LAUREL — The Laurel boys and girls ran away with team victories at Tuesday’s track meet at Laurel Sports Complex, which was hosted by the Locomotives.
Laurel’s boys were led by a handful of individual victories, including a pair from Chris Abell in both the 110- and 300-meter hurdles, to score 144 points, 33 more than second-place Hardin.
Abell ran 15.39 seconds to win the 110s, qualifying for the State A track and field meet in May. Abell finished third at last year’s state meet. He held off Park City’s Connor McNeil down the stretch, as McNeil ran 15.76, qualifying for the State C meet. Abell also won the 300 hurdles in 42.55.
Laurel’s 400-meter relay team also picked up a first-place finish, crossing the line in 44.92 seconds. The Locomotives also picked up some victories in the field events, as Kane Hills won the javelin (162 feet, 4 inches), Ely Kraft won the discus (146-06 ½ ), and Easton Kyhl won the pole vault (9-00).
Kraft also finished second in the shot put, as Melstone’s Brody Grebe won with a toss of 47-04. Grebe also won the 100-meter dash in 11.65 and the long jump with a leap of 20-06. Grebe hit the state qualifying standards for Class C in all three events.
Laurel’s girls had an equally impressive day and were led by a pair of multi-event victors. Sophomore Grace Timm swept the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs, winning in 5 minutes, 39.84 seconds and 12:45.41, respectively. Laurel also took second through fifth place in the 800.
Gracey Willis won both the long and triple jumps for the Locomotives. Her 15-06 in the long jump held off Columbus junior Brenna Rouane’s 15-03 ¾. Willis jumped 33-08 in the triple jump. Laurel’s girls also placed first through fifth in the pole vault.
The Locomotives amassed 169.25 points, while second-place Lewistown scored 126 and Columbus finished third with 95.
Columbus’ girls swept the three sprints to lead the Cougars to the third-place finish. Junior RaiLeigh Strommen won the 100 in 13.47 and the 200 in 27.79. Teammate Amber LeBrun finished third in the 100 and second in the 200. Freshman Hannah Obert won the 400 in 1:03.83. The Cougar sprinters also won the 400-meter relay in 53.26, narrowly edging out Laurel (53.89)
Full results can be found here.
