By Jason Shoot
Kim Berg may be a diminutive 5-foot-6, but her stature on the KG girls' track and field team lies far beyond those 66 inches.
Berg won four individual events, including a meet-record throw in the javelin, and she also ran the anchor leg on the winning 400 relay team to lead the KouGars to the team title at the District 9C meet at the Havre Middle School track Wednesday.
KG's girls finished with 178 points. Blue Sky was second with 144, and Big Sandy was third at 139.
Paced by Roger Larson's 401/2 points from three individual titles and his part in his team's victorious 400 relay, KG also rolled to the boys' team crown with a dominating performance.
The KouGars finished with 314 points, far ahead of second-place Blue Sky's 105. Big Sandy was third with 56.
In the girls' meet, Berg was unstoppable in the long jump, triple jump and high jump, but especially in the javelin.
Her throw of 131 feet, 2 inches secured the meet record and was well ahead of teammate Sasha Haugen, who placed second with a throw of 75-41/2.
"I was looking to win everything, but I really wanted to win the javelin," she said.
If Berg could find any negatives from the day, they would result from the 400 relay. While her team won the event convincingly with a time of 56.2 seconds, she still felt there was room for improvement.
"I hope we can get the school record in the 400 relay (53.7), but our hand offs have to be a lot better," she said. "If we can get off to a good start, though, I think we can do it."
Also for the KouGars, Lindsey Johnson and Becky Henry placed first and second in the discus with throws of 95-3 and 91-6, respectively.
Box Elder's Kristi Pullin won the 100 and 200, Lindsey Danreuther of Big Sandy won both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles, Blue Sky's Lindsey Letang won the 1,600 and 3,200, Amy Silvan of Big Sandy won the pole vault, Hanna Warhank of Blue Sky won the shot put, and Big Sandy's Katherine Bitz won the 800.
Bitz, who was also part of Big Sandy's winning 1,600 relay and finished second and third in the 1,600 and high jump, respectively, said her winning time in the 800 (2:39.1) was a little slower than she would have liked.
"I was supposed to go seven seconds faster, but I didn't realize I was going too slow," she said. "I've missed a couple meets and some practices, and I haven't trained as well."
But she didn't rule out a chance to win a state title, either.
"I hope I do," she said with a smile. "That would be way cool."
In the boys' meet, KG was simply too deep for the rest of the 9C schools to mount significant competition.
"We've got so many numbers," said KG's Joey Stuart, who ran in the 400 relay and won the 300 hurdles and javelin. "We all push each other, and we're all going for the same thing three (state titles) in a row."
Larson, who will be a major factor in KG's ability to win another state championship, was in the 400 relay and won the 400, long jump and triple jump. He also placed second in the 200.
Aaron Smith won the 1,600 and 3,200 titles, but he said this season has provided him with more difficulties than in years past. Injuries and weather haven't had any affect, but rather his competition that's been holding him back.
Also, his running partner last year, Eric Hanson, graduated and left him without anyone to push him on a daily basis.
"Practice last year between us was a constant fight," he said. "I wanted to beat him, and he made me go that much stronger. We were really going at each other."
Smith left the meet unsatisfied.
"My two-mile time (9:57.2) was OK, but I wanted to go faster," he said. "But when you don't have any competition, it's tougher."
Smith won the 3,200 by a full minute and the 1,600 by 12 seconds.
Also for KG, Matt Aageson won the 100 and 200, Thomas Marshall won the 110 hurdles, Tyler Kapperud placed first in the 800, Robbie Gomke finished first in the shot put, Tel Sterner was first in the discus, and Kyle Reynolds won the pole vault.
Blue Sky's Ryan Schnitzmeier prevented KG from winning all 17 events with his victory in the high jump.
BOYS RESULTS
Team scores KG 314, Blue Sky 105, Big Sandy 56, Turner 16, Hays/Lodgepole 10, Box Elder 2, Rocky Boy 2.
Top six placers
100 1. Matt Aageson (KG) 11.2, 2. Casey Crites (KG) 11.5, 3. Ryan Schnitzmeier (Blu) 11.6, 4. Matt Strissel (Blu) 11.8, 5. Roald Aageson (Blu) 12.0, 6. Jeromy O'neil (Blu) 12.1.
110 hurdles 1. Thomas Marshall (KG) 16.2, 2. Luke Antonich (KG) 17.2, 3. Kevin Jurenka (Blu) 19.1.
200 1. Matt Aageson (KG) 23.4, 2. Roger Larson (KG) 23.8, 3. Justin Simenson (KG) 23.9, 4. Ryan Schnitzmeier (Blu) 24.3, 5. Casey Crites (KG) 24.7, 6. Jeromy O'neil (Blu) 24.8.
300 hurdles 1. Joey Stuart (KG) 41.0 (meet record), 2. Casey Crites (KG) 42.9, 3. Thomas Marshall (KG) 43.3, 4. Kevin Jurenka (Blu) 48.7, 5. Matt Strissel (Blu) 53.3.
