Ennis, Bozeman boys finish second

By MIKE KIEFER Chronicle Sports Writer

HELENA - Volunteers deployed leaf blowers, sponge rollers and push brooms to keep standing water out of the competition on Saturday.

They didn’t stand a chance.

The only question among coaches and veteran volunteers was whether this weekend’s crummy weather matched the 2006 state meets, when some athletes were treated for hypothermia.

What had been a drizzle Friday became unrelenting during the final day of Class AA/C track and field meet at Helena’s Vigilante Stadium. Ennis’ boys team surged to a photo-finish in the team competition on the strength of its star sprinter.

Bozeman took home two trophies after fighting into the evening in two tight races undecided until the pole vault finished at the Helena Ice Arena. Bozeman’s girls fell behind both Billings West and the surprising Missoula Big Sky, which won its first team title since 1990. Bozeman’s boys eked out second place by a single point, winning its first trophy in the last five years behind the runaway champion Billings West (114).

The Hawk boys 1,600 meter relay of Kevin Pringle, Matt Francis, Tanner Burgard, and anchor Chip Goodrich secured the needed points with a third-place finish in the day’s final track event.

“We were seventh after the first leg,” Bozeman coach John Griffith said. “They stepped up huge. Chip ran a great final leg.”

In Class C, Ennis’ Bryce Shows accounted for 32 of the Mustangs’ 60 points by himself, six shy of champion Hinsdale/Saco.

Shows won his third individual title in the 200-meter dash and turned in a fifth-place in the 100 while anchoring the third-place finishes in both Ennis relays.

Shows said that he didn’t remember much about his 200 victory, where he pushed ahead in the final 20 meters.

“All I can remember is crossing the finish line,” Shows said.

Only Kourtney Danreuther, phenom of the girls state team champion Big Sandy, delivered a more gaudy performance in Helena with five individual and relay titles.

In both classes, Gallatin Valley’s distance runners held their own as Bozeman freshman Heidi Turner outdistanced Billings Senior’s Alexa Aragon in the 3200’s final two laps. Controlling the tempo through the first mile with teammate Kate Dolan, Turner saved enough for the last push against the strong-kicking Aragon.

“I got really aggressive today,” Turner said. “My first goal was to stay strong in the first mile and run as a pack.”

Shannon Young also used the extra distance to her advantage, staving off Tristany Brown of Winnett/Grass Range, who had caught her on the final lap in the 1600 on Friday.

“I was paying attention to each lap,” said the Harrison freshman, who also finished fifth in the 800. “I wanted to do better than I had in the mile so I could say I was a true distance runner.”

Gardiner’s Ford Smith and Bozeman’s Alex Brekke completed their sweep of the boys distance events. Brekke won with ease after his main competitor, Missoula Big Sky’s Cody Lund, fell in front of him on the first curve of the bell lap. Teammate Matt Francis finished sixth in the 3200.

In the Class C race, Smith won his second duel with Joliet’s Ryan Ketterling.

“With about 900 meters to go, I was thinking I’ve got to get out of here or he’s going to catch me,” said Smith, who graduates today. “I thought I heard him behind me in the final 100 meters. Ketterling’s fast. But he’s beaten me too many times for me to let it happen on my last high school race.”

Ennis’ Taylor McNally matched her shot put championship with another in the discus. Brother Ryan McNally finished second in the boys’ competition with a throw of 148 feet, five inches.

“It’s been bad weather in Ennis lately,” Taylor McNally said. “We got really good at throwing in wet conditions. I just brought the adrenaline from the shot to the discus.”

Other Class C all-state performances included West Yellowstone’s Nick Griffin, who finished fourth in the 110 hurdles and third in the high jump; Madd Hoeninhausen of Gardiner was second in the high jump at 5-0; Gardiner’s Michael Bent finished in a four-way tie for sixth in the long jump.

Bozeman’s boys cashed in on Goodrich’s fifth place in the 200. James Cole came in second in the discus to Sentinel’s Brian Maus.

