Personal bests for track teams

Plains and Hot Springs track and field teams were amongst the 23 schools that partook in the Darby/Florence Invitational last Wednesday in Corvallis. The Plains Trotters placed eighth out of 17 teams and the Hot Springs men’s varsity team placed 13th out of 19 teams.

“Most of the kids PR every time they step onto the track this year,” said Hot Springs Coach Andrew Leichtnam.

Elijah Campbell finished second in the 3200 with a time of 11:57.72, shedding 5-6 seconds off every week this season. He is busy cutting seconds off his one mile race as well. Nick McAllister finished fifth in the 300 hurdles in a time of 44.93 and seventh in the high jump. Leichtnam said that David Chapman and Quincey Styles-DeDoe have both been improving in the 110 and 300 hurdles. Styles-Depoe also earned eighth place out of 20 in the 400 meters.

“Kara Christensen is competing in both hurdle races and continues to improve weekly. She’s currently ranked second and third in the hurdles for district,” said Leichtnam. Christensen also placed ninth out of 25 in the javelin.

In the most popular race, the 100 meters, Weston Slonaker placed 24th out of 56 competitors and second in popularity to the men's javelin, Slonaker placed 14th out of 55 in the discus. Calvin Timmer maintained the middle of the pack in the junior varsity 1600, placing seventh.

Trotter Alexis Deming had an amazing meet winning two first place finishes. She launched the shot 33 feet, 5 inches and threw the discus 105 feet, 7 inches. Peyton Wasson achieved a 5th place finish in the 800 in a time of 2:42.75. Kalli Tuma placed 12th in both the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles and Alexis Helterline earned a ninth place finish in the 800.

In the big 100 meter race, Nicholas Hill placed ninth in 12.17 seconds. Joseph Martin placed ninth out of 23 in the triple jump, John Thurston placed 17th in the 100 and Brenden Vanderwall took home 18th out of 44 in the long jump.

Plains and Hot Springs track and field teams will be hitting the road this Saturday for the Seeley-Swan invite in Missoula.