by Ryan Divish
Havre Daily News Sports Editor
rdivish@havredailynews.com
It's never too early to lay claim to what you feel is yours. So in their first meet of the season, Toni Qunell and the Geraldine girls track team let everyone in the Northern District know that the divisional and Class C state titles are still theirs until someone knocks them off.
Qunell continued her dominance on the Havre Middle School track, winning five events and leading the Tigers to the girls team title of the Cal Wearley Memorial track meet on Wednesday.
Qunell took home individual titles in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes along with the 100 and 300 hurdles to score 50 team points. Her teammate, Rachel Clark, won the long jump and finished second to Qunell in the 200 and 400 to add an additional 31 team points as Geraldine rolled to 114 team points.
Chester finished a distant second with 69.2 points, while Blue Sky/J-I was third with 49.20.
With Qunell and Clark running away with the meet, Chester head coach Jim Graham was more than pleased with his young girls squad's runner-up finish. The Coyotes finished a surprising third at last year's divisional, and look to be even better this year.
"We're definitely getting better," Graham said. "I really don't know if anybody in the state is going to catch Geraldine. But its nice to see that we are closing the gap a little."
Chester got one individual title on the day from its lone senior, Jillien Johnson, in the 3,200-meter run. Instead, the Coyotes scored the bulk of its points with several seconds, thirds and fourths from several individuals. Johnson added thirds in the 1,600 and pole vault. Sophomore Brittney Kolstad also had a solid day with seconds in the 100 and 300 hurdles and a fifth in the 400. The Coyotes' relay teams also added second-place finishes in the 400 and 1,600 relay.
"It's exciting to see how hard they are working," Graham said. "They got that taste of success last year at divisional and we also get Brianne Wolfe back, so we're very excited about this season."
Still, the day belonged to Qunell, Clark and the Tigers, who also got individual titles from Alicia Burtchett in the discus and Marissa Clark in the javelin.
"They are as advertised," said KG head coach Butch Marshall. "I'm not sure their relays are as good as last year. They lost a couple of good girls. But Qunell and Clark can score enough points by themselves."
"There is no reason to think Qunell won't win five state titles again," Graham said. "Her and Clark form an awful tough one-two punch."
But Qunell and Clark weren't the only ones putting on outstanding performances.
Although it was supposed to be a day of extra training for some of the Havre High varsity, junior Darci Briere was solid, winning the 800 and 1,600. Teammate Carmen Neuens took home the triple jump title with a jump of 34-06, which is not bad considering Neuens is competing in the event for the first time.
Blue Sky/J-I's third place finish was marred by several athletes missing some early events for the Vocational Industrial Skills Association in Havre.
Still, the Eagles got an individual title from sophomore Hannah Pimley in the high jump. Freshman Deserie O'Neil had a brilliant varsity debut with a second in the high jump and fourths in the long jump and javelin.
Chinook finished fourth with 48 points, as Brittany Williams won the shot put with a toss of 38-01.50, while the team of Brittany MacLean, Cheyenne Hamilton, Crystal Roseberry, Jacque McMaster took home the 400 and 1,600 relays.
But Geraldine wasn't the only team serving an early notice. The defending Northern C champion Chester boys squad also looked solid winning the boys title with 64 team points, edging out the Belt Huskies, who finished with 58. Big Sandy was third with 50.
"We're the two-time defending divisional champion," Graham said. "And its something our boys take pride in. We lost some awful good kids to graduation and we were missing Patrick Wicks, but it was still a pretty good early showing."
Senior Isaac VanDyke looked to be continuing his strong finish from last season, defeating rival Stephen Wall of Belt in the 3,200 meters with a time of 10:12.90 and in the 1,600 with a time 4:47.10. VanDyke also added a solid second in the 800, just behind Alex Frey of Blue Sky/J-I, who ran a very goodearly time of 2:10.00.
"Isaac just works his butt off," Graham said. "He'll be the first to admit that he's not necessarily as fast or as talented as some of the kids he races against. He's just going to outwork them. He races with a lot of heart and determination."
Besides VanDyke, Chester got multiple placings from Kevin May in the hurdles, Casey Buffington in the discus and javelin and a third-place finish from Caleb Brown in the 1,600 and fourth from Thomas Kim in the 100. The Coyotes also placed second in the long relay.