Bozeman’s girls collected points from Kirsten Tilleman’s third-place finish in the triple jump and a second place in the discus. Elizabeth Spartas’ was fifth in the 800 and a part of the second-place 1600 meter relay, which was anchored by Kelsey Ham.

But the Missoula Big Sky team delivered an out-of-the-blue victory on the strength of an superlative first day of competition.

“Unbelievable meet,” Griffith said. “They competed so well. They came out of nowhere. They scored more points in the first day than I had them scoring in the entire meet.”

But Bozeman’s boys put two five-year slumps to bed, finishing in the top three of the team competition and earning their first individual titles in that span n three of them (two from Brekke, one from Cole).

“For (the boys team) to step up and get second was pretty incredible,” Griffith said. “I wouldn’t have guessed that we would end up second.”

Class AA State Meet

Vigilante Stadium, Helena

AA Girls

Big Sky 105, West 97, Bozeman 70, Butte 61, Senior, 56.5; Hellgate 41, Sentinel 36, C.M. Russell 20.5, Flathead 11.5, Capital 9, Skyview 8, Glacier 7, Great Falls High 2.5, Helena 2.

800 — 1, Alexa Aragon, Billings Senior 2:15.60; 2, Chantelle Grey, Sentinel, 2:16.4; 3, Keli Dennehy, Butte, 2:17.00; 4, Nicole Rietz, Billings West, 2:17.5; 5, Elizabeth Spartas, Bozeman, 2:18; 6, Tara Will, Capital, 2:19.90.

Triple jump — 1, Asia Graham, Sentinel, 37-1; 2, Lindsey Hall, Big Sky, 35-8 1/2; 3, Kirsten Tilleman, Boz, 35-6; 4, Callie Muri, West, 34-10 3/4; 5, Kalya Smart, Glacier, 34-0 3/4; 6, Kylie Edinger, Senior, 33-11 1/2.

100 hurdles — 1, Lindsey Hall, Big Sky, 14.81; 2, Sarah McGree, Butte, 14.94; 3, Gwen Abbott, Butte, 15.69; 4, Angela Morasco, Big Sky, 15.77; 5, Sawyer Ferguson, Skyview, 15.9; 6, Mikal Chancy, Capital, 16.16.

100 — 1, Lauryn McKay, West, 12.63; 2, Morgan Braby, Big Sky, 12.67; 3, Jessica Leslie, West, 12.73; 4, Bobbi Furrer, Hellgate, 12.76; 4, Melissa Jenkins, Big Sky, 12.76; 6, Callie Muri, West, 12.91.

3,200 — 1, Heidi Turner, Bozeman, 11:12.97; 2, Alexa Aragon, Senior, 11:20.51; 3, Keli Dennehy, Butte, 11:24.97; 4, Aurielle Fain, Senior, 11:32.68; 5, Heather Fraley, Glacier, 11:38.17; 6, Kori Thornock, Big Sky, 11:43.69.

1,600 relay — 1, Billings West 3:57.04; 2, Bozeman 3:59.35; 3, C.M. Russell 4:01.12; 4, Big Sky 4:06.59; 5. Hellgate, 4:08.06; 6, Sentinel 4:08.26.

Discus — 1, Jesse Harkness, West, 128-2; 2, Kristen Tilleman, Bozeman, 123-7; 3, Kiandra Rajala, Hellgate, 122-7; 4, Sara Feilzer, Big Sky, 121-1; 5, Kellie Cole, Bozeman, 120-11; 6, Hannah Hart, Big Sky 109-0.

Pole vault — 1, Allison Huguet, Big Sky, 10-6; 2, Sarah Lubke, Capital, 10-6; 2, Alexa Aragon, Senior, 10-6; 4, Rebecca Chambers, Senior, 10-6; 5, Mandy Evanson, Helena, 10-0; 6, MistyBurdaux, CMR, 10-0; 6, Libby Madison, Great Falls, 10-0.

AA Boys

Billings West 120, Bozeman 53, Capital 52, Big Sky 48, Skyview 40, Flathead 40, Sentinel 32, Butte 28, C.M. Russell 28, Senior 25, Great Falls High, 21, Helena 20, Hellgate 16, Glacier 3.

