Local thinclads look to shine

The North Star girls track and field team captured a state championship just two short years ago. It was the culmination of a long building process as the Knights had been knocking on the door of state glory for years.

Now, just two years later, the Knights might just kick the door down again.

The North Star girls, and many other area athletes and teams will converge on Great Falls’ Memorial Stadium for the 2014 Class C state track meet Friday and Saturday. And while plenty of local athletes will have a chance to shine, the local spotlight will be on the Knights, who are coming off a win at the Northern C Divisional, where the teams they beat there, Belt and Chinook, might just be their toughest competition this weekend.

Track and field is a numbers game at the state meet and the Knights have the numbers. Bettie Carlon is the favorite to win state championships in both the long jump and triple jump, but she’ll also score big points in the 100 meters, the high jump, and as part of North Star’s relay teams. Teammate Tylynn Rettig will also do the same in the sprints. She’ll be among the favorites in the 100 and 200 meters, but Rettig will also compete in the long jump, triple jump and relays for the Knights.

Rettig and Carlon having a big weekend could be enough to get the Knights the state championship, but North Star has plenty more firepower. Delainey Spicher is a force in the hurdles, while Sierra Yanny is carrying on the tradition of North Star being a strong pole vaulting team. Kristen Lavery will also hope to score points for the Knights in the 800 and 1,600 meters.

And though the girls competition will be tough in Great Falls, North Star isn’t the only Hi-Line team looking for gold medals. Chinook will be tough, too, especially with freshman Kailey Kleinjan as a threat in the 100 and 200 meters. Chinook is also a serious contender in all the throws, as Britney Nelson, Makhayla Farmer and Tavin Schneider are all top-notch throwers, with Nelson being a state-title favorite in the shot put. Add in the experience and athleticism of Emily Dennis in the jumps, and Hannah Weber in the distance races, and Chinook has a strong chance to grab a trophy this weekend as well.

And while Molly Herron of Big Sandy and Ella Billmayer of Turner won’t be able to push for team titles alone, the two Hi-Line runners are searching for their own success in Great Falls. Herron is a top contender in the 800 meters, while she’ll also run the 400. And Billmayer has had a standout year in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters, and she’ll look to make noise on the state level for the first time in her young career. Another area freshman, Allix Goldhahn qualified for five different events this weekend and will carry the torch for the Chester/J-I girls.

The Hi-Line schools won’t likely push for team trophies on the boys side this weekend in Great Falls. But gold is still an option for plenty of local thinclads.

Box Elder’s Will Ketchum has been chasing state championships in the 1,600 and 3,200 for years, and this will be his last shot. Ketchum is a heavy favorite in both distance races, and he’s backed up by teammates Shane Ketchum and Brandon The Boy. Will will also run the 400 and could be a surprise winner in the fast but lengthy 800 as well.

Chinook’s Zach Molyneaux will be another one to watch in Great Falls. Despite battling injuries this season, Molyneaux will look to cap off a brilliant prep career with some hardware this weekend. Molyneaux is the Northern C champion in the shot put, while he’ll also throw the discus and javelin at the state meet. Travis Roth is another Sugarbeeter who could make some noise in the distance events, while C/J-I will look to Cody Ramberg in the long jump, as well as star athletes Steven and Justin May to score points for the Hawks.

And though things didn’t go according to plan for the North Star boys at the Northern C last week, the Knights have depth and that could mean something at the state tournament. Quinn Spinler and Cooper Spicher can score key points for the North Star boys, while Jaxon Simonson and Matthew Helmbrecht have a chance to do so as well. If things go just right for North Star, the Knights could be the surprise team of the state meet.

The 2014 Class C state meet, which runs in conjunction with the AA state meet, kicks off Friday morning in Great Falls. The event runs through Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.