Chester boys take home another Northern C title

Can I get a little change? Preferably in nickels and dimes.

The Chester boys track team isn't above nickels and dimes, and it's certainly not above thirds, fourths and fifths either. Going into Thursday's Northern C Divisional track meet in Great Falls, Chester co-coach Willie Schlepp predicted that his Coyote boys would "nickel and dime" the competition to death to win the team title.

The Coyotes did that and then some en route to scoring 77 team points and taking home their second-straight Northern C Divisional title at Memorial Stadium.

Chester won just one individual event in the entire boys meet. But the Coyotes scored points in 10 of 16 events and had nine athletes contribute points to take the team title.

"It's pretty much what we expected," said Chester's other co-coach Jim Graham. "Obviously, we hoped to have some guys surprises some people and win some more events, but that didn't happen. But we got we needed to get to win."

What Chester got was a total team performance in a sport usually looked on as more of an individual sport.

"It was just a great example of every athlete coming through and contributing," Graham said.

Chester's only win in the boys came from defending state 800-meter champion Patrick Walstad. The senior won his best event with a time of 2:04.00, beating Dutton-Brady's Jesse Logan by almost a second. It wasn't Walstad's fastest time of the season, but he raced well enough to win.

"Patrick looked pretty good," Graham said. "To win a Northern C title usually sets you right on par with winning the event at state. He's worked really hard all season and sets the tone for our team."

Walstad was edged by rival Stephen Wall of Belt in the 1,600 to finish second.

But after Walstad's win, the seconds, thirds and fourths started rolling in. John Tranberg contributed 16 team points placing in the pole vault, 400 and 800, while Isaac VanDyke turned in a solid day scoring 12 points in two events. VanDyke finished fourth in the 1,600 and turned in one of his best performances of the season in the 3,200, finishing second behind Wall with a time of 10:09.50.

Chester scored 12 points in the javelin as Travis VanDyke, Mitch Violett and Casey Buffington finished third, fourth and fifth respectively. Other placers included Zach Ramberg in the long and triple jumps, Caleb Brown in the 1,600 and Patrick Wicks in the 400.

The Coyote relay teams also had solid showings. The 1,600-meter relay team of Walstad, Travis VanDyke, Tranberg and Ramberg finished second, while the 400-meter relay team of Wicks, Violett, Ramberg and Tranberg finished fifth.

In a bit of surprise, the Big Sandy Pioneers finished second in the team standings with 50 points. As expected, senior Mason Ophus captured the discus with a toss of 152-00 feet. But the Pioneers also scored a big win in the 1,600-meter relay as Kyle Danreuther, Adam Butler, Karl Osterman and Justin Willis teamed to run a solid time of 3:39.00 to edge Chester.

"It was a pleasant surprise to finish second," said Big Sandy coach Roy Lackner. "The mile relay was a big surprise because we had like the fifth-best time coming and we end up winning it. Those four kids ran a great race. I think our fastest time up to that was a 3:47.01."

Big Sandy also got a solid performance senior Adam Butler, who contributed 16 team points. Besides running on the winning relay team, Butler finished third in both the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs and added a fourth in the long jump.

Other placers for Big Sandy were Danreuther with a second in the 300 hurdles, Osterman with a fourth in the 800 and Skylar Pearson with a sixth in the long jump.

The KG KouGars came into the meet picked as one of the favorites, but finished a disappointing 10th. KG got solid performances from Luke Antonich who finished second in the high jump and 110 hurdles and sixth in the 300 hurdles. Cody Donoven added a third in the 110 hurdles and fifth in the 300 hurdles and Richie Melby finished fifth in the 400.

The District 9C's only other individual win on the boys side came from Blue Sky/J-I's Craig Miller, who uncorked the best put of his career with a toss of 47-02.

"I witnessed probably he most pressure-packed five seconds I've ever seen track," said Blue Sky/J-I co-coach Bruce Beaudry. "Craig had scratched on his first two tries and if he does it again, he's going home. Instead, he comes up with the biggest throw of his career. He got the right throw off at the right time."

Hays-Lodge Pole's dynamic sprinter Kevin Walker will be making a trip to the state meet, finishing second in the 200, just behind Judith Gap's Calvin Walter. Walker added a third in the 100.

The girls meet was even less anti-climactic as defending state champ Geraldine ran away from the competition, scoring 108 points. Centerville was a distant second with 79 points, while a youthful Chester girls squad finished third with 75 points. District 9C champ Blue Sky/J-I was fourth with 66 points.

Toni Qunell won five events and scored 48 team points, while teammate Rachel Clark added 27 points to lead the Tigers to yet another team win.

Centerville, paced by sprinter Jayln Kapp, finished a predicted second, but it was Chester's finish that raised some eyebrows.