110 hurdles — 1, Jared Hunt, Capital, 14.74; 2, Logan Hodke, Great Fall, 3, Lane Hamilton, Big Sky, 14.93; 4, Matt Miller, Capital, 15.15; 5, Dustin Hover, Hellgate, 15.19; 6, C.J. Manning, Flathead, 15.66.

Discus — 1, Brian Maus, Sentinel, 157-9; 2, James Cole, Bozeman, 151-6; 3, Matt White, West, 149-9; 4, Josh Harris, Flathead, 149-2; 5, Calder Morrison, Flathead, 148-9; 6, Sean Thornton, Capital, 147-10.

1,600 — 1, Alex Brekke, Bozeman, 4:24.81; 2, Ethan Shrader, Butte, 4:28.79; 3, Cody Lund, Big Sky, 4:30.95; 4, Rob Brooks, Sentinel, 4:32.09; 5, Jake Roske, Hellgate, 4:33.51; 6, Matt Francis, Bozeman, 4:38.15.

200 — 1, Josh Pelczar, West, 21.88; 2, Brandon Pearce, Skyviw, 21.91; 3, John MacDonald, West, 22.32; 4, Justin Maes, Helena, 22.36; 5, Charlie Dotson, Flathead, 22.58; 6, Jordan Klatt, Senior; 22.90.

Triple jump — 1, Ben King, West, 44-6 1/4; 2, Brent Zundel, West, 43-0 1/2; 3, Scotty Owens, Senior, 42-11; 4, Sam Tedrow, Flathead, 42-10; 5, Kyle Montini, Glacier, 42-8 1/2; 6, Mike Devlin, Big Sky, 42-5 1/2.

1,600 relay — 1, Billings West, 3:21.74; 2; Capital, 3:22.79; 3, Bozeman 3:25.86; 4, Flathead, 3:26.24; 5, Big Sky 3:26.85; 6, Helena 3:28.28.

Pole vault — 1, Clinton McKinley, C.M. Russell, 14-6; 2, Kelly Wardell, Capital 14-0; 3, Sean Robinson, West, 14-0; 4, Justin Maes, Helena, 13-6; 5, Bryan Trumbo, Big Sky, 13-6; 6, Jon Orthmeyer, Capital, 13-0.

Class C State Meet

Boys

Team Scores

1. Hinsdale/Saco 66; 2. Ennis 60; 3. Sheridan 56; 4. Joliet 38; 5. Harlowton 31; 6. Centerville 26; 7. Charlo 22; 8. Gardiner 20.25; 9. Drummond 16.25; 10. Victor 16; 11. Alberton 14; 12. Superior 11; 13. Denton 10; 13. Geraldine 10; 13. Great Falls Central/MSDB 10; 13. Scobey 10; 13. West Yellowstone 10; 18. Fairview 9; 18. Twin Bridges 9; 20. Arlee 8; 20. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 8; 20. Stanford 8; 20. Winifred 8; 24. Bridger 7; 25. Med Lake/Froid 6; 26. Hysham 4.25; 27. Bainville 4; 27. Big Sandy 4; 27. Broadview/Lavina 4; 27. Lambert 4; 31. Park City 3.25; 32. Absarokee 3; 33. Augusta 2; 33. Opheim 2; 33. Reedpoint/Rapelje 2; 33. Winnett/Grass Range 2; 37. Belt 1; 37. North Star 1; 37. Shields Valley 1.

Individual Results

400 relay — 1, Hinsdale/Saco, 43.92; 2, Sheridan, 44.44; 3, Ennis, 44.68; 4, Bridger 44.73; 5, Twin Bridges 45.22; 6, Park City 45.35.

100 — 1, Justin Clark, Sheridan, 11.25; 2, Kruiz Siewing, H/Saco, 11.35; 3, Jess Graber, Joliet, 11.37; 4, Kazz Siewing H/Saco, 11.39; 5, Bryce Shows, Ennis, 11.43; 6, Jacob Williams, Bridger, 11.44.

