Warm Spring weather and tough competition was the theme for the Whitefish A.R.M. Invitational meet in Whitefish last Saturday. Twelve varsity teams and 10 junior varsity teams faced challengers in 17 events. Thompson Falls, Hot Springs and Plains track and field teams all participated. Taking fifth out of 12 teams were the Lady Hawks.

First place winners were Blue Hawk Ellie Baxter in the 800 meter with a time of 2:36.57 and Trotter Alexis Deming in the discus with a throw of 109 feet, 4 inches.

Athletes who achieved a second place win were Horsemen Mason Elliott in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 16.54, Savage Heat Nick McAllister with a 5 foot, 6 inch jump in the high jump and Deming in the shot put with 34 feet, 10.5 inches.

Third place winners were Hot Springs' David Chapman in the 110 hurdles, Baxter in the 1600 meter and the Thompson Falls women's 4x400 relay team of Faith Palmer, Trinity Riffle, Hattie Neesvig and Baxter. Riffle also took fifth in the high jump.

Elliott finished fourth in the 300 hurdles, Quincy Styles-Depoe of Hot Springs was fourth in the javelin. Blue Hawk senior Breck Ferris finished fourth in the long jump.

The Thompson Falls men's 4x400 relay team of Kaiden Robins, Ethan Geisbusch, Justin Haagenson and Braedon Ferris finished fifth at the meet and the 4x100 relay team of Robins, Breck Ferris, Braxton Dorscher and Nick Tessier came in sixth place. Lady Hawk Chesney Lowe was sixth in the long jump and javelin and Kara Christensen of Hot Springs finished sixth in the 300 meter hurdles.

Hot Springs Coach Andrew Leichtnam said that the team is making big strides every week. "With another week of warm temps we should have a good week of practice and are looking good for Districts."

When it came to seizing personal records, the Horsemen took the lead. John Thurston, Elliott, Asher Seymour, Mike Reistroffer, Joseph Martin, Caleb Lakko, Levi Blood and Brenden Vanderwall, with three, all got personal records. Five men from Thompson Falls got personal records, including Dorscher, Haagenson, Cael Thilmony, Wesley Powers and Sean Nowlan. The five men from Hot Springs who gained personal records were Styles-Depoe, Chapman, Elijah Cambell, Wyatt Campbell and Weston Slonaker.

For the women, Thompson Falls's Baxter, Hattie Neesvig and Palmer all earned personal records as did Hot Springs freshman Christensen.

"Overall, it was a good day, we are starting to improve at the right time," said Thompson Falls Coach Trenna Ferris.

The Noxon Red Devils traveled to Eureka last Thursday to compete in the Lincoln County meet with Libby, Troy and Lincoln County.

"We had a very good week," said Coach Matt Havens. They have been busy preparing for Districts and Divisionals. "The whole team is progressing quickly," said Havens.

Ricky Williams' high jump of 6 feet, 2 inches, clinched him a trip to state and Emily Brown qualified for state in the 800 with a roaring time of 2:26.04.

Sarah Naegeli

Hawk senior Chesney Lowe.

The Thompson Falls and Plains track teams will be competing in Kalispell this Saturday for the Archie Roe meet and Noxon and Hot Springs will head to Missoula for the Kim Haines Invitational.

These are the last regular in-season meets before Districts.