LAUREL — A few girls from western Montana hauled in plenty of titles, records and medals in Laurel last week. Now we highlight the KPAX Athletes of the Week from the State A and C track and field meets.
Starting at the javelin, Angellica Street of Columbia Falls didn’t lose a single competition all year. But that doesn’t make her any more comfortable.
“I definitely get super-nervous,” admitted Street. “I don’t know why. But I get super anxious and all of that before I even throw.”
Street nearly matched her career best, launching a 156-foot, 11-inch throw, a new all-class record. No Montana girl has ever tossed a javelin that far in a state competition, and she’s only a junior.
“Next year I’m trying to get over the 160-range for sure,” said Street. “Definitely beating the all-class record again.”
Polson distance star Bea Frissell ended her high school career just how she planned. The two-time cross country champ won the 1,600- (in 5 minutes, 00.1 seconds) and 3,200-meter runs (in 10:47.33) for a second time, setting a new Class A record by nine seconds in the longest race. She didn’t think that was even possible because of who held the previous mark.
“Back my sophomore year, (Belgrade’s) Pipi Eital was a goddess, right?” said Frissell. “It was like, there was no way. I even went up to the line and was like, ‘I don’t know if I can do this.’ And I had a lot of doubts running through my mind, but I’m incredibly happy that I got it done.”
One Corvallis senior topped the podium, a place she has grown accustomed. Calla Haldorson won the discus by 17 feet with a 147-07 toss, becoming the first Montana girl to ever win four state titles in the event. The Blue Devil admitted the past two years felt different than the first two, because she hasn’t lost a single meet.
“The competition has, yeah,” said Haldorson. “The first two years I had Brooklyn Palin from Corvallis, she was pushing me. We were always together. It’s been a difficult year for that. But I’m glad I made it.”
Both girls team titles in Laurel also came back to the West. Whitefish won the Class A crown for the fist time in 25 years, thanks to wins in both relays. Mikenna Ells also won the 400 meters for Whitefish in 57.47 seconds.
Hamilton’s Brynnli Poulsen captured the 800 meters gold in 2:17.86.
Seeley-Swan also won the long relay on its way to a State C championship, beating second-place Charlo by more than 42 points. Four different Blackhawk girls won individual Class C events to help the team domination. Klaire Kovatch took the discus by nearly 30 feet with a toss of 144-02. Autumn Morse threw the javelin 130-11 for the title. Terra Bertsch soared over 10 feet in the pole vault to top the podium. And Sariah Maughan won the 1,600 in 5:23.15.
Charlo’s Carlee Fryberger won both the 100-meter dash (12.7 seconds) and 100 hurdles (15.81). Darby’s Casey Ehmann crossed the line in 46.6 seconds for first place in the 300 hurdles.
As for the Class A western Montana boys in Laurel, Lee Walburn of Whitefish won the 300 hurdles in 39.83 seconds. Hamilton’s Michael Graves made a throw of 184-11 to win the javelin. The Columbia Falls 400-meter relay team sprinted across the line in 43.01 seconds.
In Class C, Valley Christian’s Benjamin Tuinstra took a somersault across the finish line to finish in 14.89 seconds and win his second straight state 110 hurdles title. Charlo’s Wills Degrandpre captured the 1,600 gold in 4:39.28. Drummond’s Jonah Parke won the high jump, clearing 6-02. Seeley-Swan’s boys also won the 1,600 relay in 3:27.96.