"We amazed ourselves," Graham said of his girls. "There were some stud girls at this divisional and we go in there with six freshmen and two juniors and competed great."

Junior Jillien Johnson led Chester, scoring 23 team points. Johnson finished second in both the 1,600 and 3,200 while tying for third in the pole vault. Johnson's cohort in the distances, Kelsey Schweitzer, defeated her teammate to capture the 3,200 and finished third in the 1,600. Freshman Brittney Kolstad had a solid divisional, contributing 14 points with fourths in the 110 hurdles and 200, while running on both of Chester's relay squads.

Other placers for Chester included Shawnee Norick in the 800 and triple jump and Leisa Kolstad in the long jump. The all-freshmen 400-meter relay team of the Kolstads, Chelsea Stokes and Mikinzie Fraser finished fourth, while the team of same all-freshmen squad finished third in the long relay."

Blue Sky/J-I's strong finish came from four individual titles on the day. Junior Kile Patrick continued her domination of the distance events, taking the 800 and 1,600 titles. Patrick ran a solid 2:28.40 in the 800, beating Belt's Cassie Gondeiro by almost three seconds.

"Kile just went after that race and took control," Beaudry said. "She decided 'this is my race' and went out fast early. It was a gutty performance. The 800 isn't a race you win by thee seconds, at least not at divisionals."

Patrick defeated rival Johnson in the 1,600 with a time of 5:46.

The Eagles other titles came in the javelin and high jump by a pair of athletes competing in their first divisional meets. Freshman Courtney Wendland won the javelin with a toss of 105-00, beating fellow freshman teammate Allison Grant, who registered a toss of 104-04.

"We know that the girls we're capable of throwing well in the event," Beaudry said. "But to finish 1-2 is great."

The other title came from freshman Hannah Pimley, who won the high jump with a leap of 5-02. It was the second straight week that Pimley cleared her personal best height.

"We knew that she was going to be good after she won the Cascade meet earlier this season," Beaudry said. "And winning districts last weekend was big, but to win at the divisional meet as a freshman is just outstanding."

Blue Sky/J-I also got points from Kaila Warren in the 300 hurdles and Tia Pester in the pole vault. The Eagles had strong showings in the relays with Kaila Warren, Megan Warren, Lindsay Anderson and Maia Aageson finished second in the short relay. The team of Kaila Warren, Anderson, Aageson and Patrick finished fourth in the long relay.

KG's Cady Arifin had a solid meet finishing second in the triple jump with a leap of 32-04 and fourth in the long jump with a distance of 15-01.

The Class C state meet is next weekend in Butte.

BOYS

Team scores

Chester 77, Big Sandy 50, Augusta 49, Geraldine 47, Hobson 39.5, Belt 34, Power 33, Judith Gap 31, Denton 28, KG 28, Geyser 21, Grass Range 20, Hays-Lodge Pole 14, Blue Sky/Joplin-Inverness 12, Dutton-Brady 9, Sunburst 8, Valier 8, Centerville 7, Stanford 7, Roy 3.5, Turner 1

Individual results

100 - 1. Calvin Walter, JG, 11.20; 2. Kade Greany, Aug, 11.30; 3. Kevin Walker, H-L, 11.40; 4. Garath Stahl, GR, 11.40; 5. Josh Black, POW, 11.40; 6. Matthew Strissel, BS-JI, 11.50.

200 - 1. Calvin Walter, JG, 23.00; 2. Kevin Walker, H-L, 23.10; 3. Garath Stahl, GR, 23.40; 4. Logan Lewis, Belt, 23.50; 5. Caleb Ridgeway, STAN, 24.10; 6. Greg Reid, GER, 24.20.

400 - 1. Garath Stahl, GR, 52.40; 2. Kade Greany, Aug, 52.70; 3. Logan Manzanares, POW, 52.70; 4. John Tranberg, CHE, 53.20; 5. Richie Melby, KG, 53.30; 6. Patrick Wicks, CHE, 53.40.

800 - 1. Patrick Walstad, CHE, 2:04.00; 2. Jesse Logan, D-B, 2:04.90; 3. John Tranberg, CHE, 2:08.10; 4. Karl Osterman, BS, 2:08.60; 5. Casey Landru, Roy, 2:09.70; 6. Alex Frey, BS-JI, 2:11.90.

1,600 - 1. Stephen Wall, Belt, 4:44.10; 2. Patrick Walstad, CHE, 4:48.70; 3. Adam Butler, BS, 4:50.90; 4. Isaac VanDyke, CHE, 4:51.60; 5. Caleb Brown, CHE, 4:54.40; 6. Jesse Logan, D-B, 4:59.30.

