Palmer, Harper claim divisional track titles
Ninety feet?
Yes, Aaron Palmer’s first attempt at the javelin traveled a mere 90 feet – roughly 100 feet shorter than he usually throws. And Troy coach Neil Newton isn’t sure if it went that far.
The Trojan senior had an early problem with the rubber surface at Domblaser Field on the University of Montana campus in Missoula on Friday. But Palmer got a grip and took first place with a throw of 189 feet, 4 inches, to claim the divisional title.
“Aaron slipped on that surface; it’s the first time all year he’s thrown off a rubber surface in the javelin,” Newton said. “There was a pretty good headwind and crosswind coming in really affecting the flights as well.”
Palmer also won the triple jump with a mark of 41 feet, 1.25 inches and just missed claiming top honors in the high jump at 6-4. Dillon Fryxell of Plains won that event on criteria.
Scotty Harper, also a senior, put in a good performance as well with a first-place finish in the long jump. But like Palmer, he had a rough start.
“He scratched a couple and I don’t know what it was, he was just jumping in the low 18s,” Newton said. “But then he popped off that 20-footer, which he really needed.”
Harper beat out Palmer for first at 20-3.25. Palmer was second at 19-7 to give the Trojans a 1-2 finish in the event. Harper also placed fourth in the triple jump with a 40-1.5.
Ryan Rayson placed fourth in the high jump by clearing 6-0. Newton said Rayson, who is just a freshman, came close to going 6-2 in the event.
Troy’s 400-meter relay placed sixth at 46.76 seconds. Harper, Jake Alexander, Dalton Powell and Palmer run on the relay.
With a lot of those top performances coming on the first day, Troy sat in third place behind Thompson Falls and Darby. The team ended up with 55 points with the meet’s conclusion on Saturday to place seventh. Thompson Falls won the boys’ team title.
Allie Maestas and Molly Harpole scored all of Troy’s points for the girls. Maestas placed fourth in both the 200 and 400, fifth in the long jump and sixth in the 100 while Harpole placed second in the 100, fifth in the 200 and fourth in the long jump.
Harpole sprinted the 100-meter dash in 13.42 seconds for second – Troy’s top placing of the meet. Maestas was sixth at 13.80.
In the 200, Maestas’ fourth-place finish came in a time of 27.96. Harpole was right behind her at 28.08 for fifth. In the 400, Maestas was fourth with a 1:04.41. And in the long jump, Harpole went 15-1.25 for fourth and Maestas 14-1.5 for fifth.
The top six placers in all events qualified for this week’s state meet. As such, the Troy boys qualified three athletes in seven events along with the four in the sprint relay. The girls send Harpole and Maestas in seven events.
Western B Divisional
Saturday at Missoula
BOYS
Team Scoring
1, Darby 94; 2, Thompson Falls 93; 3, Loyola Sacred Heart 78; 4, Eureka 72; 4, Plains 72; 6, Plains 62; 7, Troy 55; 8, Deer Lodge 35; 9, Florence 27; 10, Seeley-Swan 7; 11, Valley Christian 4.
Troy Results
(All Qualify for State)
400 Relay – 6, Troy (Harper, Alexander, Powell, Palmer), 46.76.
Javelin – 1, Palmer, 189-4.
High Jump – 2, Palmer, 6-4; 4, Rayson, 6-0.
Long Jump – 1, Harper, 20-3.25; 2, Palmer, 19-7.
Triple Jump – 1, Palmer, 41-1.25; 4, Harper, 40-1.5.
GIRLS
Team Scoring
1, Florence 113; 2, Thompson Falls 92; 3, Loyola Sacred Heart 85; 4, Darby 80; 5, Eureka 66; 6, Seeley-Swan 25; 7, Troy 24; 8, Plains 19; 9, Deer Lodge 17; 10, Valley Christian 6.
Troy Results
(All Qualify for State)
100 – 2, Harpole, 13.42; 6, Maestas, 13.80.
200 – 4, Maestas, 27.96; 5, Harpole, 28.08.
400 – 4, Maestas, 1:04.41.
Long Jump – 4, Harpole, 15-1.25; 5, Maestas, 14-1.5.