Track and field athletes prepping for new season

Coming off a highly successful season during which the girls team placed second at the State A meet, the Whitefish High School track and field team is preparing to pick things up right where they left off one year ago.

The early-season warm weather is assisting in that too.

“This is probably the earliest we’ve ever had our full squad outside on the track,” Bulldog boys track coach Willie Roche said last week. “Right now it's so nice to be able to do full practices.”

He added that 10 lanes of the track are clear and field event outdoor practices are also getting an early start.

The track team has just over 100 student competitors out this year and the coaches are seeing a lot of dedication right off the bat.

“I would say we have a solid group of kids out that are excited for track,” Roche said. “I think we're carrying some momentum from last year both on the girls and guys' side.”

On the girls team, Whitefish sports a young squad but has several returning top athletes. The Lady Bulldogs have three state champions back on the team this year including sophomores Brooke Zetooney and Hailey Ells, and senior Erin Wilde. All three ran on the championship-winning 4X100 relay team that ran the event at a blistering pace of 48.95.

“We try not to look back; we’re really proud of what we did last year, but we have that mentality that it’s time to look forward,” Lady Bulldog track coach Kelliann Blackburn said. “I tell my girls when they get off the bus before every meet — be the best that you can be today.”

Several girls team athletes placed high in individual events at state, including Zetooney claiming the state title in the 100 meter dash. The sprinter is back and ready for more.

“Brooke had a great season last year,” Blackburn said. “She is hungry for more.”

Another returner to watch is long-distance runner Isabelle Cooke who had a gutsy second-place finish in the 800 meter race at the state tournament. Wilde, now a senior, competed in sprints and jumping last year. This year she will likely focus her energy on jumps.

“Her heart and soul is in jumping, so we’re hoping the best for her,” Blackburn added.

The coach is looking forward to seeing her young team progress and how each athlete develops throughout the year.

For the boys, the Bulldogs return two state champions — senior Gabe Menicke in the triple jump and senior Talon Holmquist in shot put. Menicke put together an incredible run at the state meet last year to PR in the triple jump and win the title overall. Holmquist was a stand-out in shot put throughout last season, continually chasing the 50-foot mark. He finally threw past 50 feet at the Western A Divisionals and then again in the State A competition; he marked a personal best of 52 feet and 3 ½ inches at state.

“On the guys’ side, it's nice having two individual state champs returning and then another athlete with Bodie Smith that scored probably 15-plus points individually,” Roche said. “So all three of those kids are back which is awesome and they're all very excited for track.”

Smith competed in several events but he placed the highest in hurdles, taking third in the 110 meter hurdles and fourth in the 300 hurdles at state.

Roche added that several other kids also have put in work in the off-season, such as seniors Barret Garcia and Gabe Lund, and they might surprise the state.

Overall the sophomore class looks to be the strongest with several kids poised to be competitive in Class A.

Whitefish will begin the track and field season on Saturday in Bigfork. Meet begins at 10 a.m.