Tracksters start 2009 fast

The Whitefish track and field team kicked off their 2009 campaign on Tuesday at the Kalispell Time Trials.

The Bulldog boys jumped out of the gates fast, with Drew Coco picking up wins in the 1,600 and the 3,200, and Aaron Tkachyk winning the Class A long jump. Tkachyk is the defending state champion. Kaleb Prestegaard won the pole vault.

There was no official scoring at the event, but 11 Whitefis boys finished in the top-five.

Anto Daoud took second in the 100 and fourth in the 200. Seth Wiley took fourth in the 300 hurdles and sixth in the 110 hurdles, and Alex Elespuru took fifth in the Javelin.

Derek Crittendon took fifth in the 110 hurdles. Defending state champion Colt Idol finished in a tie for third in the high jump. Last season, Idol progressively jumped higher as the season went along.

The Whitefish girls lost defending state champion javelin-thrower Ashley Ferda last year, but the Lady Bulldogs still have some strong contenders.

Loni Hanson placed fourth in the 1,600, while Jessica Sagen took sixth. Sprinter Amanda Foley took sixth in the 100 and fifth in the 200.

Ariel Ducote took third in the 100 hurdles, while Megan Apple was fourth. Lexi Day took sixth in the pole vault, and Olivia Nagler took fifth in the javelin.

Cross-country star Jackie Cassidy took third in the 3,200, while Hanson was right behind her in fourth place.

Heather Melcer and Breanna Cameron finished fourth and fifth in the triple jump, respectively.