Fort Benton girls win Class C track title

The Fort Benton girls track team has been building all season toward a Class C state track championship and this past weekend in Laurel, the Longhorns finally achieved it.

Powered by two individual state champions, Kaitlyn Bird, who won the 1,600-meter run Friday and Maddy Thompson, who won the 100-meter dash (13.09) Saturday, the Longhorns racked up 72 points over the two-day meet and won the Class C state title over Manhattan Christian, which scored 56.33 and Twin Bridges, which was third with 46. It was Fort Benton’s first team championship in girls track since 1997.

“I thought we had a good chance to get a trophy,” Fort Benton head coach Brandon Shaw said to the Great Falls Tribune. “But I didn’t know if we had enough firepower. I knew we had a good team with a lot of good kids in a lot of events, but I didn’t know if we could rack up enough points. It was fun.”

Bird and Thompson were the catalysts both days for the Longhorns. Bird’s win the mile (5:23) was the key for Fort Benton Friday, but the team was also boosted by Thompson, who finished second in the pole vault and the long jump. Leah Gannon, another Fort Benton athlete, also finished third in the long jump Friday to keep Fort Benton within striking distance.

On Saturday, Bird did even more to help the cause. First, she finished third in the 800 and followed that up with a third-place showing in the 300 hurdles. Bird, Gannon and Thompson all helped the Longhorns get third Saturday in the 1,600-meter relay after getting third in the 400-meter relay earlier in the day.

Fort Benton also got a third-place finish from Coya Nack in the shot put, two fifth-place finishes from Nicole Axtman in the high jump and triple jump and Gannon also finished sixth in the 400, to help the Longhorns reach their final point total.

“We didn’t expect that,” Shaw said. “We just had kids who performed really, really well. They competed great in every event.”

While no other local team contended for a team title, Turner’s Eddie Harmon joined Bird and Thompson by winning individual titles at state C track, as he won the boys 800-meter Friday with a time of 1:59. Harmon also came back Saturday and finished third in the 400, giving the Tornadoes all 16 of their points, which was good enough for 11th place.

The Chinook girls team also had a solid weekend, scoring 12 points. The top performer was Megan Molyneaux, who was third in the 200. She also helped the Beeters place fifth in the 400 relay and sixth in the 1,600 relay. On the boys side of things, Wade Schneider finished sixth in the shot put for Chinook, while Cory Richter of Chester-Joplin-Inverness was also sixth in the triple jump. Damon Bird of Fort Benton scored his team’s only point, finishing sixth as well in the 800.

The Class C track meet was in Laurel, but in Butte, as the Class B state track meet, a number of other Hi-Line athletes made a name for themselves. One of them was Harlem’s Reece Hutton, who capped a spectacular season with an individual state title in the shot put (51-05). Hutton also finished fourth in the discus for the Wildcats, who finished with a total of 20 points. Harlem also got points from Taggert Devaney, who was fourth in 800, Damon Adams, who was fifth in the 400 and Tyus Hammett, who tied for sixth in the pole vault.

The Harlem girls team also got a stellar performance from freshman distance runner L’Tia Lawrence, who was second in the 1,600 (5:30) and third in the 3,200 (12:25).

State C in Laurel

BOYS

Team scores: Ennis 61; Darby 46; Richey-Lambert 34; Drummond 30; Roberts 28; Belt 26; Seeley-Swan 25; Charlo 24; Savage 21; Ekalaka 20; Turner 16; Broadus 16; Scobey 15; Jordan 15; Hot Springs 14; Westby-Grenora 13; Manhattan Christian 12; Bridger 12; St. Regis 12; Valley Christian 10; Frazer 10; Plentywood 8; Park City 7; Valier 6; Hays-Lodge Pole 6; Harrison 6; Whitewater 6; Great Falls Central 4; Winnett-Grass Range 4; Cascade 4; Stanford-Geyser 3; Fairview 3; Denton 3; Wibaux 2; Chinook 1; Moore 1; Fort Benton 1; Chester-Joplin-Inverness 1; Reed Point-Rapelje 1.

100 – Mark Estes, Drummond, 11.53; Corbin Wood, Ennis, 11.61; Jeffrey Scholla, Richey-Lambert, 11.71; Colton Wheeler, Valier, 11.97; Tyrone Hageman, Jordan, 12.02; Tanner Wood, Ennis, 12.04.

200 – Mark Estes, Drummond, 22.97; Corbin Wood, Ennis, 23.24; Jeffrey Scholla, Richey-Lambert, 23.6; Jake Lockwood, Broadus, 23.92; Colton Wheeler, Valier, 24.0; Bryar Lange, Savage, 24.05.

400 – Mark Estes, Drummond, 50.39; Bryar Lange, Savage, 51.03; Eddie Harmon, Turner, 52.50; Ryan Zentner, Bridger, 52.98; Martin Farver, Scobey, 52.99; Hunter Shelmerdine, Seeley-Swan, 53.04;

800 – Eddie Harmon, Turner, 1:59.33; Logan Maughan, Seeley-Swan, 2:00.27; Keagan Stroop, Belt, 2:00.57; Mitch Parcell, Seeley-Swan, 2:00.76; Kordell Carpenter, Denton, 2:02.00; Damon Bird, Fort Benton, 2:03.19.

