Jefferson High’s track and field teams churn on, already showing their postseason potential. At the Manhattan Christian Invitational Apr. 20 in Belgrade the boys tied Manhattan Christian for first place among 19 mostly Class B and C schools.The Lady Panthers placed 8th, behind winner Twin Bridges and Broadwater, Belgrade and Manhattan.
The boys put on another impressive performance despite the absence of multiple key athletes in several events. On the track, Parker Wagner finished 5th in the 100 at 12.04, with Caleb Morris 19th, 12:53 and Zeke Dove 21st, 12.62. In the 200, Mikael Richard placed 6th at 24.72, with Colton Thornock 13th, 25.15 and Dove 23rd, 26.34.
Jack Johnson was 10th in the 400-meter race at 54.84, and Dylan Mikesell placed 16th at 800 meters in 2:19.67, with Caelum Dunn 27th, 2:32.96. At 1600 meters, it was Luke Mest 2nd in 4:30.92, Aaron French 3rd, 4:37.78, Dominic Hurlbert 4th, 4:42.04, Logan Hornung 7th, 4:55.62 and McKenon Boyd 13th, 5:04.68.
In the 100 hurdles, Luke Mondloch placed 8th, with 18.44. In the 300, Wagner was 2nd, in 42.85, and Luke Strizich 6th, 44.80. The 4×400 team of Cooper Mikesell, Tyler Frydenlund, Morris, Johnson finished 7th in 3:55.94.
In the field events, Tavin Charlton placed 2nd in the discus with a throw of 119’ 1”; Hayden Yap was 7th, 111’ 2”, Zach Supalla 12th, 100’ 5” and Brady Armstrong 20th, 92’ 8”. Luke Oxarart won the javelin, throwing 162’ 5”; Kaynen Martin was 13th, 126’ 2”, Jed Williams 20th, 118’ 10”, Johnson 23rd, 117’ 4” and Morris 35th, 105’ 4”.
Zachary Anderson placed 8th in the high jump at 5’ 6”. Cooper Mikesell was 4th in the pole vault, clearing 10’. Luke Strizich was 5th in the long jump at 18’ 7”, with Frydenlund 8th, 17’ 11” and Thornock 17th, 17’ 5”.
For the Panther girls, Arena Faler took 6th in the 100, with 13.55; Maddy Averill was 18th, at 14.55, Erica Shields 26th, 14.94, and Jaida Jurenka 28th, 14.96. Faler placed 4th in the 200, at 27.97. Clare Ronanyne was 6th in the 400,, 1:04.17. In the 800, Peyton Stearns finished 4th at 2:37.43, while Maria Mest was 13th, 2:54.30, and Natalie Russ 16th, 2:56.39. Stearns was also 4th in the 1600, at 5:51.63, with Hanna Stevens 11th, 6:14.84.
In the 100 hurdles, Nevayah Weinger took 18th, in 19.31. The 4×400 team of Ronayne, Shields, Stearns and Faler took 5th in 4:30.74.
Allie Muffick placed 9th in the shot put, at 29’ 7.5”, with Haileigh Henschel 13th, 27’ 10”, and Brianna Layng 19th, 26’ 3”. Joslyn Buckley took 4th in the discus, at 98’ 1”, with Muffick 14th, 79’, and London Ostby 42nd, 59’3”. Muffick was also 9th in the javelin, with a throw of 91’ 3”; Buckley was 10th, at 90’ 7”, and Jurenka 26th, 72’ 1”.
Averill took 7th in the long jump, at 15’ 1.75”, with Ada Strauss 15th, 13’11.5”, Shields 19th, 13’ 10”, Faler 21st, 13’ 7.75”, and Weninger 25th, 13’ 5.5”. In the triple jump, Averill placed 12th, at 31’ 1.5”.
Tennis
The Panther tennis teams were in Great Falls Apr. 19 and 20 for the Simms Invite tournament. In singles Bailee Silvonen lost to Conrad 6-7 (7-4), 4-6, and Clara Yap lost to Lone Peak, 4-6, 3-6.
In doubles, Holly Keough and Clara Genger lost to Lone Peak 2-6, 3-6. Addy Leary and Grace Day lost to Lone Peak 3-6, 4-6. Leary and Keough won their match, 6-2, 6-2, while Yap and Addie Coates lost, 4-6, 4-6. Myle O’Neill and Sophie Moens lost to Choteau 4-6, 6-4, 4-6.
In boys doubles, Izaak Luhrsen and Cole Christoferson lost to Choteau 3-6, 3-6; then Luhrsen and Conner Boysen won their match, 6-3, 6-3.
This week, the track and field squad is in Helena for the Small Schools meet on Thursday, then in Butte Saturday for the John Tomich Invitational. Tennis travels to Billings for a tournament on Friday and Saturday. Gold plays at Ennis on Thursday, and at Shelby on Monday, Apr. 29.
