REMEMBERING A PIONEER GOLD RUSH

Once upon a time, there was a Class C athlete who, for four years, was as close to undefeated as one can get in track and field.

Yes, Big Sandy’s Kourtney Danreuther was that dominant. And to this day, she still holds all kinds of District 9C, Northern C and State C records to prove it.

As a freshman, Danreuther broke the mold for girls track and field. And in May of 2006 she really hit her stride, setting 11 meet records. She set five at the District 9C meet, three at the Ralph Halverson Northern C divisional meet and three at the Class C state meet. At state, capping off an astonishing season she set records in the 200-meter dash (25.76), the 400-meter dash (56.88) and the 300 hurdles (43.68). She also took first in the 100 hurdles, fourth in the 100-meter dash and ran on the first-place 1600 relay team en route to the Pioneers first state girls' track championship.

But Danreuther's success didn't stop there. As she grew older and more impressive so did her resume of accomplishments. She returned to state as a sophomore and a junior, and did so in record-breaking fashion. As a sophomore, she placed first in the 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles and 200-meter dash and set a new Class C state record in the 400 meters (56.74.). And as a junior, she placed first in the 300 hurdles, first in the 200-meter dash, first in the long jump and second in the 400 meters and set another Class C state record in the 800 meters (2:15.56).

“I never anticipated that I was going to be dominant.” Danreuther told the Havre Daily News in 2009. “I just kind of went out there and did my own thing.

That was the week before Danreuther went out and helped the Pioneers score 76 points and win a fourth consecutive Class C state championship. Individually that weekend, she grabbed two more golds and five more medals in all, capping one of the most illustrious track and field careers in not just Hi-Line or Class C, but all of Montana history.

In all, Danreuther wound up earning 23 medals at state meets in her four-year career. She finished her career with 17 gold medals, which is tied for most in state history, and, 11 years after graduating from Big Sandy, she still holds the Class C state record in the 400 meters and the intermediate hurdles.

Danreuther’s love of track and field didn’t stop in Big Sandy either. She would go on to have a stellar career with the University of Montana Track and Field team, proving just how dedicated she was to the sport.

“I have always wanted to run track.” Danreuther said. “And I always want to go out there and do the best I can do.”

Her best was always better than most, too. To this day, Danreuther is still one of the single-most successful track and field athletes Montana has seen, and certainly one of the most decorated 9C track stars of all time.

And yet, even when she was on the verge of history before the state meet her senior season, Danreuther was grounded, and always humble.

“I can't complain,” Danreuther said of her career up to that point. “It’s been pretty good.”

No Kourtney it wasn’t pretty good. Your career was better than good. It was spectacular.