Two Eagle high jumper soars at Seeley-Swan invite
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The Two Eagle River high jumper has his sights on reaching new heights for the school.
Drew Payne, a Two Eagle sophomore, jumped 5 feet, 8 inches at the Missoula County Stadium Saturday to finish in fourth place at the Seeley-Swan Invitational, which featured more than 20 teams.
With a jump that high, Payne has a legitimate shot to put the first state track trophy in Two Eagle’s trophy case, according to Two Eagle coach Allen Lundgren, who can’t remember the last time, or if, a Two Eagle thinclad placed at the state tournament.
Lundgren knew he had something special with Payne, when Payne cleared the 6-foot high bar on the first day of practice.
Robert Howard, a Two Eagle thrower has a good chance of joining Payne at the state tournament. Howard made it to divisionals last year in the shot put and started where he left off this year.
Thursday at the Dave Tripp Memorial Track Meet in Hot Springs, Howard helped Payne secure 18 points for Two Eagle. Howard finished in second in the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 3 inches, which is pretty close to where he ended last season.
“He started right where he left off,” Lundgren said of Howard, adding that if Howard can add an extra two inches to his throws, he should make it out of divisionals.
In Hot Springs, Payne placed in three events, finishing fourth in the javelin (119-1) and high jump (5-8) and fifth in the 200-meter dash (27.18). Lundgren said that Payne is a natural athlete and could place in multiple events, but he wants Payne to focus his attention on the high jump and javelin.
“We want him to save his energy for the events he can really excel in,” Lundgren said.
Regan Rosales placed third in the 3,200 meter run with a time of 15:55.87.
The Two Eagle River track team will compete in Charlo Thursday.
