News Summary

Last week, Montana’s high school track and field athletes delivered an impressive array of performances, setting a total of 49 new records across various events. Noteworthy achievements include standout athletes such as Kougar Kappel and Jack Murray, who set state-best times and throws. With the season progressing, these young talents are on course to make significant impacts in their respective sports, providing thrilling competition and showcasing their hard work and dedication.

Montana High School Track and Field Athletes Achieve Record-Setting Performances Last Week

Last week in Montana, the excitement was palpable as student-athletes took to the track and field to showcase their talent, resulting in a whirlwind of record-setting performances that have left fans buzzing! A total of 49 new marks were established across various classes, highlighting the prowess of both boys and girls participating in the sport.

Out of all the remarkable performances, nine marks stood out as the best in the state, regardless of class. Can you imagine the thrill for these young athletes? It’s a testament to their hard work, dedication, and a sprinkle of Montana spirit!

Dominating the Scenes: Boys and Girls Shine

Among the impressive cast of athletes, 23 boys and 23 girls emerged as the best in their respective classifications, yet several earned double bragging rights as they set records in multiple events. For example, Jack Murray from Gallatin, Kougar Kappel from Red Lodge, and Alivia Rinehart from Kalispell Flathead stole the spotlight by achieving records in two different events!

Kougar Kappel truly dazzled in Class B by clocking the fastest times in the 200 meters at 22.6 seconds and the 400 meters at 50.46 seconds. His 200-meter time is particularly exciting as it’s a personal best, and his 400-meter performance is just shy of his previous record from last season. Talk about pressure and excitement!

Meanwhile, Jack Murray exhibited superb strength at the Crosstown Dual where he achieved the best Class AA throws in the shot put at 56 feet 10 inches and the discus at 183 feet 08 inches. This discus throw isn’t just impressive for Class AA; it’s the best mark across all state classifications. He’s surely on fire this season!

On the girls’ side, Alivia Rinehart lit up the track at the Russ Pilcher Top 10 meet with her state-best time of 14.4 seconds in the 100-meter hurdles. Not stopping there, she also claimed the Class AA best of 25.13 seconds in the 200 meters, showcasing her versatility and speed.

Highlighting Other Star Performances

Other remarkable performances from girls included:

  • Madilyn Todorovich from Helena with an impressive 44.07 in the 300 hurdles.
  • Ella Varner from Corvallis jumped to a fantastic 18-07¾ in the long jump.
  • Cori Coombe from Joliet soared to a mark of 36-08¾ in the triple jump.

For the boys, the standout performances featured:

  • William Hollensteiner from Flathead finishing strong at 48.29 in the 400 meters.
  • Sam Henderson from Butte leaped 48-04¾ in the triple jump.
  • Astin Brown from Polson threw an amazing 61-10½ in the shot put, surpassing last year’s Class A record of 60-09½.
  • Brant Ligameri from Cascade took to the skies at 6-6 in the high jump.

Jack Murray’s discus throw of 183-08 is within reaching distance of his own record set last spring of 198-01, while Lane Voermans from Columbia Falls is knocking on the door of the Class A discus record with a throw of 181-02. Young athlete Braedon Ferris from Thompson Falls is targeting the Class B discus record, aiming for the skies with a throw of 166-08.

Bringing excitement in javelin, Hunter Loesch of Corvallis has shown remarkable consistency with a top mark of 204-04, impressively maintaining similar distances in his past four meets.

Record-Setting Races and More

As if that wasn’t enough, Simon Douglas from Whitefish made headlines by winning three races, claiming the 800 meters with a time of 1:54.44. He also set personal records in both the 1,600 meters at 4:21.88 and the 3,200 meters at 10:04.05 during the Whitefish ARM Invitational.

The Bozeman Hawks made waves as well at the Nike/Jesuit Twilight Relays in Oregon, with Miles Halvorsen leading the boys in the 3,000 meters at 8:45.27 and Kylee Neil clinching the girls’ varsity 3,000 meters win with a breathtaking time of 10:19.27. These athletes are setting the stage for an exhilarating season ahead!

As we reflect on this week of outstanding achievements, one thing is clear: Montana’s high school track and field athletes are on track to rewrite the record books. Stay tuned for more exciting updates as the season rolls on!

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