Athletes pre-qualify for State meets

Although you can always earn your way to Montana state track and field meets by placing in the top six (or top five at the Class C level) at the divisional meets, there is a way to guarantee entry into the biggest meets of the season before the divisional meets even arrive.

Taking advantage of the Montana state standards program, which allows athletes to pre-qualify for state based on exceeding preset marks and times, six of Sanders County’s finest thinclads have already earned berths into their respective state meets.

From Thompson Falls, two Lady Hawks have made the State B grade in their specialty events as senior Maya Stiles has qualified in the pole vault with a best mark of 9 feet, 0 inches, and sophomore Jody Detlaff has earned a berth in the high jump, where she has cleared 5-0.

Detlaff, who also plays softball at Thompson Falls, is only one of two to qualify in the high jump so far, and Stiles is one of the six girls who have cleared the bar high enough in Class B.

From Plains, junior Kylee Altmiller has surpassed the standard of 112 feet in the javelin by throwing the spear 118-11 and is already in the State C meet in that event.

Hot Springs freshman standout Katelyn Christensen is also going to the State C meet in at least the long jump, where she has marked a best distance of 16-0, exceeding the standard of 15-10.

The defending State C champion in the triple jump, and already the Noxon school record holder in that event, Red Devil senior Levi Brubaker has the best mark in the state in any class this spring as he has already recorded a monster jump of 45-0, set at the Top 10 meet in Missoula a few weeks ago.

Brubaker’s incredible effort is almost two-and-a-half feet farther than any other triple jumper in Class C has reached and easily exceeds the standard of 41-0.

Junior Red Devil teammate Rylan Weltz has also qualified for the State C meet in the discus, with his best throw of 136-1 getting him there.