Rayson clears 6-4 for high jump title in Bozeman

Troy senior Ryan Rayson was thinking about not even doing track this year. His schedule was too busy. His nagging injuries would have caused more harm than it was worth. It was his senior year, and he wanted to focus on other things. All these thoughts bounced around in Rayson’s head before the season.

Luckily for Rayson and for Troy, he decided to come out. In the last meet of his senior year, Rayson cleared 6-feet 4-inches in the high jump and won the Boys Montana B High Jump Title by two inches over his competition from Thompson Falls.

The state meet, initially held outside in Van Winkle Stadium in Bozeman, proved tough for the jumpers, even the first-ranked Rayson.

“It was quite a mess, there was snow and 25 miles-per-hour winds,” Rayson said. “No one could clear the first height.”

The event was moved into Brick Breeden Fieldhouse, where the weather wouldn’t be the ultimate winner, and the 6-foot 5-inch Rayson ran away with it.

“I sprained my ankle in the middle of the season and only came back a few meets before state,” Rayson said. “I feel like I was blessed.”

Troy had two other athletes go to state, and the plucky Trojans began to cement Troy as a jumping powerhouse.

Cory Orr finished third in the triple, landing a 42-feet 3-inches, while the sophomore Nathan Olds followed Rayson, finishing fifth in the high jump at 6-feet.

Also at the state meet, Libby’s boys team scored two points in the Montana A Shot Put, as senior Sawyer Zimmerman heaved a 47-foot 7.5-inch to notch the score for the Loggers.

Elly Webster, a junior, qualified for the final heat in both the 100- and 200- meter dash, while senior Nolan Broden just missed scoring a point, finishing seventh in the 200. Webster, the divisional high jump champ, struggled in the weather, no-heighting.

“It was (Webster’s) first year for track,” Head Coach Ed Tabis said. “Hopefully she’ll build on that.”

Tabis, who retired from teaching this year, is planning on stepping down as head coach, but would like to return in an assistant’s capacity to Libby next year.