Big Sandy proved to be an emerging power in 9C and in the Northern C, with the 50 team points and three titles. Kyle Danreuther looked solid in the 300 hurdles with a time of 43.60. The Pioneers also swept the relays. Danreuther, Karl Osterman, Ryan Pokorny and Lawrence Jappe won the 400 relay with a time of 47.27, while Osterman, Danreuther, Darin Ray and Justin Willis teamed up to win the 1,600 relay.
Individually, Osterman added a second in the 300, a third in the 400 and a fourth in the 800. Ray chipped in with a third in the 800.
"Big Sandy has some very good young kids," Graham said. "They're looking awfully tough early."
Blue Sky/J-I finished fifth with 41 team points as senior Craig Miller won the discus with a toss of 132-00 feet. Miller also finished second in the shot put. Besides his win in the 800, Frey added a sixth in the high jump.
Defending 9C champ KG finished 11th with 24 points as Cody Donoven won the 110 hurdles and added a third in the 300 hurdles, while Drew Kapperud finished second in the javelin.
"Our weaknesses definitely showed," Marshall said. "We really have to work on our conditioning. Drew looked good in the javelin and Cody did well. Our performances weren't great, but I really like how we competed."
Still, for most teams in the meet, it was the first competition of the season. And Marshall knows that the times, distances and performances will only performances will only improve.
"There were some good performances today," Marshall said. "But they're only get better. I think this meet was a good starting point for teams. It gave them a chance to see where they were at. I think all the times will get better even on Saturday as long as the weather is good."
The majority of the teams competing on Wednesday will be back in Havre on Saturday for the Chinook Invitational.
GIRLS
Team Scores
1. Geraldine 114; 2. Chester 69.2; 3. Blue Sky/J-I 49.20; 4. Chinook 48; 5. Havre JV 46.20; 6. Highwood 26; 7. Valier 25.20; 8. Belt 24; 9. Dutton-Brady 24; 10. Geyser 19; 11. Centerville 18; 12. Big Sandy 13; 13. Power 12.20; 14. Winifred 12; 15. Turner 10; Sunburst 9; Augusta 8.
Individual Results
100 - 1. Toni Qunell, GER 12.60; 2. Durbin Watson, GEY 13.10; Jacque McMaster, CHI 13.20; Kendra Larocque, BELT 13.64; 5. Abbey Buck, GEY 14.05; 6 Katie Boumans, VAL, 14.10
100 Hurdles - 1. Toni Qunell, GER 15.75; 2. Brittany Kolstad, CHE 17.53; 3. Brittnee Dyk, HWD 18.08; 4. Amy Marshall, HHS 18.49; 5. Abbey Buck, GEY 18.59; 6. Ashley Van Voast, TUR 18.81.
200 - 1. Toni Qunell, GER 27.30; 2. Rachel Clark, GER 27.40; 3. Carissa Storle, DB 28.80; 4. Kendra Larocque, BELT 29.10; 5. Shirsteen Cline, BS 29.60; 6. Tia Pester, SKY 30.10.
300 Hurdles - 1. Toni Qunell, GER 49.00; 2. Brittney Kolstad, CHE 52.00; 3. Shalayna Pearson, BS 54.80; 4. Callie Coughlan, BELT 55.50; 5. Brittany MacLean, CHI 56.90; 6. Shaila Cline, BS 58.50.
400 - 1. Toni Qunell, GER 63.09; 2. Rachel Clark, GER 64.04; 3. Brianne Wolfe, CHE 65.53; 4. Carissa Storle, DB 67.19; 5. Brittney Kolstad, CHE 67.46; 6. Kallie Johannson, SUN 71.10.
400 Relay - 1. Chinook (Brittany MacLean, Cheyenne Hamilton, Crystal Roseberry, Jacque McMaster) 54.72; 2. Chester 55.74; 3. Centerville 56.36; 4. Geraldine 56.46; 5. Highwood 56.78; 6. Blue Sky/J-I 57.16.
1,600 Relay - 1. Chinook (Brittany MacLean, Cheyenne Hamilton, Crystal Roseberry, Jacque McMaster) 4:27.30; 2. Chester 4:34.90; 3. Blue Sky/J-I 4:38.80; 4. Big Sandy 4:41.20; 5. Geyser 4:46.10; 6. Geraldine 4:50.90.
800 - 1. Darci Briere, HAV 2:42.30; 2. Erin Econom, WIN 2:45.70; 3. Amanda Reeve, DB 2:47.10; 4. Rebecca Hilliard, HAV 2:50.80; 5. Morgan Cobb, AUG 2:51.00; 6. Angela Tomscheck, SUN 2:51.20.
