Troy track still improving ahead of divisional
Leighty back from injury in time for postseason
By BENJAMIN KIBBEY
The Western News
The Troy High School track and field team saw the return of junior Hunter Leighty to competition at the Bigfork Invitational Saturday, with times approaching or bettering those he returned in the most recent competition before a minor muscle injury.
Leighty and sophomore teammate Ella Pierce were the only Trojans to place in the top five in events Saturday, but several other members of the team still managed personal best performances.
Leighty made his highest placement in the 400m dash, finishing second with 53.17 seconds, only .03 second slower than at the Eureka ABC Top 8 on April 24, but still short of his personal best 52.89 seconds.
Pierce placed third in the 100m hurdles with a personal best of 18.26 seconds, an event where her time has been steadily dropping all season. She also placed third in the high jump with 4 feet, 8 inches, a height she has held at since she reached that personal best at the Whitefish ARM on April 24.
For personal bests, senior Royal Johnson topped his performances in both the 800m run (2:22.79) and discuss (83-08) and set a personal season record in the shot put (28-02.75). He was joined by teammate Tyler Gromley in personal bests in both the shot put (35-05.5) and the discus (91-05.5).
Freshman Liz Morkeberg continues to improve in her events as well, with personal bests in the 100m (14.59) and 200m (31.34) dashes.
Bigfork Invitational
Saturday, May 12
(Troy participating events)
Boys
1. Loyola-Sacred Heart 154, 2. Lincoln County 107, 3. Bigfork 84, 4. Thompson Falls 66, 5. Anaconda 42, 6. Florence-Carlton 34, 7. St Ignatius 25, 8. Troy 12
100m: 1. Cal Gibson (Loyola) 11.65 (PR), 2. Brennen Kulaski (Anaconda) 11.78 (PR), 3. Noah Kinslow (Bigfork) 11.87 (PR), 4. Hunter Mahan (Loyola) 11.88 (PR), 5. Hunter Leighty (Troy) 11.97
200m: 1. Jethro Thorne -Florence-23.1 (SR), 2. Hunter Mahan (Loyola) 23.61, 3. Cal Gibson (Loyola) 24.05, 4. Cooper Waters (Loyola) 24.12, 5. Hunter Leighty (Troy) 24.2
400m: 1. Jethro Thorne (Florence) 50.35, 2. Hunter Leighty (Troy) 53.17, 3. Nate Tibeault (T-Falls) 53.24
800m: 1. Cory Chaney (Eureka) 2:10.8, 2. Gabriel Strader (Loyola) 2:12.52, 3. Alex Erosa (T-Falls) 2:14.37
Also for Troy: 9. Royal Johnson 2:22.79 (PR)
Shot Put: 1. Michael Durglo (St Ignatius) 47-10 (PR), 2. Stetson Miller (Eureka) 47-03, 3. Joey McElroy (Loyola) 46-04.5
Also for Troy: 13. Tyler Gromley 35-05.5 (PR), 17. Royal Johnson 28-02.75 (SR)
Discus : 1. Joey McElroy (Loyola) 132-07.5 (PR), 2. Cody Burk (T-Falls) 130-08 (PR), 3. Stetson Miller (Eureka) 130-07
Also for Troy: 11. Tyler Gromley 91-05.5 (PR), 14. Royal Johnson 83-08 (PR)
Javelin: 1. Bryce Danielson (Loyola) 159-08 (PR), 2. Chase Chappuis (Bigfork) 154-01 (PR), 3. Jakeb Kindel (Eureka) 147-10
Also for Troy: 10. Tyler Gromley 119-08
High Jump: 1. Wyatt Duke (Bigfork) 6-00, 2. Logan Taylor (Bigfork) 5-10, 3. Brady Thorness (Bigfork) 5-08 (PR)
Also for Troy: 7. Ricki Fisher 5-02
Long Jump: 1. Ryan Tirrell (Loyola) 20-02, 2. Gordon McMillion (Loyola) 19-02, 3. Scotty Twite (Loyola) 18-11
Also for Troy: 9. Ricki Fisher 17-11.5
Girls
1. Bigfork 213, 2. Lincoln County 88, 3. St Ignatius 65, 4. Thompson Falls 54, 5. Loyola-Sacred Heart 34, 6. Florence-Carlton 24, 7. Anaconda 22, 8. Troy 12
100m: 1. Haile Norred (Bigfork) 13.05, 2. Jordan Nelson (Bigfork) 13.27, 3. Madison Gardner (Bigfork) 13.36 (SR)
Also for Troy: 11. Liz Morkeberg 14.59 (PR)
200m: 1. Jordan Nelson (Bigfork) 26.92 (SR), 2. Audrey Buenz (Bigfork) 28.03 (PR), 3. Kenna Guenther (Loyola) 28.35
Also for Troy: 10. Ella Pierce 31.14, 11. Liz Morkeberg 31.34 (PR)
100m Hurdles: 1. Madison Gardner (Bigfork) 17.44 (SR), 2. Shea Meissner (Bigfork) 17.9, 3. Ella Pierce (Troy) 18.26 (PR)
Javelin: 1. Karlee Frost (Eureka) 118-00, 2. Hunter Eichert (St Ignatius) 102-03, 3. Megan Hanson (Eureka) 101-08
Also for Troy: 20. Liz Morkeberg 47-08
High Jump: 1. Karolyna Buck (St Ignatius) 4-10, 2. Afton Brander (St Ignatius) 4-10, 3. Ella Pierce (Troy) 4-08