400 1. Roger Larson (KG) 53.1, 2. Mitchell McKinley (Blu) 54.0, 3. Dain Petersen (Blu) 54.5, 4. Tyler Kapperud (KG) 54.6, 5. Kyle Reynolds (KG) 55.0, 6. Matt McKinley (Blu) 59.5.
400 relay 1. KG (Matt Aageson, Roger Larson, Joey Stuart, Casey Crites) 45.4, 2. Blue Sky (Jake Strissel, Jeromy O'neil, Mitchell McKinley, Ryan Schnitzmeier) 48.5, 3. Big Sandy (Skylar Pearson, Chirs Yirsa, Danny Larish, Jay Jamieson) 50.8.
1,600 relay 1. KG (Tyler Kapperud, Matt Aageson, Aaron Smith, Kyle Reynolds) 3:41.1, 2. Blue Sky (Jeromy O'neil, Dain Petersen, Mitchell McKinley, Ryan Schnitzmeier) 3:44.5, 3. Big Sandy (Chris Ayers, Skylar Pearson, Jay Jamieson, Shon Tester) 4:08.9.
800 1. Tyler Kapperud (KG) 2:08.0, 2. Chris Yirsa (BS) 2:11.5, 3. Jay Jamieson (BS) 2:16.5, 4. Tristan Vukasin (KG) 2:28.7, 5. Tim Rosette (BE) 2:38.3, 6. Keith Reynolds (KG) 2:39.4.
1,600 1. Aaron Smith (KG) 4:43.5, 2. Chris Yirsa (BS) 4:55.8, 3. Robert Van Voast (Tur) 4:56.0, 4. Deven Donoven (KG) 5:18.0, 5. Justus Wendland (Blu) 5:38.3, 6. Brett Runnion (BS) 5:53.7.
3,200 1. Aaron Smith (KG) 9:57.2, 2. Robert Van Voast (Tur) 10:57.4, 3. Deven Donoven (KG) 11:11.0, 4. Justus Wendland (Blu) 12:24.4, 5. Brett Runnion (BS) 12:29.1, 6. Jack McKinley (Blu) 12:46.3.
Shot put 1. Robbie Gomke (KG) 44-11, 2. Mason Ophus (BS) 41-71/2, 2. Roald Aageson (Blu) 40-6, 4. Eric Engebretson (KG) 39-7, 5. Tel Sterner (KG) 38-1, 6. Jake Strissel (Blu) 38-0.
Discus 1. Tel Sterner (KG) 129-10, 2. Jake Strissel (Blu) 124-10, 3. Mason Ophus (BS) 123-9, 4. Robbie Gomke (KG) 114-10, 5. Justin Four Colors (RB) 111-4, 6. Forest Letang (KG) 109-11.
Javelin 1. Joey Stuart (KG) 152-7, 2. James Flying (HL) 146-10, 3. Richie Melby (KG) 127-41/2, 4. Luke Antonich (KG) 120-11, 5. Lester Doney (HL) 120-31/2, 6. Tristan Vukasin (KG) 119-1.
Long jump 1. Roger Larson (KG) 19-21/2, 2. Joey Stuart (KG) 19-21/2, 3. Richie Melby (KG) 17-73/4, 4. Danny Larish (BS) 17-61/4, 5. Thomas Marshall (KG) 17-51/2, 6. Jay Jamieson (BS) 16-91/2.
Triple jump 1. Roger Larson (KG) 43-2, 2. Joey Stuart (KG) 41-4, 3. Thomas Marshall (KG) 39-1, 4. Richie Melby (KG) 37-111/2, 5. Brandon Simons (Tur) 33-7, 6. Keith Reynolds (KG) 33-2.
High jump 1. Ryan Schnitzmeier (Blu) 6-0, 2. (tie) Justin Simenson (KG) and Casey Crites (KG) 5-10, 4. Dain Petersen (Blu) 5-8, 5. Luke Antonich (KG) 5-6, 6. Richie Melby (KG) 5-4.
Pole vault 1. Kyle Reynolds (KG) 11-6, 2. Dain Petersen (Blu) 9-6, 3. Keith Reynolds (KG) 9-0, 4. Luke Antonich (KG) 9-0, 5. Eric Engebretson (KG) 8-6, 6. Tristan Vukasin (KG) 8-0.
GIRLS RESULTS
Team scores KG 178, Blue Sky 144, Big Sandy 139, Box Elder 28, Hays/Lodgepole 8, Rocky Boy 4, Turner 0.
Top six placers
100 1. Kristi Pullin (BE) 13.8, 2. Lindsay Anderson (Blu) 14.4, 3. Vanessa Webb (HL) 14.5, 4. Hosanna Hutchins (KG) 14.6, 5. Ledin Letang (Blu) 14.7, 6. Cady Arifin (KG) 14.8.
