Some of the state’s biggest meets produced the weekend’s biggest results. The combined Swede Dahlberg had record-setting marks, while the Gallatin Valley Invitational and A Sunshine Meet also produced state-qualifying times and distances. As the season heads down the homestretch, athletes are rounding into form.
- Bozeman’s Delaney Bahn set the meet record in the girls long jump during the combined Swede Dahlberg Invitational. Bahn became the first girl to long jump more than 19 feet this season, leaping 19 feet, 2 inches. If Bahn is able to replicate that jump at the state meet, she would break the current state record of 18-11 3/4 set by Dillon’s Julie Lenenger in 2001.
- Two-time Class A state discus champion Calla Haldorson of Corvallis recorded a state-best throw of 153 feet, 5 inches at the Blue Devils’ own Sapphire Twilight Invitational on Thursday. The state discus record is 154-11, which was set by Plains’ Leah Thompson in 2016.
- Dillon’s Tylia DeJohn snatched the lead once again for the state’s best time in the 100-meter dash. DeJohn ran it in 12.65 seconds, just edging Billings Central freshman Kellen Wahl, who ran 12.77.
- Kalispell Glacier runner and future Colorado Buffalo Annie Hill set the top time in the state in the 400-meter dash and 800-meter run at the Swede Dahlberg Invitational. Hill, who won state titles last year in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 and placed second in the 400, ran the 400 for the first time all season and clocked in at 59.08. Her 800 time of 2:13.15 is also a state best.
- Billings West’s Maddie Brockel, Class AA’s defending champion in the 200 and 400, ran her season-best time in the 100, finishing in 12.67. Brockel finished second in the 100 at least year’s Class AA state meet to Morgan Evans, who now sprints for Montana State.
- Cade Johnstone of Forsyth became the first sprinter this season to run the 400 in less than 50 seconds. Johnstone is the defending Class B champion in the 400.
- Justin Jenks of Helena Capital improved upon his state-leading shot put throw at the Swede Dahlberg Invitational this weekend. His throw of 61-03 1/2 broke his own Helena Capital school record, and he currently leads the state in shot put and has the only throw better than 60 feet.
- Sidney’s Carter Hughes leads Class A in both the shot put and discus, and improved upon his distances this past weekend. He launched the shot put 57-07 to sit just behind Jenks at No. 2 in the state, and threw the discus 173-10 to move up to No. 2 in the state behind Deer Lodge’s Austin Forson, the current Class B record holder in the discus.
- Kalispell Flathead hurdler Chad Hemsley now holds the top 300-meter hurdles time in the state after just edging Billings Senior superstar Gabe Sulser at the Swede Dahlberg Invitational. Hemsley’s time of 39.34 also qualifies him for the Class AA state track and field meet.
- Manhattan Christian’s Lincoln Young cleared 15-06 in the pole vault at the Gallatin Valley Invitational. The vault ranks him No. 2 in the state, and No. 1 in Class C by a substantial margin.
