Polson track squads compete at large Missoula meet
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MISSOULA - A large field of competitors led to some low finishes for the Polson track squad Saturday despite many Pirates recording new personal bests in their events.
"The number of points we scored this in this meet wasn't indicative of the progress some of our boys have made in their events," Polson coach Bob Gunderson said. "Season best marks were recorded in a number of events and for some of Pirates it was their personal best marks. Of those that placed, Dale Big Sam, Mike Devlin, and Chris Cote all had P.R.'s. Alex Nystrom, Jared Rubel, Jesse Alfiero, Paul McClurg and Nick Mullen all had P.R.'s and continue to show steady improvement in their events."
The Pirates finished 16th at the event with 19 team points.
Polson's 1,600 relay team had the top finish of the day as they came in third with a time of 3:37.05. In the individual events, Mike Devlin and Clark Rubel led Polson's efforts and Devlin was fourth in the 400-meter run with a time of 53.43 seconds while Rubel was fourth in the shot put with a toss of 45 feet, seven inches.
Chris Cote picked up an eighth-place finish in the 400 with a time of 54.77 seconds, Dale Big Sam was eighth in the shot put with a toss of 44 feet, 1 and 3/4 inches and Brock Bleazard was eighth in the pole vault after clearing a height of 12 feet.
The Pirates were also glad to see the return of Vince DiGiallonardo, who has been out since suffering an injury during basketball season.
"Another positive note was the return of Vince," Gunderson said. "He competed in a meet for the first time this season with an 11.6 effort in the 100-meters and also ran a leg of our 4x100-meter relay team."
The Pirates made a strong showing in Kalispell Tuesday as they competed at the Class A Invitational. While no team scores were kept at the event, many Pirates athletes did well.
Zion Lee led Polson at the event with a second-place finish in the pole vault and a sixth-place showing in the 300-meter hurdles.
Clark Rubel was third in the shot put with a toss of 43 feet, 10 inches while Brock Bleazard cleared a height of 11 feet, six inches in the pole vault to come also earn third. Jimmy Bjorge was third in the 3,200-meter run with a time of 10:57.74 and Mike Devlin was fourth in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:12.37.
Polson also picked up three fifth-place and three sixth-place finished at the event.
The Polson girls faced the same large field at Missoula as the boys did Saturday and compiled 20 team points to finish 11th. Once again, the Lady Pirates were competing with a short-handed crew.
"We are yet to have our whole girl's team together for a meet this season," Gunderson said. "We were missing both Claudia and Maddie Hewston and Aja Starkey for this meet and because of a prior commitment and Sierra Pete was only there for the 1,600-meter relay. We haven't run the same four girls in the 400 or 1,600-meter relay yet this season."
Breanne Kelley had the top showing for the Lady Pirates Saturday as she finished fourth in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 48.24 seconds and fifth in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 15.80 seconds.
Anna DiGiallonardo also had a strong meet, finishing fifth in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.99 seconds and eighth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.51 seconds.
Mesa Starkey was sixth in the 3,200 meter run with a time of 12:21.86 while the 400-meter relay team was seventh with a time of 53.60 seconds and the 1,600-meter relay team was eighth with a time of 4:24.47.
"The Lady Pirates also showed some progress in their individual events in the meet," Gunderson said. "We are slowly getting back into running shape."
Like the boys, the Lady Pirates had a much stronger showing at Kalispell Tuesday with several high finishes.
The 400-meter relay team had Polson's only top finish of the day, earning first (time was not available).
Kelley had a good day for the Lady Pirates Tuesday, finishing second in the 300-meter hurdles, third in the 100-meter hurdles and sixth in the high jump. Mesa Starkey was second in the 1,600 meter run and fifth in the 800-meter event, the 1,600-meter relay team was third, DiGiallonardo was fourth in the 200-meter dash and fifth in the 100-meter dash, Sierra Pete earned fourth in the 400-meter run, Claudia Hewston was fourth in the 3,200-meter run and D.J. Conko-Camel was fourth in the shot put. Katharina Medland earned sixth for Polson in the pole vault.
The Polson track squads will be back in action Thursday in Corvallis.
