PALO ALTO, Calif. — Cancellations and postponements have flustered Montana track and field athletes this spring, but Helena High’s Trey Tintinger managed to hit some impressive early-season high jump marks.
The sophomore, who broke the Montana all-class record last spring after clearing 7 feet, 1.5 inches, competed in the prestigious Stanford Invitational over the weekend, earning a runner-up finish. Tintinger cleared 2.08 meters (6 feet, 9.75 inches) to finish in second place.
The Bengals’ sensation opened the event at 1.93 meters (6 feet, 4 inches), clearing the bar on his first attempt. He then passed until 6 feet, 8 inches and missed his first two attempts. Tintinger cleared on his third and final try, becoming one of the final three competitors in the field.
California’s Jake Grimsman didn’t enter the event until the bar sat at 2.08 meters (6 feet, 9.75 inches) and was successful on his opening attempt. Daylon Hicks, also of California, missed all three of his attempts.
Tintinger failed to clear his first two attempts at the height, but was again successful on his third try, setting up a showdown with Grimsman for the Stanford Invite title. Each jumper passed 2.11 meters (6 feet, 11 inches) to reach the seven-foot plateau. Officials set the bar to 2.14 meters (7 feet, 0.25 inches) and both jumpers missed their first attempt.
Grimsman cleared on his second try at the height, but Tintinger missed the next two to finish in second place. Grimsman cleared 2.21 meters (7 feet, 3 inches) to set a new personal best in the event.
Tintinger and Helena High were set to host Great Falls High in a dual on Tuesday, but recent snowstorms canceled the event. The Bengals join crosstown rival Helena Capital in welcoming Class A Belgrade to Vigilante Stadium on Saturday morning.
Last July, Tintinger won gold at the USATF Hershey National Track and Field Championships, clearing 2.10 meters (6 feet, 10.75 inches).
Missoula Sentinel’s Lauren Heggen also competed at the Stanford Invite, clocking a 15.79 in the 100-meter hurdle prelims. She didn’t qualify for the finals in the event. Heggen placed sixth in the triple jump, leaping 11.90 meters (39 feet, 0.50 inches) on her sixth and final attempt. Her personal best came last spring when she posted a triple jump of 39 feet, 2 inches.
Heggen and Sentinel were slated to host Kalispell Glacier on Tuesday afternoon in a dual between the Spartans and Wolfpack. Missoula Sentinel is scheduled for the Missoula County Public Schools invitational next Saturday, April 14th.
For complete results from the Stanford Invitational, please click here.
