Bulldogs gear up for state competition in Laurel
The Bulldogs posted strong showings at the Western A Divisional track meet in Butte last weekend.
The boys finished fourth overall, while the girls took third.
Head coach Derek Schulz said despite the weather, his athletes performed well. Schulz said there was constant rain and cool temperatures throughout the two-day meet.
“We had to meet the challenge of the conditions, but everyone else was doing that also. But I was proud of the way our kids handled the conditions,” he said.
Lee Walburn led the way for the boys, winning the 300 hurdles (40.14) and taking second in the 400 meter dash (50.48). Walburn also took fifth in the 110 hurdles (16.53) and helped get the 1,600 relay to third place (3:27.40).
“He had a stellar meet,” Schulz said of Walburn, noting that Walburn has qualified for five events at state this week.
Along with Walburn, the team had success in field events.
Sam Menicke took third in triple jump (42-0 1/4), Dillon Botner took fifth in shot put (46-11 1/2) and Chase Olson took sixth in javelin (154-9). Josh Dudley also tied for fifth in high jump (5-6).
The 400 relay team took fifth (45.02).
On the girls side, Lauren Schulz, Mikenna Ells and Erin Wilde put up impressive performances.
Schulz continued her excellent season with a second in the 100 (12.90) and third in the 200 (26.90) and 400 (1:01.05).
Ells was the 400 champion (59.12) and took fourth in the 800 (2:25.22). She also tied for fifth in high jump (4-8).
Both Ells and Schulz are qualified for five events at state.
Wilde took second in high jump (5-0) and fifth in triple jump (33-0).
In hurdles, Anna Cook took third in the 100 hurdles (16.83) while Kennedy Grove took third in the 300 hurdles (48.76).
The 400 relay team also took second (51.24).
Now it’s onto the state track meet, which starts Friday in Laurel.
Schulz said he feels like his kids are peaking at the right time, and he’s excited to see what they can do this week.
“I feel like our kids are in a good spot in terms of times dropping at the right time of the season. I feel like our times have another drop in them, so I look for our kids to take what they did in Butte and improve on it in Laurel,” he said. “If we do that I think — for the girls especially — it puts us in a spot where I think we can contend for a trophy. I feel like we’re going in the right direction in terms of dropping times. If we can improve on last week, we should have a lot of fun in Laurel.”
Charlie Merrifield Track
Bulldog Memorial Stadium
Boys
Team Totals
1. Dillon 118.33, 2. Frenchtown 111, 3. Columbia Falls 70, 4. Whitefish 54.50, 5. Butte Central 51, 6. Corvallis 37.33, 7. Hamilton 34, 8. Ronan 17, 9. Polson 13.33, 10. Libby 11, 11. Browning 7, 12. Stevensville 2.5.
Events
400: 2. Lee Walburn, Whitefish, 50.48;
110 hurdles: 5. Lee Walburn, Whitefish, 16.53;
300 hurdles: 1. Lee Walburn, Whitefish, 40.14;
400 relay: 5. Whitefish, 45.02;
1600 relay: 3. Whitefish, 3:27.40;
Shot put: 5. Dillon Botner, Whitefish, 46-11 1/2;
Javelin: 6. Chase Olson, Whitefish, 154-9.
High jump: T5. Josh Dudley, Whitefish, 5-6.
Triple jump: 3. Sam Menicke, Whitefish, 42-0 1/4;
Girls
Team Totals
1. Corvallis 105, 2. Dillon 97, 3. Whitefish 83, 4. Columbia Falls 75, 5. Hamilton 40, 6. Frenchtown 36, 7. Polson 24, 8. Ronan 23, 8. Stevensville 23, 10. Butte Central 14, 11. Libby 7.
Events
100: 2. Lauren Schulz, Whitefish, 12.90;
200: 3. Lauren Schulz, Whitefish, 26.90;
400: 1. Mikenna Ells, Whitefish, 59.12; 3. Lauren Schulz, Whitefish, 1:01.05;
800: 4. Mikenna Ells, Whitefish, 2:25.22; 5. Ella Greenberg, Whitefish, 2:25.70;
1,600: 4. Ella Grennberg, Whitefish, 5:37.24;
100 hurdles: 3. Anna Cook, Whitefish, 16.83; 6. Natasha Abramchuk, 17.26.
300 hurdles: 3. Kennedy Grove, Whitefish, 48.76; 4. Anna Cook, Whitefish, 49.13;
400 relay: 2. Whitefish, 51.24,
Shot put: 5. Hope Brown, Whitefish, 34-0;
Pole vault: 4. Emily Gunlikson, Whitefish, 9-6;
High jump: 2. Erin Wilde, Whitefish, 5-0; T5. Mikenna Ells, Whitefish, 4-8; T5. Jadi Walburn, Whitefish, 4-8;
Triple jump: 5. Erin Wilde, Whitefish, 33-0;