1,600 - 1. Darci Briere, HAV 5:52.90; 2. Kile Patrick, SKY 5:59.50; 3. Jill Johnson, CHE 6:16.60; 4. Lacey Beerman, POW 6:16.70; 5. Crystal DeBoo, VAL 6:25.80; 6. Angela Tomscheck, SUN 6:26.00.
3,200 - 1. Jill Johnson, CHE 13:15.30; 2. Bryana Gondeiro, BELT 13:18.50; 4. Cayla DeBoo, VAL 13:33.80; 5. Lacey Beerman, POW 13:33.90; 5. Richelle O'Leary, HWD 13:44.60; 6. Tabitha Brown, CHE 14:41.00.
Shot Put - 1. Brittany Williams, CHI 38-01.50; 2. Alicia Burtchett, GER 32-08; 3. Raynee Pace, SUN 32-05.50; 4. Lena Suek, HAV 31-07; 5. Abby Bumgarner, BELT 29-11; 6. Ashley Van Voast, TUR 29-04;
Discus - 1. Alicia Burtchett, GER 101-06; 2. Ashley Van Voast, TURN 97-08; 3. Brittany Williams, CHI 97-05; 4. Kelsey Williams, WIN 87-08; 5. Amanda Ashley, BELT 83-09; 6. Jackie Alisch, CHE 81-02.
Javelin - 1. Marissa Clark, GER 104-08; 2. Ashlee Johnson, DB 103-08; 3. Keyla Briese, CHE 97-01; 4. Deserie O'Neil, SKY 94-00; 5. Courtney Wendland, SKY 93-02; 6. Alicia Burtchett, GER 92-02.
Long Jump - 1. Rachel Clark, GER 15-10.50; 2. Whitney Baum, HWD 15-10; 3. Andi Wilham, CEN 15-09.25; 4. Desirie O'Neil, SKY 15-05.50; 5. Crystal Roseberry, CHI 15-05; 6. Brianne Wolfe, CHE 14-09.
Triple Jump - 1. Carmen Neuens, HAV 34-06; 2. Whitney Baum, HWD 33-02; 3. Andi Wilham, CEN 33-00; 4. Rachel Clark, GER 32-08.75; 5. Crystal Roseberry, CHI 32-07; 6. Kaila Warren, SKY 31.06
High Jump - 1. Hannah Pimley, SKY 5-02; 2. Deserie O'Neil, SKY 5-00; 3. Madalyn Morris, AUG 4-10; 4. Mandy Neumann, GEY 4-10; 5. Cayla DeBoo, VAL 4-08; 6. Durbin Watson, GEY 4-08.
Pole Vault - 1. Cayla DeBoo, VAL 7-06 2. (tie) Jessica Nolan, HAV 7-00; 2. Jill Johnson, CHE 7-00; 2. Lexa Loch, POW 7-00; 2. Tia Pester, SKY 7-00; 2. Sarah Widhalm, VAL 7-00.
BOYS
Team Results
1. Chester 64; 2. Belt 58; 3. Big Sandy 54; 4. Valier 50; 5. Blue Sky/J-I 41; 6. Geyser 38; 7. Centerville 35; 8. Power 34; 9. Augusta 28; 10. Sunburst 26; 11. KG 24; 12. Havre JV 23; 13. Highwood 19; 14. Geraldine 12; 15. Winifred 10; 16. Hays-Lodge Pole 7; Dutton-Brady 4.
Individual Results
100 - 1. Aric Clark, SUN 11.40; 2. Ryne Nelson, VAL 11.60; 3. Chris Magnesun, CEN 11.,70; 4. Thomas Kin, CHE 11.70; 5. Jeff Trefalet, VAL 11.90; 6. Ryan Neumman, GEY 11.90.
100 Hurdles - 1. Cody Donoven, KG 16.09; 2. Vojtech Pohradsky, AUG 16.20; 3. Tom Knudson, HAV 16.58; 4. Kevin May, CHE 16.59; 5. Jason Masonvich, BELT 17.22; 6. Levi Clark, GER 17.23.
200 - 1. Aric Clark, SUN 23.90; 2. Karl Osterman, BS 24.10; 3. Ryne Nelson, VAL 24.50l 4. Talon Allen, POW 24.60; 5. Trevor Daer, BELT 24.70; Kyle Finneman, HAV 25.00.
