Athletes have broken numerous records at Montana’s recent state track and field meets, but that doesn’t mean more aren’t in jeopardy this weekend. Montana’s best take the track this Friday and Saturday for the State AA and State C meets at Memorial Stadium in Great Falls and the State A and State B meets at the Laurel Sports Complex.
Plenty of class records will fall between the four meets, and athletes will likely hit a couple all-class records, as well. Sidney pole vaulting sensation Garrison Hughes seems like the surest bet as he aims to surpass the all-class record of 16 feet, 4 inches set by Chase Smith of Helena High in 2015. Hughes, who will vault collegiately at Nebraska, cleared 17 feet at the Eastern A divisional meet last week, but state records can only be set at state meets.
One of Montana’s more hallowed records is in jeopardy this weekend, as well, when Great Falls CMR sprinter Damien Nelson lines up for the 100-meter dash. He clocked a 10.61-second 100 at the new track at Memorial Stadium earlier this spring. If he’s able to duplicate that, Nelson would break the record of 10.67 set by another CMR sprinter, Chris Wilson in 2009.
The girls, meanwhile, are chasing at least four all-class records. The Bozeman trio of Camila Noe, Delaney Bahn and Lucy Corbett has already recorded marks that would be state records if duplicated this weekend, as has Lauren Heggen of Missoula Sentinel.
Noe has already run Montana’s fastest 3,200 and has good chance at breaking the record of 10 minutes, 23.31 seconds set by Billings Senior’s Christina Aragon in 2016. Bahn has marked two long jumps of at least 19 feet this season, and she’ll need to get there again in order to break the state record of 18-11 ¾, which was marked by Dillon’s Julie Leneger in 2001. Corbet cleared 5-10 in the high jump earlier this season, going higher than the current state record of 5-09 ½, which was set by Kari Shepherd of Helena High in 1983.
Heggen and teammate Ashley McElmurry will battle head to head in pursuit of the triple jump record of 39-02 set by Kellee Glaus of Whitehall in 2010. McElmurry set the Class AA record with a jump of 38-07 ¼ last year, and Heggen marked a jump of 39-07 earlier this season.
There’s always potential for more all-class records – and certainly class-specific records – to fall at the state meets. Below is a breakdown of some of the records athletes could break this weekend.
BOYS
100
Nelson could chase down the all-class record, but Casey Gunlikson of Big Timber and Corbin Wood of Ennis also have shots at the Class B (11.01 seconds) and Class C (10.96) records, respectively.
200
It’s unlikely Wilson’s 200-meter dash record of 21.06 seconds is touched, but the Class B record of 22.22 seconds is in serious jeopardy. Gunlikson and Cade Johnstone of Forsyth lead a deep pool of Class B sprinters.
1,600
Bozeman’s Duncan Hamilton, with a state-leading time of 4:15.51, has an outside shot at the all-class record of 4:12.06. Laurel’s Levi Taylor has the Class A record of 4:19.40 within striking distance, as well.
300 hurdles
Gunlikson could be in for a big meet. The Big Timber junior is less than a second off the Class B record of 38.31 seconds in the 300-meter hurdles.
400 relay
Huntley Project and Forsyth are knocking on the door of the Class B record of 42.55 seconds in the 400-meter relay.
Long jump
The all-class long jump record of 23-08 seems like one of the more untouchable Montana state records, but Roberts’ Allexander Kosel could get the Class C mark of 22-05 ½.
High jump
Helena High sophomore Trey Tintinger has high jumped only twice this season, but he remains a threat to break his record of 7-01 ½.
Pole vault
All eyes will be on Hughes Friday morning as he goes for the all-class record, but Manhattan Christian’s Lincoln Young could also go for the Class C record of 15-01 in Great Falls.
Shot put
Carter Hughes of Sidney, still just a junior, is hoping for a 60-foot shot put throw this weekend. The Class A record is 58-05 ½.
Discus
Austin Forson of Deer Lodge already has the Class B discus record of 178-08. He has a personal-best throw of 190-04 ½ this season, putting him close to the all-class record of 193-07. Sidney’s Carter Hughes could threaten the Class A record of 182-07, as well.
GIRLS
100
Maddie Brockel of Billings West and Breanne Fuller of Billings Skyview have provided fans an entertaining back-and-forth in the 100-meter dash this season. Could they get the all-class record of 12.19 seconds this weekend?
200
Brockel isn’t chasing only the 100 record. She’s seeking to become a four-time champion in the 200-meter dash, where she could hit the Class AA record of 24.82 seconds and the all-class record of 24.4. Winnett-Grass Range sophomore Zoe Delaney also has the Class C record of 25.76 in her sights.
1,600
Bigfork’s Bryn Morley set the Class B 1,600-meter record of 4:47.76 as a freshman. The all-class record is 4:43.51.
3,200
If Noe runs like she’s proven capable this season, the all-class record of 10:23.31 in the 3,200 is sure to go down this weekend.
400 relay
Billings West has had incredible 400-meter relay teams the past few seasons, and this year’s is right in line. The Class AA and all-class record is 48.18 seconds. The Class C record of 50.18 is also in jeopardy, as Fort Benton, Twin Bridges and Charlo aren’t far off the pace.
1,600 relay
The all-class record in the 1,600-meter relay appears safe, but Bigfork could take down the Class B record of 4:01.71.
Discus
Corvallis junior Calla Haldorson is gunning for her third consecutive State A discus title, and both the class and all-class records are within reach this weekend. The Class A record is 154-10 and the all-class record is 154-11.
Javelin
Sarah Angwin of Bozeman and Angellica Street of Columbia Falls could each hit class records in the javelin and potentially threaten the all-class record of 152-08. The Class AA record is 144-07 for Angwin, while the Class A record is 143-09 for Street.
High jump
Corbett cleared a personal-best height of 5-10 in the high jump at the Skor Dekam Invite in Helena last month. The all-class and Class AA record is 5-09 ½.
Long jump
Bahn will go for the all-class record of 18-11 ¾ and the Class AA record of 18-11 ¼, while Alex Veltkamp of Manhattan Christian could hit the Class C record of 17-07 ½. Fort Benton’s Leah Gannon has also marked a long jump of 17-0 this season.
Triple jump
Sentinel’s duo of Heggen and McElmurry will likely threaten the Class AA record of 38-07 ¼ and the all-class record of 39-02. Drummond’s Morgan Radtke is chasing the Class C record of 37-10 ¾.
