Dogs sweep Northwest A track titles

Whitefish easily met and exceeded expectations as the favorites to win the Northwest A divisional track meet last weekend. Both the girls and boys teams returned from Frenchtown with divisional titles, and both will send a legion of athletes to state this week in Butte.

The Lady Dogs earned first-place finishes in six of the 10 events on the final day to rack up 176 points. Columbia Falls took second with 157 points.

Eleven girls are headed to the state meet.

Senior Marlow Schulz dominated her events, winning the 100 (12.51), 200 (25.86), 400 (57.06) and 800 (2:21.32). She placed second in long jump with a 16-2 1/2.

Phoebe Guercio was a double winner, taking long jump with a 17-1/2 and the 300 hurdles in 47.28. She placed second in the 100 hurdles (16.15).

Combined, Schulz and Guercio tallied 90 points for the Lady Dogs.

“Phoebe and Marlow had meets for the ages,” Whitefish coach Derek Schulz said.

Both will likely compete in seven events at state.

Grace Kurtz continued to impress with a second place in the 100 (12.94), 200 (27.10) and the 400 (1:01.90). She scored 28 points for the team.

“Grace had an outstanding meet,” Schulz said. “She flies under the radar a bit.”

Kate Doorn cleared 5-0 to snag a gold medal in high jump.

Barrett Gray earned a second place in the 3,200 and Bekah Weaver cleared 9-0 for second in pole vault.

The girls will look to pile up points at state with multiple athletes competing in five different events. Still, Corvallis appears to be the team to beat.

“Corvallis is very strong in areas where other teams aren’t,” Schulz said. “But our confidence level is pretty high right now.”

The boys also won six of 10 events on Saturday and piled up 216 team points. Polson was a distant second with 115 points. Whitefish will send 15 boys to the state meet.

“The boys have a lot of depth,” Schulz said. “They came in and took care of business in a big way.”

“Track is a team sport. Showing up as a team is important and our kids did that. They gave it everything they had and it showed in final results.”

Jed Nagler had a standout weekend, winning the 100 (11.31) and high jump (6-2). He also placed second in the 200 (23.52). He competed in five events.

“He came to play and had an outstanding meet,” Schulz said. “It’s amazing what he’s able to do, and he’s still getting better.”

Another double winner, Luke Cardon won the 800 (2:02.60) and the 400 (52.56).

Keaton Grove took gold in the 110 hurdles with a 15.03 and Thomas Henson won the 3,200 (10:49.65).

Gage Smith placed first in shot put (48-6), and second in discus (138-6).

Luke May chucked the javelin 190-2 for the top throw of the meet.

Sean Foley cleared 13-0 for first in pole vault, with EJ Havens clearing 12-6 for second.

Cardon, Grove, Foley and Koler Kanistanaux paced Whitefish’s winning 400 relay team to a 44.47.

At state, Schulz said the boys will be challenged to defend their state title by strong teams from Hamilton, Corvallis and Belgrade.