Bigfork keeps up with bigger competition

Bigfork High School may not be one of the largest schools in Northwest Montana, but several athletes on the track team proved that they can still hold their own at last Saturday's Archie Roe Invitational track meet in Kalispell, which drew about 1,000 athletes from 18 schools, including five AA schools.

The Vals placed eighth among 16 schools with 24.5 total points. The Bigfork girls collected more than four times as many points as their conference rivals Libby, Whitefish and Columbia Falls each did.

"At that meet it's really rough," said BHS Head Track Coach Sue Loeffler. "You have to have some top notch athletes to do well as a team. We don't have a lot of kids to place well as a team, but we have a lot of really good athletes that place high individually. Right now we're more of an individual sport because of that."

Kayla Carlson continued her winning streak in the 1600-meter. Her time of 5:28.25 was good enough for her third win of the season in the event, making her a perfect three-for-three in that race this year. In the 3200-meter she placed second. With a time of 11:51.86, she was just three-and-a-half seconds behind winner Taylor Rather from Missoula Big Sky.

Mallery Knoll placed fifth in three events. She had a time of 27.26 in the 200-meter, 16.42 in the 100-meter hurdles and 48.41 in the 300-meter hurdles.

Knoll was also the anchor of the Bigfork girls 400-meter relay team that placed sixth after finishing the course in 52.43. Jenna Egdorf, Caitlin Charlebois and Roxy Thurman made up the rest of the team.

The Vikings had a total of just 10 team points and placed 14th out of 18 teams.

Donny Tudahl led the boys again this week, with a third place finish in the shot put, with a distance of 46-09. He also threw the discus 151-08 and earned fifth place. In a week where most of the Bigfork boys and girls athletes achieved somewhat slower times and shorter distances, Garrett Pewe was able to repeat his high jump height from last week of 6-02, which continues to be his highest of the season, and placed sixth.

Pewe was also the lead leg of the boys 400-meter relay team that took sixth in 45.64. Keenan Evans had the second stretch, followed by Tudahl and then Travis Knoll.

"Everyone competed really well," Loeffler said. "Even our kids that didn't place had some good performances."

The Archie Roe Invitational is unique because it is the only meet that has a freshman, junior varsity and varsity division for each of the events. Loeffler said that she had two freshmen compete, both girls.

"They did quite well," she said.

The JV athletes had strong showings as well.

"One of the kids that really shined in junior varsity was Garrett Hibbs," Loeffler said. "He won the javelin and placed high in the discus. He improved a lot in personal bests too."

Last Tuesday coach Loeffler took her JV athletes to Whitefish for the Ken Good Invitational track meet. Eight schools competed in the non-scoring event, which took place four days after Whitefish's larger scored meet.

"There were some good performances," Loeffler said. "The weather was pretty bad, but they did well."

Matt McGady was the only boy to place. He took third in the 400-meter with a time of 58.72.

Among the girls, Caitlin Charlebois had the best finish. She threw the javelin 91-7 to earn second place. Amber McDaniel was fifth in the triple jump with 28-7.

The track team will participate in the annual ABC meet in Polson Saturday, May 16, which is the last meet before divisionals.

"We just have to get completely healthy," Loeffler said of the team's outlook for divisionals. "We look for everyone to be back strong for divisionals. That's the one that counts. When you have low numbers and you lose a couple of people it makes a big difference.

Egdorf has returned from an injury she incurred earlier in the season and Quinci Paine is back competing after sitting out for multiple meets due to illness. Also, Roxy Thurman is nursing a sore foot and Jill Hamilton is dealing with knee problems after having ACL surgery last year.

Divisionals will also be in Polson May 22-23.

"You kind of get used to the track," Loeffler said of having back-to-back meets in Polson. "One of the things that is different at Polson is that you throw the javelin off of asphalt. That's different than anywhere else, even state. So it's nice to get some experience with that before divisionals."