Tracksters qualify for 36 events at state

After a strong Western A divisional track meet in Libby last weekend, Whitefish is in position to send a busload of athletes to the state meet in Laurel.

The Bulldogs will be represented in 36 total events, including 14 from the boys team and 22 on the girls side.

"I think our kids achieved really well at divisional," Whitefish coach Derek Schulz said. "The kids were ready. We had just a couple of small disappointments, and a lot of bright spots."

One of the bright spots came from Amanda Foley in the sprints. She scored 30 of the girls' 131.5 points at Libby to help the team claim second place behind a talented Polson team.

Foley won the 100- and 200-meter sprints, edging Anna DiGiallonardo of Polson at the line in both races. She finished with a time of 13.24 in the 100 and a 27.16 in the 200. The sophomore also took third in the 400.

Carly Schwickert continued to dominate the league in the 800-meter run, finishing the two laps in 2:02.24, ahead of teammate Jessica Sagen, who took second place. In the 1,600, Schwickert took second place with a 5:26.35.

Three Lady Bulldogs made the finals in the 3,200 — a testament to the reputation Whitefish has earned in the league as a powerhouse in long-distance running.

Bailey Eaton took third in the race, ahead of Sagen in fourth and Loni Hanson in sixth.

Megan Apple posted a second-place time in the 100 hurdles with a 16.87, just on the heels of winner Breanne Kelley of Polson.

"Megan Apple had a great divisional in the hurdles and she runs on both of the relay teams," Schulz said. "She's a real contributor to the team."

In the field, junior Olivia Nagler won the javelin with a toss of 117 feet 4 inches. Janessa Courtney also qualified for state with a 95-foot 4-inch throw.

Nagler was also impressive in the high jump, leaping 4 feet 8 inches for fourth place.

Carley Jo Benda and Heather Bailey both qualified for state in the triple jump with leaps of 31 feet, 7 inches and 31 feet, 6 1/4 inches respectively.

The boys team also put together a strong performance at Libby, led by their tried and true relay teams.

Daniel Simmons, Derek Crittenden, Iaian Cameron and Anto Daoud teamed up to win the 400-meter relay with a 44.02 — their fourth consecutive win in the event.

In the 1,600 relay, Dalton Rice, Logan Harwood, Iaian Cameron and Anto Daoud cruised to first place, nearly three seconds in front of Columbia Falls.

"They guys really shined in the relay," Schulz said. "Those are the things that are important to our program. Everything branches out from there."

Schulz commended Harwood's contribution in the 1,600 relay, noting that the freshman is "blossoming at just the right time."

Daoud, who looks to be a front-runner in nearly all of the sprinting events, snagged first in the 200 and broke Cody Henning's divisional record in the 400. Henning graduated from Whitefish in 2004.

"You can't ignore how Anto did," Schulz said about the divisional record. "There have been a lot of good 400 runners that have come before him."

Three Bulldogs qualified for state in the 100, including Daoud, Crittenden and Cameron.

Crittenden took first in the 110 hurdles with a 15.87, and John Joern took fourth with a 16.68.

Mac Roche has come on strong in the field, posting a third-place jump of 40 feet 6 3/4 inches in the triple jump, and 18 feet 9 1/4 inches in the long jump for fifth place.

Schulz said a number of kids from both teams are in contention to take a top spot at the state meet if they can perform as they've prepare to.

"It comes down to who ever can handle themselves the best with rest, nutrition and mental preparation, he said. "Those are the ones who shine.

"It's fun, but highly competitive. Hopefully when they get out there, it's them."

The teams' goals are to place among the top three.

"This year, I don't know if we can do it or not, but we'll leave it all on the track trying," Schulz said.

The state Class A meet will take place in Laurel and is scheduled for May 28-29.