1,600 – Evan Duggan, Darby, 4:37.13; Keagan Stroop, Belt, 4:41.68; Derik Defrance, Harrison, 4:42.26; Jacob Jessen, Winnett-Grass Range, 4:42.27; Grant Van Dyken, Manhattan Christian, 4:42.40; Kordell Carpenter, Denton, 4:44.47.

3,200 – Evan Duggan, Darby, 10:03.28; Keagan Stroop, Belt, 10:15.08; Isiah Runs Above, Hays-Lodge Pole, 10:15.37; Gus Dines, Roberts, 10:24.15; Wills Degrandpre, Charlo, 10:24.81; Tyson Flickinger, Plentywood, 10:39.65.

110 hurdles – Tanner Fix, Ekalaka, 15.68; Kye McCollaum, Darby, 15.73; Benjamin Tuinstra, Valley Christian, 16.42; Wick Cole, Scobey, 16.73; Trevor Paro, Hot Springs, 17.16; Toby Odom, Charlo, 17.52.

300 hurdles – Tanner Fix, Ekalaka, 40.95; Kye McCollaum, Darby, 41.08; Riley Linder, Scobey, 41.58; Benjamin Tuinstra, Valley Christian, 41.9; Tate Lunde, Wibaux, 42.64; Rhet Woodhall, Stanford-Geyser, 42.85.

400 relay – Ennis 44.4; Richey-Lambert 45.15; Charlo 45.22; Park City 45.64; Seeley-Swan 45.72; Fairview 45.85.

1,600 relay – Seeley-Swan 3:32.84; Charlo 3:34.64; Richey-Lambert 3:36.09; Ennis 3:37.07; Park City 3:39.02; Scobey 3:40.08.

Long jump – Garrett Greslin, Broadus, 21-9; Allexander Kosel, Roberts, 20-11.25; Corbin Wood, Ennis, 20-9.75; Trevor Paro, Hot Springs, 20-8; Tanner Wood, Ennis, 20-4; Bryar Lange, Savage, 20-2.5.

Triple jump – Bryar Lange, Savage, 43-10; Trevor Paro, Hot Springs, 43-02.25; Allexander Kosel, Roberts, 42-05.75; Dylan Webster, Bridger, 42-00.75; Cody Asbeck, Fairview, 41-06; Cory Richter, Chester-Joplin-Inverness, 41-05.5.

High jump – Allexander Kosel, Roberts, 6-02; Kade Guenther, Westby-Grenora, 6-00; Tyrone Hageman, Jordan, 6-00; Ryan Zentner, Bridger, 6-00; Corbin Wood, Ennis, 6-00; Hayden Heilig, Moore, 5-10.

Pole vault – Lincoln Young, Manhattan Christian, 13-6; Nate Harris, Plentywood, 12-00; Landers Smith, Charlo, 12-00; Zachary Riphenburg, Cascade, 12-00; Carson Norskog, Stanford-Geyser, 11-06; Owen Nelson, Savage, 11-06.

Shot put – Ty Morgan Ennis, 55-09.25; Dallas Reese, Frazer, 53-01.75; Kade Guenther, Westby-Grenora, 48-04.25; Noah Ambuehl, Great Falls Central, 47-06.5; Jayson Jackson, Frazer, 45-03.5; Wade Schneider, Chinook, 44-09.5.

Discus – Ty Morgan, Ennis, 154-9; Brock Cantrell-Field, St. Regis, 144-7; Trace Simonson, Whitewater, 143-04; Jaren Maki, Belt, 136-2; Jay Randall, Broadus, 134-6; Sol Arno, Reed Point-Rapelje, 133-9.

Javelin – John Beckers, Darby, 185-10; Casey Watson, Richey-Lambert, 180-1; Tyrone Hageman, Jordan, 172-1; Brock Cantrell-Field, St. Regis, 165-3; Tucker Gaustad, Scobey, 164-3; Connor McNeil, Park City, 162-3.

GIRLS

Team scores: Fort Benton 72; Manhattan Christian 56.33; Twin Bridges 46; Seeley-Swan 32; Westby-Grenora 32; Winnett-Grass Range 26; Drummond 25; Arlee 25; Park City 22; Plains 20; Ennis 20; West Yellowstone 16; Scobey 16; Darby 13; Chinook 12; Bridger 11; Jordan 9; Alberton-Superior 9; Charlo 8; Broadus 7; Victor 6; Wibaux 6; Nashua 5; Frazer 4; Belt 4; Geraldine 4; Cascade 3; St. Regis 3; Terry 3; Richey-Lambert 2.33; Saco 2.33; Broadview-Lavina 2; Sheridan 2; Hot Springs 1; Plentywood 1; Lima 1.

100 – Maddy Thompson, Fort Benton, 13.09; Zoe Delaney, Winnett-Grass Range, 13.13; Faith Shepard, Manhattan Christian, 13.24; Claire Fickler, Drummond, 13.3; Madison Hill, St. Regis, 13.36; Alex Bohlman, Seeley-Swan, 13.36.

