Hi-Line preps head to Northern C meet

Now

is the time for local talent to shine, especially if any local track

and field teams housing that talent hope to push for a state title.

Last

weekend the 10C Chester/J-I Hawks competed in the 8C/10C divisional

meet in Great falls, while the 9C North Star Knights, Chinook

Sugarbeeters, Big Sandy Pioneers, Box Elder Bears, Hays-Lodge Pole

Thunderbirds and Turner Tornadoes all competed at the divisional meet in

Havre. Now heading into a brand new weekend, the same seven boys and

girls teams will face off against each other in ant attempt to bring

home Northern C hardware.

The annual Northern C meet is scheduled to get underway Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Field in Great Falls.Last year in the girls field, the Knights were crowned champions, and that could be the case again this year.Year

in and year out, the Knights dominate the completion with athleticism

and numbers. And coming off of their sixth straight 9C title last

weekend in Havre, that will be the game plan Thursday in Great falls as

well. The Knights earned the 9C title with 245 points.

North

Star has state caliber talent across the board, and in almost every

event. Though not much of one, that is the secret to their success. And

leading the way this year are the likes of Tylynn Rettig, Bettie Carlon

and Lisa Carlon, Delainey Spicher, Shelby Lipp and Haylee Anderson.

Rettig will sine in the pole vault, 100-meter, 200-meter and long jump,

while Bettie Carlon will stand out in the 400-meter, long jump and

triple jump. Lisa Carlon will also dominate the long jump and triple

jump, while also running the 200-meter. Rettig and both Carlon girls are

also key in both relay teams.

Spicher

really stands out in the 100 and 300 hurdles and Lipp is one of the top

throwers for the Knights. And Anderson adds to the Knights' depth,

dominating the 100 and 200 this season.

But the rest of the 9C is well aware of what the Knights can do, and will bring top talent of their own to challenge North Star.Chinook

freshman Hannah Weber has the potential to sweep the 800, 1600 and 3200

on Thursday. And Kayla Hanson is almost a shoe in to sweep the 100 and

300 hurdles right through the state meet. And Freshman Britney Nelson

has also stood out this season, leading the way in the discus and

javelin for the Beeters. Mix in a few more big time names like Makhayla

Farmer, Madison McCann and Tavin Schneider, and the Beeters will be a

tough team to beat.

The

Pioneers will be paced by Mateila Cline in the 400, 800 and 1600, while

Shelby Gasvoda will also try to pitch in while running in a tough

field. Quintin Pegar and Leela Engle will also look to help the

Pioneers.

The

Tornadoes qualified Lyndsey Hutton in the discus, but just don't have

the numbers to compete. The Bears and Thunderbirds didn't place any

athletes this season.

But the Hawks can't be counted out of the girls field, as they have a handful of top athletes as well.

Last

weekend the Hawks finished in third place with 87 points at their

district meet. This year the Hawks are led by the likes of Brittnee

Theel in the 100 and 300 hurdles and long jump, while Kate Graff should

post great numbers in the high jump and pole vault. Jenni Ghekiere

should also do well in the triple jump.

But

it will be a much tough outing for the Hawks in the boys' field. They

placed fifth place last weekend, and don't have the luxury of depth like

teams like the Beeter boys.

Chinook

had a great outing at the 9C last weekend with 194 points, good enough

for a first place finish. But the Big Sandy Boys were also impressive,

finishing not too far behind with 117 team points.

The

Beeters have a lot of talent to spread around. They are led by Barry

Murnion who can score poins in the high jump, javelin, 100-meter and the

long jump. But Kaylan Johnson and Zach Molyneaux are just as

impressive. Johnson will shine in the 800, 1600 and 3200, while

Molyneaux will shine in the javelin, discus and shot put.

Geoff Qualls, Dylan Surber and Brandon Riphenburg also add to the Beeters depth, and could make Chinook a definite contender. The

Pioneers also have talent spread across the board, including dominant

athletes like Justin Stevens and Kaden Beck. Beck has the opportunity to

be the No. 1 shot put thrower on Thursday, and Stevens will push for

the same in the 100, 200 and 400.

Adam Quinn, Zac Leader and Trevor Lackner are also top performers for the Pioneers. North Star is trailing the pack compared to recent years, but the talent they do have has state placing potential. Quinn

Spinler was of the top producers at the 9C, and could be near the top

again as he sets up to compete in the 110 hurdles, 300 hurdles, pole

vault, high jump and 400-meter. Coper Spicher, Sam Ulmen and Shelby

Sizemore could also pitch in.

The Tornadoes, Bears and Thunderbirds also have a handful of potential. Dusty

Mohar will compete in the hurdles, while Lucas reed will compete in the

long jump and triple jump. William Ketchum is solid up and comer, and

could pace the Bears in the 1600 and 3200. Garrett Doney will compete in

the discus and Codie Kirkaldie will compete in the 3,200.

C/J-I

is sending Jordan Oraw in the shot put, Erik Kelly in both hurdles and

the pole vault, Cody Ramberg in the jumps, Seth Ranville in jumps and

pole vault, Steven May in the triple jump and Reid Broadhurst in the

discus.

The

Northern C meet is tough. And while the competioin is stiff, this is

where local athletes really look to come on strong. A strong performance

this week means a trip to the Class C state meet in Butte on the May

25-26.