the top mark (6-5), while Billings West’s Ethan Garrett has achieved 6-4.
Hailey Copinga of Billings Skyview and Deliahla Koch of Billings West rank atop the AA girls event. Both have sur- passed 5-5.
In the B boys event, Bigfork senior Josh Sandry will try to defend his title against stiff competition. The future Montana Grizzly football player has sur- passed 6-3 this spring, but Troy’s Op- land has jumped 6-4. Two other compet- itors — Connor Thorne of Florence and Javan Carroll of Conrad — have
also surpassed 6-3.
In the B girls event, sisters Autrey and Shey Hannum of Thompson Falls will square off in a sibling showdown.
POLE VAULT
Helena’s Chase Smith leads the state with 16-5. He broke a 2006 divisional record last weekend with 16-0.
In the AA girls field, Ash- ling Slevin of Bozeman won the divisional title with 12-1, tops in Montana.
Two boys are ahead of the field in Class B: Jake Gascon of Thompson Falls and Quinci Wittman of Huntley Projecy. Both have surpassed 13-6.
In the girls field, Alexa Ar- thun of Manhattan has the top mark, 10-0.
SHOT PUT
Zayne Babbit, a senior at Mis- soula Hellgate and defending
state champion for AA boys, leads Mon- tana with a throw of 59-1.25. Glacier’s Harrison Kauffman has hit 52-9.5.
For AA girls, it’s a similar story. The reigning state champ — Ashleigh Le- hotsky of Great Falls C.M. Russell — re- turns ranked No. 1 with a throw of 42-7.
In the B ranks, Alec Nehring of Man- hattan leads with a throw of 56-0, four feet better than the next best mark. For girls, it’s Kayla Holmes of Plains, who has tossed 41-4.75.
DISCUS
Plains’ Holmes has the potential for a state record in the B girls competition. She’s already landed 145-6. The Class B state record is 137-10, set by Larry Jo Christensen in 1993.
Babbitt of Hellgate is ranked No. 1 in the AA boys field with a dominating mark of 174-10.
For B boys, Nehring of Manhattan holds the best mark, 173-10. Bigfork’s Tyler Iverson has the next best, 159-3.
In the AA girls field, Madison Cicier- ski of Billings Senior enters as the top contender with 136-3, slightly ahead of teammate Hannah Nessan.
JAVELIN
Glacier senior Keyawna Larson is aim- ing for a third consecutive state cham- pionship and possible record in the AA girls event. She won the divisional title with a remarkable throw of 149-2. The AA state record is 143-7, set by Aly Wardell of Billings West in 2009.
In the B girls event, Kimberly Ear- hart of Plains will compete against other top competitor Carley Vonheeder of Plains. Lindsay Wangerin of Plenty- wood is also in the mix as a contender.
In the Class B boys field, Glasgow’s Benji Phillips has a strong lead at No. 1 with a top throw of 194-7 this spring. That would have won last year’s title by nine feet.
For AA boys, Bozeman’s Brady Coffman enters No. 1 with a top throw of 188-5. •