100 hurdles 1. Lindsey Danreuther (BS) 18.1, 2. Lindsay Anderson (Blu) 18.2, 3. Kati Simenson (KG) 19.8, 4. Ashley Goodian (BS) 21.3, 5. Naomi Lipp (Blu) 22.0.
200 1. Kristi Pullin (BE) 28.4, 2. Ashley Melby (KG) 29.6, 3. Hosanna Hutchins (KG) 30.1, 4. Ledin Letang (Blu) 30.3, 5. Vanessa Webb (HL) 30.7, 6. Rebekah Kimmet (Blu) 32.7.
300 hurdles 1. Lindsey Danreuther (BS) 50.6, 2. Lindsay Anderson (Blu) 52.2, 3. Cady Arifin (KG) 55.4, 4. Gayla Givens (BS) 57.6, 5. Kati Simenson (KG) 58.1, 6. Gwynn Givens (BS) 59.7.
400 1. Lindsey Danreuther (BS) 1:04.6, 2. Lindsay Anderson (Blu) 1:07.5, 3. Ashley Goodian (BS) 1:07.6, 4. Ashley Melby (KG) 1:10.2, 5. Heather Haas (Blu) 1:10.8, 6. Naomi Lipp (Blu) 1:11.7.
400 relay 1. KG (Cady Arifin, Ashley Melby, Hosanna Hutchins, Kim Berg) 56.2, 2. Big Sandy (Lindsey Danreuther, Ashley Goodian, Gayle Givens, Amy Silvan) 58.3, 3. Blue Sky (Ledin Letang, Ashlee Lincoln, Rebekah Kimmet, Naomi Lipp) 1:00.6.
1,600 relay 1. Big Sandy (Lindsey Danreuther, Sheena Darlington, Katherine Bitz, Emily Bley) 4:31.6, 2. Blue Sky (Heather Haas, Naomi Lipp, Jessica Patrick, Lindsey Letang) 4:56.6, 3. KG (Mandy Rambo, Natalie Raetig, Brooke Letang, Sasha Haugen) 5:26.4.
800 1. Katherine Bitz (BS) 2:39.1, 2. Sheena Darlington (BS) 2:39.9, 3. Heather Haas (Blu) 2:43.9, 4. Hosanna Hutchins (KG) 2:45.8, 5. Katy Hauser (Blu) 3:10.2, 6. Natalie Raetig (KG) 3:12.6.
1,600 1. Lindsey Letang (Blu) 5:46.1, 2. Katherine Bitz (BS) 5:55.9, 3. Sheena Darlington (BS) 6:06.7, 4. Casie Toner (KG) 7:17.4.
3,200 1. Lindsey Letang (Blu) 12:53.4, 2. Casie Toner (KG) 15:19.5, 3. Emily Bley (BS) 15:55.2.
Shot put 1. Hanna Warhank (Blu) 28-111/2, 2. Becky Henry (KG) 28-91/2, 3. Jessica Patrick (Blu) 28-6, 4. Lindsey Johnson (KG) 28-0, 5. Brooke Letang (KG) 27-0, 6. Sheena Darlington (BS) 26-7.
Discus 1. Lindsey Johnson (KG) 95-3, 2. Becky Henry (KG) 91-6, 3. Jessica Patrick (Blu) 82-71/2, 4. Jolin Demontiney (RB) 79-1, 5. Brooke Letang (KG) 78-2, 6. Hanna Warhank (Blu) 76-10.
Javelin 1. Kim Berg (KG) 131-2, 2. Sasha Haugen (KG) 75-41/2, 3. Becky Henry (KG) 75-2, 4. Ashlee Lincoln (Blu) 73-6, 5. Mandy Rambo (KG) 72-4, 6. Heather Haas (Blu) 72-3.
Long jump 1. Kim Berg (KG) 15-63/4, 2. Kristi Pullin (BE) 15-31/4, 3. Cady Arifin (KG) 15-3, 4. Amy Silvan (BS) 14-91/2, 5. Lindsay Anderson (Blu) 14-31/4, 6. Ashley Melby (KG) 13-7.
Triple jump 1. Kim Berg (KG) 32-21/2, 2. Cady Arifin (KG) 31-41/2, 3. Amy Silvan (BS) 30-91/2, 4. Jessica Patrick (Blu) 29-2, 5. Hosanna Hutchins (KG) 28-3, 6. Ashley Melby (KG) 27-10.
High jump 1. Kim Berg (KG) 4-10, 2. Amy Silvan (BS) 4-10, 3. Katherine Bitz (BS) 4-6, 4. (tie) Jessica Patrick (Blu) and Ashlee Lincoln (Blue) 4-2.
Pole vault 1. Amy Silvan (BS) 7-9, 2. (tie) Mary Hauser (Blu), Heather Haas (Blu) and Naomi Lipp (Blu) 7-0, 5. Gayle Givens (BS) 7-0, 6. Gwynn Givens (BS) 6-0.