200 – Zoe Delaney, Winnett-Grass Range, 26.33; Megan Molyneaux, Chinook, 26.76; Alex Bohlman, Seeley-Swan, 27.0; Kinley Peterson, Westby-Grenora, 27.39; Claire Fickler, Drummond, 27.44; Rochelle Chaffin, Chinook, 27.47.

400 – Alex Veltkamp, Manhattan Christian, 57.90; Zoe Delaney, Winnett-Grass Range, 58.80; Megan Bausch, Twin Bridges, 58.84; Kinley Peterson, Westby-Grenora, 58.87; Claire Fickler, Drummond, 1:00.22; Leah Gannon, Fort Benton, 1:00.46.

800 – Alex Veltkamp, Manhattan Christian, 2:23.02; Kinley Peterson, Westby-Grenora, 2:23.25; Kaitlyn Bird, Fort Benton, 2:23.59; Natalie Yocum, Arlee, 2:24.32; Mayson Hudyma, Scobey, 2:24.68; Reata Crafton, Lima, 2:27.39.

1,600 – Kaitlyn Bird, Fort Benton, 5:23.53; Natalie Yocum, Arlee, 5:23.78; Averi Parker, West Yellowstone, 5:32.69; Gracie Lang, Darby, 5:34.12; Christina Eike, Cascade, 5:37.83; Laiten Lantis, Terry, 5:38.96.

3,200 – Averi Parker, West Yellowstone, 12:03.05; Gracie Lang, Darby, 12:11.05; Natalie Yocum, Arlee, 12:15.08; Sabrina Bryant, Drummond, 12:41.42; Laiten Lantis, Terry, 12:45.94; Christian Eike, Cascade, 12:49.73.

100 hurdles – Kailee Oliverson, Twin Bridges, 15.63; Tia Hallock, Scobey, 16.11; Rayna Laakso, Park City, 16.16; Carly Hergett, Arlee, 16.29; Desiree Scott, Bridger, 16.62; Casey Ehmann, Darby, 17.03.

300 hurdles – Kailee Oliverson, Twin Bridges, 45.79; Allie Delaney, Charlo, 47.72; Tia Hallock, Scobey, 47.74; Kaitlyn Bird, Fort Benton, 47.88; Shelby Branstetter, Park City, 47.95; Desiree Scott, Bridger, 48.24.

400 relay – Twin Bridges 50.37; Westby-Grenora 50.58; Manhattan Christian 50.72; Fort Benton 50.91; Chinook 51.16; Seeley-Swan 51.51.

1,600 relay – Twin Bridges 408.15; Westby-Grenora 4:09.19; Fort Benton 4:12.51; Seeley-Swan 4:14.97; Drummond 4:20.92; Chinook 4:22.16.

Long jump – Alex Veltkamp, Manhattan Christian, 17-2; Maddy Thompson, Fort Benton, 16-9; Leah Gannon, Fort Benton, 16-7.5; Faith Shepard, Manhattan Christian, 16-6.5; Carly Hergett, Arlee, 16-5.5; Madison Hill, St. Regis, 16-5.

Triple jump – Jourdain Klein, Ennis, 36-00.25; Desiree Scott, Bridger, 34-08; MacKinzie Verke, Park City, 34-06.25; Morgan Radtke, Drummond, 33-04.25; Nicole Axtman, Fort Benton, 33-03.25; Carly Hergett, Arlee, 33-03.25.

High jump – Jourdain Klein, Ennis, 5-05; Morgan Radtke, Drummond, 5-02; Sage Collins, Broadus, 5-02; Mya Fourstar, Frazer, 5-00; Nicole Axtman, Fort Benton, 5-00; Brenna Osksa, Plentywood, 5-00.

Pole vault – Cera Strumpfer, Seeley-Swan, 9-0; Maddy Thompson, Fort Benton, 9-0; Emma Duboise, Alberton-Superior, 9-0; Faith Shepard, Manhattan Christian, 8-6; Bailey Funk, Saco, 8-6; Tori Cundiff, Richey-Lambert, 8-6.

Shot put – Jessica Thompson, Plains, 38-06.5; Tarissa Phipps, Jordan, 36-06.75; Coya Nack, Fort Benton, 36-03.5; Shyanne Clark, Geraldine, 36-03; Janie Smart, Sheridan, 35-05; Taylor Laumeyer, Nashua, 35-00.

Discus – Jessica Thompson, Plains, 124-11; Bridget Kelly, Manhattan Christian, 122-3; Payton Tillotson, Victor, 120-8; Taylor Laumeyer, Nashua, 112-11; Chloe Hanser, Broadview-Lavina, 111-1; Tarissa Phipps, Jordan, 109-4.

Javelin – Alex Bohlman, Seeley-Swan, 139-08; Brittany Frank, Park City, 127-05; Toni Schieffer, Wibaux, 122-11; Dani Urick, Belt, 122-01; Hailey Kelly, Alberton-Superior, 121-03; Karly Lawson, Hot Springs, 117-07.