110 hurdles — 1, Brian Bennett, Harlowton, 15.68; 2, Cody Nitschke, Charlo, 15.72; 3, Tel Reynolds, Drummond, 15.74; 4, Nick Griffin, W. Yellowstone, 15.82; 5, Dylan Solberg, Scobey, 16.02; 6, Robert Sager, Shields Valley 16.06.

Triple jump — 1, Tyler Stenberg, Superior, 43-3/4; 2, Jared Mayernik, Centerville, 42-7; 3, Wyatt O’Neill Arlee 41-10 1/4; 4, Neil Carlson, Broadview/Lavina, 41-8 1/2; 5, Derek Canen, Hinsdale/Saco, 41-1/2; 6, Ryan Elma, Belt, 40-11 1/2.

1600 — 1, Ford Smith, Gardiner, 4:30.51; 2, Ryan Ketterling, Joliet, 4:33.17; 3, Chris Mai, Victor, 4:34.43; 4, Drew Galahan, Harlowton, 4:40.59; 5, John Fauerbach, CJI, 4:41.06; 6, Joel Buyan, Sheridan, 4:41.07.

Pole Vault — 1, Evan Derks, Denton, 13-9; 2, Kirk Capdeville, H/Saco, 13-6; 3, Chance Firestone, Charlo, 12-0; 4, JP Toussaint, Charlo, 12-0; 5, Andrew Heinen, Absarokee, 12-0; 6, Josh Beaudry, North Star, 12-0.

200 — 1, Bryce Shows, Ennis, 22.76; 2, Jess Graber, Joliet, 22.83; 3, Steven Schmidt, Med/Froid, 22.84; 4, Kruiz Siewing, H/Saco, 22.90; 5, Justin Clark, Sheridan, 23.03; 6, Clay Pierson, Twin Bridges, 23.37.

High jump — 1, Darrell Weatherwax, GFC/MSDB, 6-2; 2, Brian Foran, Winifred, 6-2; 3, Nick Griffin, W. Yellowstone, 6-0; 4, Kazz Siewing, H/Saco, 5-10; 5, Wyatt O’Neill, Arlee, 5-8; 6, Michael Bent, Gardiner, 5-8; 6, Neil Mannix, Drummond, 5-8; 6, Jeff Morales, Hysham, 5-8; 6, Josh Spainhower, Park City 5-8.

1600 relay — 1, H/Saco, 3:29.64; 2, Harlowton, 3:30.76; 3, Ennis, 3:31.22; 4, Charlo, 3:31.77; 5, Sheridan, 3:33.13; 6, Bridger, 3:33.26.

Discus — 1, Nick Clark, Sheridan, 148-7; 2, Ryan McNally, Ennis 148-5; 3, Nick Collier, Ennis, 141-8; 4, Casten Heppner, Big Sandy, 133-11; 5, Calvin Odom, Opheim, 131-0; 6, Greg Hardy, Fairview, 130-1.

Girls

Team Scores

1. Big Sandy 88; 2. North Star 36; 3. Absarokee 28.50; 4. Ennis 26; 5. Denton 21; 5. Geraldine 21; 7. Harrison 20; 7. Highwood 20; 9. Dutton/Brady 19; 9. Peerless 19; 10. Joliet 18; 10. Winnett/Grass Range 18; 12. Bridger 16; 13. Chinook 14; 14. Gardiner 13; 15. Charlo 12.50; 16. Arlee 12; 16. Hinsdale/Saco 12; 16. Noxon 12; 19. Stanford 11; 20. Chester-Joplin-Inverness 10; 20. Wibaux 10; 22. Fairview 9; 23. Carter County 7; 23. Custer 7; 25. Belt 6; 25. Broadview/Lavina 6; 25. Sheridan 6; 28. Twin Bridges 5; 28. Westby 5; 30. Granite 4; 31. Winifred 3; 32. Circle 2; 32. Great Falls Central/MSDB 2; 32. Lincoln 2; 32. White Sulphur Springs 2. 36. Drummond 1; 37. Judith Gap 1; 37. Melstone 1; 37. Nashua 1.

