Bulldogs pace top teams in Missoula

The Whitefish track and field team held its own against some top competition at Flathead and Missoula last week.

Last Tuesday the team competed in the Flathead “mini-invitational” through the rain, but left early due to the weather.

Head coach Derek Schulz said leaving early for weather was a new first in his long career.

“That weather was kind of a wicked weather day. It rained constantly and it was cool, so it was a real test for us. We completed about 75 percent of the meet and we ended up leaving before the meet finally,” he said. “Kids were worn out and we were all soaked, so I didn’t want to risk injury. That was the first time in my entire time coaching that we’ve ever left before the meet ended. It was nasty out there.”

Despite the weather, the team still performed well.

Lauren Schulz took first in the 400 (1:04.27), while Jessica Henson took third in the 3,200 (12.41.61) and Natasha Abramchuk third in the 100 hurdles (17.71).

The 4x100 relay took fourth overall (53.45).

On the boys side, Lee Walburn took a pair of firsts in the 400 (51.86) and the 110 hurdles (15.57). He also took sixth in the high jump (5-7).

Sam Menicke grabbed second in triple jump (40-3.5), Dillon Muth first in javelin (130-5) and Dillon Botner took second in shot put (41-3).

Things got even more intense at the Missoula County Public Schools Invitational over the weekend, which featured five Class AA schools in addition to Class A, B and C.

The girls took seventh overall while the boys took ninth as a team.

Schulz finished fourth in the 200 (26.83), while Mikenna Ells took second in the 400 (1:01.26). Erin Wilde was the high jump winner (5-03), and Ells and Jadi Walburn also tied for fourth (4-10).

Walburn was the champion in the 110 hurdles (15.44), while Jack Eisenbarth took second overall in pole vault (12-06). Botner finished fourth in shot put (43-07) and Connor Chalmers fourth in triple jump (40-07).

Schulz said the competitiveness of the meet is what pushes his kids to another level.

“It can be intimidating if you allow it to be. It can also pull you along and push you, and that’s what we use a meet like that for,” he said. “What we get out of it in terms of rising to the level of competition is outstanding. A meet like that one is actually more competitive than the state track meet. It just makes us better.”

This week the team gets a full week of practice before heading to Columbia Falls for the Columbia Falls Invitational on Saturday.

That will start at 10 a.m.

Flathead Mini-Invitational

Tuesday At Legends Stadium

No Team Totals Kept

Girls

400 — 1, Schulz, Lauren, Whitefish, 1:04.27.

3,200 — 3, Henson, Jessica, Whitefish, 12:41.61. 4, Greenberg, Jade, Whitefish, 12:45.49.

100 Hurdles — 3, Abramchuk, Natasha, Whitefish, 17.71. 6, Cook, Anna, Whitefish, 18.25.

4x100 Relay — 4, Whitefish ‘A’ 53.45. 6, Whitefish ‘B’ 55.51.

Boys

400 — 1, Walburn, Lee, Whitefish, 51.86. 5, Schwaiger, Jack, Whitefish, 54.84.

110 Hurdles — 1, Walburn, Lee, Whitefish, 15.57.

300 Hurdles — No results because of timing problems.

4x100 Relay — 6, Whitefish ‘A’ 47.01.

High Jump — 6, Walburn, Lee, Whitefish, 5-7.

Triple Jump — 2, Menicke, Sam, Whitefish, 40-3.5.

Shot Put — 2, Botner, Dillon, Whitefish, 41-3. 3, Stephens-Parks, Hunter, Whitefish, 40-3.

Discus — 3, Wold, Keegan, Whitefish, 114-2.

Javelin — 1, Muth, Dillon, Whitefish, 130-5. 2, Olson, Chase, Whitefish, 125-0.

Missoula Invitational

Girls Team Totals

1, Flathead, 119; 2, Missoula Big Sky 117; 3, Missoula Hellgate, 84.50; 4, Corvallis,64.50; 5, Glacier, 62.50; 6, Missoula Sentinel, 56.50; 7, Dillon, 43; 7, Whitefish, 43; 9, Frenchtown, 26; 10, Hamilton, 24; 11, Stevensville, 16; 12, Polson, 4; 13, Loyola, 3.

Events

200 — 4, Lauren Schulz, Whitefish, 26.83;

400 — 1, 2, Mikenna Ells, Whitefish, 1:01.26;

400 Relay — 5, Whitefish, 52.72;

High Jump — 1, Erin Wilde, Whitefish, 5-03; 4, Mikenna Ells, Whitefish, 4-10; 4, Jadi Walburn, Whitefish, 4-10;

Pole Vault — 6, Emily Gunlikson, Whitefish, 9-0.

Boys Team Totals

1, Missoula Sentinel, 129.50; 2, Flathead, 95; 3, Frenchtown, 79.50; 4, Dillon, 72.50; 5, Glacier, 69.50; 6, Missoula Hellgate, 52; 7, Loyola, 36; 8, Missoula Big Sky, 32; 9, Whitefish, 29; 10, Hamilton, 27; 11, Corvallis, 24; 12, Valley Christian, 12; 13, Polson, 5.

Events

110 hurdles — 1, Lee Walburn, Whitefish, 15.44;

Pole vault — 2, Jack Eisenbarth, Whitefish, 12-06;

Triple jump — 4, Connor Chalmers, Whitefish, 40-07;

Shot put — 4, Dillon Botner, Whitefish, 43-07;