Polson track, field athletes headed to State
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COLUMBIA FALLS — Several Polson Pirates and Lady Pirates will be tested against the best track and field athletes Montana's Class A has to offer this weekend in Bozeman, after qualifying performances at the Northwestern A Divisional meet Saturday in Columbia Falls.
Polson's girls took second overall with 132 points to Whitefish's title-winning 205 points. Speedster Anna DiGiallonardo sprinted to third in both the 100 and 200-meter races and anchored Polson's winning 400-meter relay team, which included teammates Alicia Sicz, Taylor Davis and Erica Alfiero. She also won the long jump with a 16-foot, 6-inch leap, and was second in the high jump (4-10). Teammate Kidron Lee wasn't far behind, clearing the bar at 4 feet, 8 inches for third place.
Claudia Hewston won the 1,600-meter run in 5:26.64, and Aja Starkey took third with a time of 5:32.57. Starkey was also second in the 3,200-meter, and Hewston helped teammates Alisha Jore, Maddie Hewston and Davis to a second-place finish in the 1,600-meter relay in 4:19.03, just behind Frenchtown's 4:17.52. Claudia will also be vaulting at the state meet after clearing 8 feet in the pole vault for fourth place.
Alfiero remained a solid contender in the hurdling events, taking third in the 100 and 300-meter races. After throwing their way into the top five in the shot put, Jewel Zakit-Ackerman, Shelbi Mallon and Shannon MeGinnis will also compete at State. Zakit-Ackerman, Mallon and teammate Amanda Harrod also qualified in discus.
For the Pirates, Riley Sampson swept the shot put and discus, with teammate Clark Rubel placing second and fourth in those events. Travis Hayes ran to second in the 800-meter, while Tel Motichka was fifth. Adam Schmidt hurdled his way to third in the 300-meter event and fifth in the 110. Polson's relay teams also qualified for State: the 1,600-meter team of Chris Cote, Tel Motichka, Zack Camel and Hayes finished third, and Paul McClurg, Schmidt, Cote and Vince DiGiallonardo were fourth in the 400. DiGiallonardo and McClurg will also be tested in the 100-meter at State, and Jimmy Bjorge in the 1,600-meter race.
State competition begins Friday at Bozeman High School's Van Winkle Stadium.
Northwestern A Divisional at Columbia Falls
GIRLS
Team Totals: Whitefish 205, Polson 132, Columbia Falls 105, Libby 46, Frenchtown
36 100: 3. Anna DiGiallonardo, P, 12.85.
200: 3. Anna DiGiallonardo, P, 26.81.
1,600: 1. Claudia Hewston, P, 5:26.64. 3. Aja Starkey, P, 5:32.57.
3,200: 2. Aja Starkey, P, 12:10.8.
100 hurdles: 3. Erica Alfiero, P, 17.95.
300 hurdles: 3. Erica Alfiero, P, 50.52.
400 relay: 1. Polson, 52.07 (Alicia Sicz, Taylor Davis, Erica Alfiero, Anna DiGiallonardo)
1,600 relay: 2. Polson, 4:19.03 (Alisha Jore, Maddie Hewston, Taylor Davis, Claudia Hewston)
Pole Vault: 4. Claudia Hewston, P, 8-0. 6. Mariana Llaguno, P, 8-0.
Long jump: 1. Anna DiGiallonardo, P, 16-6.
Shot put: 3. Jewel Zakit-Ackerman, P, 30-1. 4. Shelbi Mallon, P. 29-11. 5. Shannon MeGinnis, P, 29-7.
Discus: 2. Jewel Zakit-Ackerman, P, 109-0. 4. Shelbi Mallon, P, 94-5. 5. Amanda Harrod, P, 94-5. 6. Shannon MeGinnis, P, 93-9.
High jump: 2. Anna DiGiallonardo, P. 4-10. 3. Kidron Lee, P, 4-8.
BOYS
Team Totals: Columbia Falls 174.5, Whitefish 126, Frenchtown 80.5, Libby 73, Polson 71 100: 4. Vince DiGiallonardo, P, 11.57. 5. Paul McClurg, P, 11.65.
800: 2. Travis Hayes, P, 2:02.85. 5. Tel Motichka, P, 2:04.44.
1,600: 5. Jimmy Bjorge, P, 4:46.22. 6. Tel Motichka, P, 4:47.7
110 hurdles: 5. Adam Schmidt, P, 16.14.
300 hurdles: 3. Adam Schmidt, P, 42.2. 6. Jared Rubel, P, 43.8, P.
400 relay: 4. Polson, 45.51 (Paul McClurg, Adam Schmidt, Chris Cote, Vince DiGiallonardo)
1,600 relay: 3. Polson, 3:34.52. (Chris Cote, Tel Motichka, Zack Camel, Travis Hayes)
Pole Vault: 6. Drew Fouty, P, 12-0.
Shot put: 1. Riley Sampson, P. 50-3.5. 2. Clark Rubel, P, 49-4.5.
Discus: 1. Riley Sampson, P, 138-1. 4. Clark Rubel, P, 134-5.