Individual Scores

400 relay — 1, Bridger, 52.16; 2, Big Sandy, 52.37; 3, Wibaux, 52.54; 4, Twin Bridges, 52.72; 5, Belt, 52.78; 6, Peerless, 53.16.

Discus — 1, Taylor McNally, Ennis, 135-6; 2, Natasha Dyrland, North Star, 113-11; 3, Becci Rohrer, Broadview/Lavina, 111-6; 4, Laci Keller, Big Sandy, 107-9; 5, Maren Rackenbrandt, GFC/MSDB, 103-9; 6, Patti Brown, Drummond, 103-6.

High jump — 1, Amber Amsbaugh, Big Sandy, 5-0; 2, Madd Hoeninhausen, Gardiner, 5-0; 3, Desirae O’Neil, Big Sandy, 4-10; 4, Regan Bold, Winifred, 4-10; 4, Jennie Jensen, Sheridan, 4-10; 6, Amberlie Williams, Absarokee, 4-8; 6, Rochelle Toussaint, Charlo, 4-8.

800 — 1, Kourtney Danreuther, Big Sandy, 2:15.56; 2, Carissa Storle, Dutton/Brady, 2:23.46; 3, Echo Thurston, Denton, 2:24.26; 4, Mackenzie O’Dore, Joliet, 2:24.57; 5, Shannon Young, Harrison, 2:24.57; 6, Arica Myhre, Custer, 2:24.82.

100 — 1, Tia Bower, Chinook, 12.95; 2, Shelby Snare, Peerless, 13.06; 3, Morgan Klose, Fairview, 13.09; 4, Jonna Bakken, Wibaux, 13.21; 5, Rachelle Bennett, Joliet, 13.25; 6, Teagan McKinlay, Geraldine, 13.30.

200 — 1, Kourtney Danreuther, Big Sandy, 26.02; 2, Amberlie Williams, Absarokee, 26.46; 3, Shelby Snare, Peerless, 26.51; 4, Tia Bower, Chinook, 26.84; 5, Morgan Klose, Fairview, 26.95; 6, Carissa Storle, Dutton/Brady, 27.11.

3200 — 1, Shannon Young, Harrison, 11:57.16; 2, Tristany Browning, Winnett/Grass Range, 12:04.34; 3, Mackenzie O’Dore, Joliet, 12:16.77; 4, Taylor Cummings, Belt, 12:17.29; 5, Arica Myhre, Custer, 12:17.39; 6, Michelle Melton, Denton, 12:17.90.

Triple jump — 1, Jordan Pfau, Arlee, 34-9 1/4; 2, Sarah Helmbrecht, North Star, 33- 6 1/2; 3, Kari Taylor, Stanford, 33-5 1/2; 4, Maria Sundsted, Westby, 32-11; 5, Jenae Sande, Geraldine, 32-9; 6. Allyson Carroll, Carter County, 32-7 3/4.

100 hurdles — 1, Teagan McKinlay, Geraldine, 15.63; 2, Kim Moore, Noxon, 15.66; 3, Allyson Carroll, Carter County, 16.47; 4, Daina Kolstad, CJI, 16.50; 5, Amber Amsbaugh, Big Sandy, 16.51; 6, Dina Fritz, Circle, 16.72.

Pole Vault — 1, Katie Schipf, Highwood, 9-3; 2, Rachel Semansky, Highwood, 9-0; 3, Jaris Kelley, Charlo, 9-0; 4, Mandy Beil, H/Saco, 8-6; 4, Juliana Bartoletti, Sheridan, 8-6; 6, Sacarra Molina, H/Saco, 8-6.

1600 relay — 1, Big Sandy, 4:12.93; 2, Denton, 4:19.65; 3, Bridger, 4:20.32; 4, Joliet, 4:20.79; 5, Absarokee, 4:20.85; 6, Twin Bridges, 4:21.05.

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