Stevenson leads way for Logger track

A trio of Libby Lady Loggers qualified for the state track tournament Friday and Saturday during the Northwestern A Divisionals in Frenchtown.

Competitors needed to finish in the top five of their event to advance to the state tournament in Butte.

Junior Shyla Stevenson ran a personal best in the 200-meter dash to claim fifth. Her sixth-place finish in the 400-meter left her within one second of qualifying in two individual events.

Stevenson was also a member of the 400 and 1,600-meter relays that qualified for state.

Freshman Marlena Urvater recorded a personal best in the long jump, finishing fourth. Joining her in Butte will be Asia Jones, who earned fifth in the pole vault.  

Libby Coach Jim May was pleased with his young team’s season.

“All in all, it was a growing season for the boys and girls,” May said. “For example, seven of our eight sprint relay team members were in their first year of high school track. The kids are talking about next season, about getting more kids out and getting stronger in the offseason.”

A pair of boys relay teams also qualified for the state tournament. Both the 400 and 1,600-meter relay teams advanced to Butte.

“Billy Topaz ran well and had great improvement during the season,” May said. “Logan Nelson ran hard and learned where he needs to be to get to state next year. Luke Adamson returned after a month-long injury and ran very well. He missed qualifying for state by 0.02 seconds in the 100-meter dash.”

Looking ahead, May sees growth in Logger track and field.

“With increased strength, numbers and experience, we will have a much better showing at next year’s Divisional,” May said.

BOYS

Team scores: Whitefish 216, Polson 115, Columbia Falls 103, Frenchtown 87, Libby 4.

400 relay – 1, Whitefish (Sean Foley, Koler Kanistanaux, Keaton Grove, Luke Cardon), 44.47. 2, Columbia Falls, 44.74. 3, Frenchtown, 44.87. 4, Polson, 45.83. 5, Libby, 47.68.

1,600 relay – 1, Columbia Falls (Mike Sandefer, James Ratzlaff, Ty Morgan, Josiah Osborne), 3:33.86. 2, Polson, 3:36.32. 3, Whitefish, 3:36.74. 4, Frenchtown, 3:44.19. 5, Libby, 3:57.77.

GIRLS

Team scores: Whitefish 176, Columbia Falls 157, Polson 135, Frenchtown 43, Libby 14.

200 – 1, Marlow Schulz, Wfsh, 25.86. 2, Grace Kurtz, Wfsh, 27.10. 3, Lydia Bowman, Polson, 27.28. 4, Tiara Duford, Polson, 27.50. 5, Shyla Stevenson, Libby, 28.06. 6, Shalea Wallen, Ftwn, 28.27.

1,600 relay – 1, Polson (Lydia Bowman, Madison Wheeler, Claudia Hewston, Tiara Duford), 4:10.38. 2, Columbia Falls, 4:20.91. 3, Frenchtown, 4:21.18. 4, Whitefish, 4:24.83. 5, Libby, 4:50.80.

Long jump – 1, Phoebe Guercio, Wfsh, 17-1/2. 2, Marlow Schulz, Wfsh, 16-2 1/2. 3, Ellie Johnson, CF, 16-0. 4, Marlena Urvater, Libby, 15-4 1/2. 5, Gracie Carlyle, Polson, 15-4. 6, Carla Nicosia, CF, 15-4.

400 – 1, Marlow Schulz, Wfsh, 57.06. 2, Grace Kurtz, Wfsh, 1:01.90. 3, Tiara Duford, Polson, 1:02.47. 4, Maja Holmquist, Ftwn, 1:02.57. 5, Miranda Livingston, CF, 1:03.01. 6, Shyla Stevenson, Libby, 1:03.85.

400 relay – 1, Polson (Tiara Duford, Chadelle Smith, Erica Alfiero, Lydia Bowman), 51.17. 2, Columbia Falls, 51.56. 3, Whitefish, 52.30. 4, Frenchtown, 53.28. 5, Libby, 53.92.

Discus – 1, Andrea Getts, CF, 115-10. 2, Ellie Johnson, CF, 113-0. 3, Chloie Huerta, Polson, 109-3. 4, Amanda Harrod, Polson, 100-9. 5, Haley Belgarde, CF, 99-5. 6, Shelbie McLinden, Libby, 91-1.

Pole vault – 1, Claudia Hewston, Polson, 9-0. 2, Bekah Weaver, Wfsh, 9-0. 3, Erin Tabish, Wfsh, 8-6. 4, Ashley Caffrey, CF, 8-0. 5, Asia Jones, Libby, 7-6. 6, Lydia Bowman, Polson, 7-6.