3,200 - 1. Stephen Wall, Belt, 10:03.70; 2. Isaac VanDyke, CHE, 10:09.50; 3. Adam Butler, BS, 10:39.30; 4. Cody Joyce, GER, 10:43.90; 5. Benji Rogers, HOB, 10:54.30; 6. Brien Peterson, DEN, 11:01.50.

110 hurdles - 1. Kade Greany, Aug, 15.30; 2. Luke Antonich, KG, 15.50; 3. Cody Donoven, KG, 16.00; 4. Brian Guisti, CENT, 16.20; 5. Julian Rogers, HOB, 16.40; 6. Greg Reid, GER, 16.50.

300 hurdles - 1. Kade Greany, Aug, 40.90; 2. Kyle Danreuther, BS, 42.30; 3. (tie) Ross Mosher, Aug, 42.60; Greg Reid, GER, 42.60; 5. Cody Donoven, KG, 43.10; 6. Luke Antonich, KG, 43.20.

400 relay - 1. Power (Cody Ewert, Logan Manzanares, Josh Black, Talon Allen) 45.30; 2. Geraldine 45.70; 3. Judith Gap 45.70; 4. Valier 46.20; 5. Chester 46.30; 6. Centerville 46.60.

1,600 relay - 1. Big Sandy (Kyle Danreuther, Adam Butler, Karl Osterman, Justin Willis) 3:39.00; 2. Chester 3:39.50; 3. Geraldine 3:39.80; 4. Power 3:40.10; 5. Centerville 3:43.30; 6. KG 3:43.40.

Shot put - 1. Craig Miller, BS-JI, 47-2; 2. Stanton Schulze, Sun, 47-1; 3. Michael Clark, GER, 46-1; 4. Brock Hansen, GEY, 45-8; 5. Weston Leritz, Belt, 44-8; 6. Mason Ophus, BS, 44-4.

Discus - 1. Mason Ophus, BS, 152-0; 2. Ryan Kolar, HOB, 138-6; 3. Brock Hansen, GEY, 134-1; 4. Mark Buckentin, DEN, 129-1; 5. Andy Rice, GER, 126-8; 6. Wacy Deegan, STAN, 124-2.

Javelin - 1. Scott Buckentin, DEN, 176-1; 2. Adam Waltz, HOB, 160-1; 3. Travis VanDyke, CHE, 158-5; 4. Mitch Violett, CHE, 152-9; 5. Casey Buffington, CHE, 151-10; 6. Brock Hansen, GEY, 149-11.

Long jump - 1. Benji Rogers, HOB, 19-8; 2. Kade Greany, Aug, 19-7; 3. Jason Harmala, Belt, 19-1; 4. Adam Butler, BS, 18-9; 5. Zach Ramberg, CHE, 18-8; 6. Skylar Pearson, BS, 18-7.

Triple jump - 1. Ryan Nuemann, GEY, 41-3; 2. Benji Rogers, HOB, 41-2; 3. Zach Ramberg, CHE, 41-2; 4. Derek Sande, GER, 40-11; 5. Trevor Daer, Belt, 40-5; 6. Brandon Simons, Turn, 40-3.

High jump - 1. Talon Allen, POW, 6-0; 2. Luke Antonich, KG, 6-0; 3. (tie) Cedric Snelling, JG, 5-10; Lance Nemec, DEN, 5-10; 5. (tie) Benji Rogers, HOB, 5-10; Casey Willmore, Roy, 5-10.

Pole vault - 1. Joey Boso, GER, 13-3; 2. Cole Derks, DEN, 12-6; 3. (tie) Chris Widhalm, Val, 11-6; Daniel Hawkey, STAN, 11-6; John Tranberg, CHE, 11-6; 6. Michael Somerfeld, POW, 11-6.

GIRLS

Team scores

Geraldine 108, Centerville 79, Chester 75, Blue Sky/Joplin-Inverness 66, Belt 46, Grass Range 23, Valier 18, Power 14, KG 12, Roy 12, Augusta 11, Judith Gap 11, Dutton-Brady 10, Winnett 10, Denton 9, Hobson 7, Stanford 7, Winifred 5, Sunburst 3, Great Falls Central/MSDB 1

Individual results

100 - 1. Toni Qunell, GER, 12.80; 2. Brittany Olson, GR, 13.10; 3. Danielle LaRocque, CENT, 13.20; 4. Mandy Dutton, D-B, 13.20; 5. Jacque Mellinger, POW, 13.50; 6. Erica Warner, JG, 13.50.

200 - 1. Toni Qunell, GER, 27.10; 2. Rachel Clark, GER, 27.30; 3. Danielle LaRocque, CENT, 27.90; 4. Brittney Kolstad, CHE, 28.10; 5. Mandy Dutton, D-B, 28.40; 6. Brittany Olson, GF, 28.50.

