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If there is strength in numbers, the Thompson Falls Blue Hawk track and field teams should be just fine this spring.

Armed with a large turnout of athletes – 24 boys and 17 girls have signed on for Thompson Falls track and field – second-year head coach Trenna Ferris and her forty-one strong team of runners, jumpers and throwers have been busy trying to practice their specialties in the face of late-winter weather that has forced many practice sessions indoors up to now.

Improving weather over the past few weeks is continuing to change the track and field conditions for the better. "The weather has been much better," Ferris said, "but we are still trying to let the track dry up before we get on it."

The ancient cinder track at Previs Field was due to receive a raking and rolling in preparation for the upcoming season sometime this week.

The list of boys out for the Blue Hawk boys includes seniors Isaac Buetow, Wyatt Griffith, Matthew Kardan, Keegan Kenny and Nick Viera, juniors Ben Beauchman, Cooper Cable, Luke Comerford, Trey Fisher, Bradley Lantz, Cameron Lee and Daniel Ryan, sophomores Lucas Anderson, Derek Anderson, Cody Burk, Matt Duplechain, Harrison Hugus, William McPherson, Justin Morgan and Roman Sparks, and freshmen Sidney Akinde, Lance Palmer, Trae Thilmony and Alex Vogelsang.

Girls out for Thompson Falls track and field are seniors Trinity Godfrey, Annalynn Stover, Maya Stiles and Kacey VanZanten, juniors Shaylynda Walker and Aiden Rosales, sophomores Megan Baxter, Jody Detlaff, Sierra Hanks, Josey Neesvig, Gabi Pallister, Renee Pearson and Riley Wilson, and freshmen Caity Alexander, Julissa Bonney, Ellison Pardee and McKenzie Robins.

John Hamilton

"THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT..." Thompson Falls throwing coach Jake Susic demonstrates the correct javelin technique for one of the Blue Hawks at Previs Field Monday.

Originally set to open the season at the Jim Johnson Memorial meet in Frenchtown this Friday – that meet like many others in Montana was canceled due to lingering snow – the Hawks will instead begin the season at the same place but in a different meet at the Frenchtown Invitational April 6.

Lady Hawks Stiles and Detlaff are Thompson Falls' only returning place-winners from last year's State B meet. Stiles tied for sixth place in the pole vault and Detlaff tied for sixth in the high jump.

Detlaff and Wilson are double duty athletes again this spring as they will once again also play for the Lady Hawk softball team. Recently named first team all-conference and all-state in basketball, Baxter will also enjoy a dual-sport spring as she is also on the Thompson Falls golf team.

Sarah Naegeli, Amy Gilbert and Jake Gilbert return to assistant coach the Hawks in distance running, the jumps and in the throwing events.