Bell dominates jumping events in Bigfork
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
2 of 3 free articles.
BIGFORK – Field events continue to be a strong feature of the Ronan-St. Ignatius boys’ team as they hurled themselves to a fourth-place finish at the Bigfork Invitational. Bigfork finished first with 92 points; Whitefish followed with 72.5; Frenchtown had 66 and Ronan-St. Ignatius’ 53 rounded out the top four teams.
“We did really good despite the fact we were missing three seniors,” said head coach Crystal Pitts. “I’m really pleased with the boys.”
Lucas Gerhardt had a personal and meet best in the javelin. Gerhardt threw for 155-01 to take first place in the event.
Jalen Bell continues to rule the jumping events, taking first in both the long and triple jump. Bell was also tied for third in the high jump.
Paden Alexander keeps proving himself in the distance races,” Pitts added.
Alexander strided his way to a first-place finish in the 1,600-meter run and a second in the 3,200-meter.
The girls were led by the performance of Twyla Hogge, who placed second (32-04) in the shot put. The team placed eighth overall with 24 points.
“(Twyla) did really well,” Pitts said. “It was the first meet of the season for both Ashley Courville and Rose Bear Don’t Walk. The girls’ team is showing a lot of promise; we just got to get them all to the meets.”
Courville and Bear Don’t Walk have been unable to make it to previous meets because of school activities and testing, but the two are starting to break from the pack.
Bear Don’t Walk finished sixth in the 800-meter, while Courville was fourth in the 1,600-meter. Courville was also fifth n the 3,200-meter run.
“We just have to compete to get better,” Pitts said.
The boys’ and girls’ teams travel to Kalispell Tuesday and Frenchtown Saturday.
SUMMARY
BOYS
Team scores: Bigfork 92, Whitefish 72.5, Frenchtown 66, Ronan-St. Ignatius 53, Florence-Carlton 50.5, Loyola Sacred Heart 50, Eureka 30, Troy 24, Seeley-Swan 17, Cut Bank 15, Plains 14, Columbia Falls 10, Glacier 2
400 – 1. 5. Michael Knabe, RON, 56.03
1600 – 1. Paden Alexander, RON
3200 – 2. Paden Alexander, RON, 10:32.70
High Jump – 3. Jalen Bell, RON, J5-08
Long Jump – 1. Jalen Bell, RON, 19-09.50
Triple Jump – 1. Jalen Bell, RON, 43-00.75
GIRLS
Team scores: Whitefish 89, Plains 75, Seeley-Swan 65, Cut Bank 63, Bigfork 61, Florence 46, Loyola Sacred Heart 40, Ronan-St. Ignatius 24, Columbia Falls 17, Eureka 16, Frenchtown 15, St. Regis 14
400 – 6. Kiana Howell, RON, 1:07.26
800 – 6. Rose Bear Don’t Walk, RON, 2:59.00
1600 – 6. Courtney Heath, RON, 6:22.60
3200 – 5. Ashley Courville, RON, 13:04.00 100
Hurdles – 5. Stephanie Lewandonski, RON, 17.93
400 Relay – 5. Ronan-St.Ignatius, 55.78
Shot put – 2. Twyla Hogge, RON, 32-04
High Jump – 5. Jenny Larsson, RON, J4-08; 6. Stephanie Lewandowski, RON, J4-06