300 Hurdles - 1. Kyle Danreuther, BS 43.60; 2. Ross Mosher, AUG 44.60; 3. Cody Donoven, KG 44.70; 4. Bret Bahnmiller, HWD 45.50; 5. Kevin May, CHE 45.60; 6. Tom Knudson, HAV 47.30.
400 - 1. Ryne Nelson, VAL 54.70; 2. Chris Magnesun, CEN 55.30; 3. Karl Osterman, BS 57.00; 4. Adam Chvilicek, SKY 57.10; 5. Josh Beaudry, SKY 57.50 ; 6. Alex Chvilicek, SKY 58.50
400 Relay - 1. Big Sandy (Karl Osterman, Ryan Pokorny, Lawrence Jappe, Kyle Danreuther) 47.37; 2. Power 48.13; 3. Highwood 48.17; 4. Havre JV 48.25; 5. Augusta 48.55; 6. Geyser 48.90
1,600 Relay - 1. Big Sandy (Darin Ray, Karl Osterman, Justin Willis, Kyle Danreuther) 3:45.10; 2. Chester 3:48.50; 3. Belt 3:48.50; 3. Belt 3:52.20; 4. Highwood 3:52.50; 5. Centerville 3:54.90; 6. Blue Sky/J-I 3:55.40.
800 - 1. Alex Frey, SKY 2:10.00; 2. Isaac VanDyke, CHE 2:10.90; 3. Darin Ray, BS 2:12.30; 4. Karl Osterman, BS 2:14.10; 5. Vince Somerfeld, POW 2:15.03; 6. Brian Davison, HWD 2:15.06.
1,600 - 1. Isaac VanDyke, CHE 4:47.10; 2. Stephen Wall, BELT 4:52.50; 3. Caleb Brown, CHE 5:06.50; 4. Alex Frey, SKY 5:14.10. 5. Robert Brooks, HAV 5:14.90; 6. Matt Hoyer, BELT 5:23.00.
3,200 - 1. Isaac VanDyke, CHE 10:12.90; 2. Stephen Wall, BELT 10:31.70; 3. Jordan Wing, H-LP 11:10.20; 4. Joe Miszler, BELT 12:19.90; 5. Dillon O'Fallon, CEN 12:32.90; 6. Dallas Obergfell, GER 12:50.00.
Shot Put - 1. Brock Hansen, GEY 49-06.50; 2. Craig Miller, SKY 44-03; 3. Stanton Schulze, SUN 43-05.50; 4. Orrie Gondeiro, DB 41-11; 5. Ricky Houim, HAV 41-10; 6. Lance Brockie, H-LP 40-10.50.
Discus - 1. Craig Miller, SKY 132-00; 2. Brock Hansen, GEY 129-07; 3. Mike Schilling, CEN 122-11; 4. Casey Buffington, CHE 122-10; 5. Chris Buskirk, HAV 117-05; 6. Adam Schilling, CEN 116-04.
Javelin - 1. Spencer Pepos, CEN 164.04; 2. Drew Kapperud, KG 151-07; 3. Nick Econom, WIN 150-05; 4. Casey Buffington, CHE 147-09; 5. Bobby Tillman, BELT 146-03; 6. Toby Clark, GER 143-05.
Long Jump - 1. Ryan Neumann, GEY 19-06.50; 2. Dakota Wergin, BELT 19-05.25; 3. Vojtech Pohradsky, AUG 19-01.00; 4. Scott Robinson, HAV 19-00; 5. Talon Allen, POW 18-09; 6. Derek Sande, GER 18-00.50.
Triple Jump - 1. Talon Allen, POW 43-03; 2. Ryan Neumann, GEY 42-07; 3. Trevor Daer, BELT 41-01; 4. Zach Ramberg, CHE 39-04.50; 5. Chase Young, AUG 38-02; 6. Mack Sivertson, BELT 38-02.
High Jump - 1. Dakota Wergin, BELT 6-02; 2. Talon Allen, POW 6-00; 3. Clint Dean, VAL 6-00; 4. Brian Foran, WIN 5-10; 5. JC Isaakson, AUG 5-08; 6. Alex Frey, SKY 5-08.
Pole Vault - 1. Clint Dean, VAL 11-00; 2. Jeff Trefalet, VAL 10-06; 3. Levi Clark, GER 10-06; 4. Mitch Grove, HWD 9-00; 5. Cody Joyce, GER 8-06; 6. Jordan Magelssen, HAV 8-00.
