Jefferson High’s track and field teams traveled to Missoula on Apr. 18 for the Seeley Swan Invitational. Despite missing several key contributors, the Panthers made a strong showing, with the girls placing third out of 22 teams and the boys second.
The Lady Panthers scored 54.5 team points, finishing just behind Shelby and Chester-Joplin-Inverness, which tied for first at 56 points. Allie Muffick placed 7th in the 100, in 13.83, with Maddy Averill 11th, 14.02, Erica Shields 32nd, 14.84, and Daisy Johnson 33rd, 14.91. In the 200, Parker Layng was 19th in 29.84.
Peyton Stearns had a great day, winning the 800 in 2:26.80 — a personal record — and taking 2nd in the 1600 in 5:40.52. Nevayah Weninger placed 8th in both the 100 hurdles, in 17.76, and the 300 hurdles, in 55.45. The relay team of Maddy Averill, Josie Oxarart, Muffick and McKinleigh Doherty won the 4×100 in 52.25. And Sidni French, Erica Shields, Parker Layng and Oxarart placed 7th in the 4×400 in 4:40.56.
In the field events, Muffick was 9th in the shot put with 28’ 11.25”; Katie Maus finished 21st, 26’ 2”, Elodie French 22nd, 25’ 10.5”, and Josie Oxarart 27th, 25’ 5.5”. Joslyn Buckley placed 6th in the discus with a throw of 106’ 5”; London Ostby was 16th, 87’ 9”; Maus 23rd, 82’ 7”; Elodie French 40th, 67’ 5”; and Brianna Layng 49th, 61’. Muffick won the javelin with a toss of 118’ 10”. Buckley was 2nd at 116’ 6”, Brianna Layng 5th at 109’ 1”, Shields 15th, 82’, and Oxarart 24th, 78’ 1”.
In the high jump, Allison Zawacki placed 4th at 4’ 8”, Sidney French was 5th, 4’ 8”, and Alonda Rivera 9th, 4’ 6”. Daisy Johnson was 21st in the long jump, with 13’ 1.50”. And Shields placed 13th in the triple jump with 29’ 6”.
The boys also fell just short of winning the meet; their 62 team points trailed only Florence-Carlton’s 66. Bigfork finished 3rd with 55. Luke Oxarart placed 3rd in the 100, in 11.44, with Mikael Richard 10th, 11.75, Caleb Morris 17th, 11.91, Zeke Dove 23rd, 12.02, and Colten Thornock 38th, 12.27. Oxarart was also 3rd in the 200, in 23.04; Richard was 16th in 24.04, Morris 21st, 24.43, Dove 25th, 24.68, and Tyler Dew 54th, 26.95.
Gary Sorenson finished 16th in the 400 in 55.68; Blake Nordlinder was 33rd in the 1600, 5:39.1; and Caleum Dunn 13th in the 3200, 11:57.68. Thornock placed 8th in the 100 hurdles, in 44.79. Morris, Dove, Richard and Oxarart teamed to win the 4×100 relay in 44.86. And Richard, Marshall Jensen, Cooper Mikesell and Sorenson placed 12th in the 4×400, in 3:58.04.
Oxarart won the shot put with a heave of 46’ 2.75”, while Dylan Stevens was 4th, 44’, Tavin Charlton 5th, 42’ 9”, and Brady Armstrong 12th, 39’ 7”. Charlton was 3rd in the discus with a throw of 137’ 10”; Kaynen Martin was 11th at 120’ 7”; Stevens 33rd at 102’ 3”; and Jed Williams 46th at 89’ 10”. Oxarart completed a big day by taking 3rd in the javelin at 157’ 5”; Williams placed 14th at 124’ 2”; Morris was 23rd at 113’ 11”; and Spencer Boiles 36th at 99’ 6”.
Freshman John Quigley won the high jump at 6’ 4”, with Hunter Stevens finishing 5th, 5’ 10”, Thornock 7th, 5’ 8”, and Boyles 19th, 5’ 2”
Tennis & Golf
The tennis and golf teams are also doing well this season. JV tennis will return to action at Manhattan on Thursday, May 1st, and the varsity will join the Dawg Bite tournament in Helena May 2-3. The golf teams were at Missoula Apr. 22 and 23 for the Loyola Spring Swing meet. And following Tuesday’s invite-only Russ Pilcher Top 10 meet, the track teams will be at the Small Schools meet in Helena on Thursday and at Butte for the John Tomich Meet on Friday.