400 - 1. Toni Qunell, GER, 59.90; 2. (tie) Jalyn Kapp, CENT, 60.20; Rachel Clark, GER, 60.20; 4. Malori Woodford, Winnett, 64.60; 5. Brittany Olson, GF, 64.80; 6. Karesha Wood, Belt, 65.00.

800 - 1. Kile Patrick, BS-JI, 2:28.40; 2. Cassie Gondeiro, Belt, 2:31.50; 3. Shawnee Norick, Che, 2:31.60; 4. Amanda Rebman, Roy, 2:33.40; 5. Erin Econom, Winifred, 2:35.70; 6. Kristen Diede, Val, 2:36.60.

1,600 - 1. Kile Patrick, BS-JI, 5:46.00; 2. Jillien Johnson, CHE, 5:50.60; 3. Kelsey Schweitzer, CHE, 5:54.20; 4. Amanda Rebman, Roy, 5:54.0; 5. Samantha Halko, CENT, 6:02.00; 6. Becky Linn, GFC/MSDB, 6:04.20.

3,200 - 1. Kelsey Schweitzer, CHE, 12:16.10; 2. Jillien Johnson, CHE, 12:18.10; 3. Cassie Kiehl, Winnett, 12:39.50; 4. Samantha Halko, CENT, 12:39.60; 5. Cassie Gondeiro, Belt, 13:03.20; 6. Lacey Beerman, POW, 13:21.90.

100 hurdles - 1. Toni Qunell, GER, 15.40 (meet record, old record 15.80, Kammie Crippen, Belt, 1993; Serena Merrill, Big Sandy, 1997); 2. Jalyn Kapp, CENT, 15.70; 3. Brittany Olson, GF, 16.60; 4. Brittney Kolstad, CHE, 17.10; 5. Kallie Merrill, JG, 17.50; 6. Cherry Tomsheck, Sun, 17.50.

300 hurdles - Jalyn Kapp, CENT, 45.00 (meet record, old record, 45.30, Tiffany Olson, Grass Range, 45.30); 2. Toni Qunell, GER, 45.60; 3. Brittany Olson, GR, 47.50; 4. Brittney Kolstad, CHE, 48.30; 5. Kaila Warren, BS-JI, 50.40; 6. Kallie Merrill, JG, 51.40.

400 relay - 1. Geraldine (Rachel Clark, Kalyn Fairbanks, Leslie Engellant, Jill Schmidt) 52.60; 2. Blue Sky/J-I 53.30; 3. Centerville 53.70; 4. Chester 54.10; 5. Power 54.60; 6. Judith Gap 54.80.

1,600 relay - 1. Centerville (Becky Umphres, Danielle LaRocque, Andi Wilham, Jalyn Kapp) 4:18.00; 2. Geraldine 4:19.40; 3. Chester 4:24.00; 4. Blue Sky/J-I 4:29.90; 5. Augusta 4:30.20; 6. Belt 4:31.00.

Shot put - 1. Alicia Burtchett, GER, 34-3; 2. Abby Bumgarner, Belt, 33-6; 3. Megan Wichman, Belt, 33-; 4. Teresa Turville, D-B, 32-9; 5. Heather Kirby, STAN, 32-3; 6. Kelsey Bumgarner, Belt, 32-1.

Discus - 1. Megan Wichman, Belt, 113-7; 2. Alicia Burtchett, GER, 109-3; 3. Emily Tew, Aug, 102-9; 4. Heather Kirby, STAN, 102-8; 5. Kelsey Bumgarner, Belt, 94-5; 6. Linsee Nemec, DEN, 93-11.

Javelin - 1. Courtney Wendland, BS-JI, 105-00; 2. Allison Grant, BS-JI, 104-4; 3. Megan Wichman, Belt, 104-0; 4. Pearl Ferguson, Roy, 102-0; 5. Linsee Nemec, DEN, 101-5; 6. Jess Golden, Belt, 100-4.

Long jump - 1. Andi Wilham, CENT, 16-11; 2. Rachel Clark, GER, 15-7; 3. Erica Warner, JG, 15-5; 4. Cady Arifin, KG, 15-1; 5. Leisa Kolstad, CHE, 14-11; 6. Denice Musich, DEN, 14-8.

Triple jump - 1. Andi Wilham, CENT, 34-2; 2. Cady Arifin, KG, 32-4; 3. Shawnee Norick, CHE, 31-9; 4. Denice Musick, DEN, 31-7; 5. Cherry Tomsheck, Sun, 31-7; 6. Leslie Engellant, GER, 31-6.

High jump - 1. Hannah Pimley, BS-JI, 5-2; 2. (tie) Cayla Deboo, Val, 4-10; Allison Linhart, HOB, 4-10; 4. (tie) Erin Econom, Winifred, 4-10; Madalyn Morris, Aug, 4-10; 6. Denice Musick, DEN, 4-8.