Hawks show up, compete at Western B

Showing up is one thing, showing up to compete is another.

Showing up to compete for every point in every event, the Thompson Falls track and field turned in stellar performances at the Western B divisional meet in Missoula last week.

Only six strong, the Hawk girls impressively won second place in the Western B as all six of those girls made vital contributions. And it really wasn't even that close; Bigfork won the meet with 201 points, Thompson Falls was a strong second with 91 and Eureka a distant third with 60.

It is believed to be Thompson Falls' first Western B track and field trophy since 2015.

With the boys, Hawk seniors Justin Morgan and Cody Burk led Thompson Falls by winning two events each. Morgan motored to long-distance wins in the 1600 meters (in 4:35.41) and in the 3200 (setting a new TFHS record in 9:49.61), while Burk threw down divisional titles in the shot put (46-11.75) and the discus (145-7), also claiming sixth place in the javelin (138-11).

The Hawk boys finished with 48 team points and fifth place in the division. Bigfork won the Western B boys with 167 points, Loyola (74) was second, Eureka (74) third and Mission (50) fourth.

Coach Trenna Ferris was more than a little impressed with what her teams gave her in Missoula. "Wow! What a two-day meet for the Blue Hawk track and field team! We have four divisional champs and three of those in two events each, and we now have a new school record in the boys' 3200!

"It was so fun to watch our kids show up to compete and not buckle under the pressure," she said. "The weather was not the best but we fought through and just got the job done. We scored points across the track and field on both days."

The Hawk girls may have provided the best entertainment of the weekend with their lights-out efforts.

Sophomore sensation Chesney Lowe won the javelin (with a throw of 104-0) and the pole vault (clearing a career best 8-9), in addition to winning sixth place in the triple jump (28-9.5) and running legs on both relays.

Senior Jody Detlaff turned in another strong performance in all her events, winning the discus (106-4), claiming second in the shot put (32-5.5) and placing third in the high jump (4-8).

Another senior, Josey Neesvig, who has been battling the after-effects of COVID-19 all season after contracting the disease last fall, surged to second place in the 800 meters in a career-best time of 2:43.15, and ran on both placing relays.

Josey's freshman sister Hattie Neesvig continued her outstanding season by taking third in the triple jump (31-0) and fourth in the high jump (4-8) based on number of misses, also running on both relays.

Fellow frosh Faith Palmer and Mollie Nichols provided solid scoring punch in the distance runs and on the relays. Palmer clocked personal bests in the 1600 (6:14) and 3200 (13:37.70), winning third in each race, and Nichols also posted personal bests in the 1600 (6:21) and 3200 (13:54.33) in placing fourth in both events.

On the relays, Josey Neesvig, Palmer, Lowe and Hattie Neesvig teamed up to win third in the 1600 meters (in a season-best time of 4:38.49) and fifth in the 400 meters (in yet another season-best time of 56.40).

The Hawks' super six girls will now set their sights on making some similar scoring noise at the State B meet in Laurel Friday and Saturday.

Morgan and Burk were the leaders for the boys but several others earned State B bids as well.

Breck Ferris won fourth place in the long jump, Will Hyatt won sixth place medals in the 800 and 3200 meter runs and Owen Fernstrom won sixth in the triple jump.

"We are so proud of both the girls and boys teams! They represented the school and community well," coach Ferris said. "We are looking forward to competing against the best in the state in Laurel Friday and Saturday."