Personal bests fuel Hot Springs, Noxon track

The Hot Springs and Noxon track teams showcased their hard work and talents at the District meet last weekend at the Missoula County stadium. Several athletes will be moving on to divisionals this weekend in Missoula. With 12 Savage Heat earning personal bests and 18 Red Devils achieving theirs, it has proved to be a successful season.

Hot Springs Coach Andrew Leichtnam said he was very impressed by performances last weekend and that the team is looking forward to competing this weekend. The athletes who placed in the top five qualified.

In the spotlight for their performances are Elijah Campbell, David Chapman, Weston Slonaker, Quincy Styles-Depoe, and Kara Christensen. Campbell won second place in the 3200 in 11:26.73 and third in the 1600 in a time of 5:13.23. “David and Quincy cleaned up in the hurdle races and are looking good for divisionals,” said Leichtnam.

Chapman won first place in the 110 hurdles with a time of 17.01 and second in the 300 hurdles in 47.76. He also placed fifth in the 100 and third in the 200 meter run. Styles-Depoe won first place in the 300 hurdles in 45.87 and third in the 110 hurdles in 17.55. His third place javelin throw of 136 feet ten inches and fifth place in the 400 secured him those events in Divisionals.

Slonaker will be representing the team in the discus after his first place throw of 123 feet ten inches and Leichnam said that he has a chance to make it to State. Kara Chrisensen pulled off a second place win in the 100 hurdles in 18.57, second place in the 300 hurdles in 53.81, second in the discus with a throw of 89 feet 11 inches and fourth in the javelin. “Kara did very well as a freshman, qualifying for divisionals in four events,” said Leichnam.

The boys 1600 relay team consisting of: Wyatt Campbell, Elijah Campbell, Styles-DePoe and Chapman got third place. With a fifth place finish in the 3200 and a fourth place finish in the discus, Wyatt Campbell and Georgia Uski, consecutively, will also be heading to Divisionals.

Leichtman said that Nick McAllister didn’t get to compete due to a back injury, “He probably would have qualified in five events had he competed.”

The Noxon girls team placed third overall with Emily Brown in the spotlight for winning four first place finishes and one second. Brown won first in the 400 in 1:01.33, first in the 800 in 2:23.93, first in the 1600 in 6:00.05, first in the javelin with a throw of 115 feet 7 inches and second in the 200 with a time of 27.41. “Very good weekend - proved what kind of athlete she really is,” said Coach Matt Havens.

Georgia Boehme placed third in the 3200 in 16.11.74, Natasha Fisher placed fifth in the 100 hurdles and Skye Irgens achieved fourth in the 100 hurdles. Boehme, Fisher, Irgens and Maygan Swanson will be representing the team in the 1600 relay.

Ricky Williams won second place in the 110 hurdles in 17.5 and Shamus Wheeldon placed fourth in the 200 in 25.26. “We are not done yet - we are still working hard at practice for divisional this weekend and next week for state,” said Havens.