LAUREL — As Martin Farver was getting cleaned up by the trainer, he said that his gold medal will last longer than the pain.
Farver dove across the finish line of the 400-meter dash during the State C track and field meet at the Laurel Sports Complex on Friday. In doing so, Farver won the event but lost skin off his chest.
“Every time you look at that medal, that’s all you’re going to remember,” Farver said of his lunge across the line.
Farver and Seeley-Swan’s Hunter Shelmerdine, the Class C leader entering the event, were running side by side down the final straightaway. As the crowd erupted, Farver found just enough energy to cross the line in front of Shelmerdine in 49.77 seconds.
“(The crowd) does that every year. When you come around that corner and hear everybody and see them all stand up, it definitely gives you a boost,” Farver said.
Scobey picked up valuable points in the team race, too. With Farver’s 10 and teammate Brandon Machart finishing sixth for one point, the Spartans grabbed 11 points in the event, which makes up the team’s entire total from Day 1. Perceived favorite Seeley-Swan garnered just eight points.
Farver will have plenty of work to do on Saturday if the Spartans are to continue pushing for a team title. Farver will have the 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as the 110-meter hurdles and both relays.
“Just whatever you’ve got to do to get it done,” Farver said. “We kind of have to do it to win it.”
Scobey sits in fifth place with those 11 points. Fort Benton leads with 29 and Seeley-Swan sits second with 24 after Day 1.
Melstone’s Brody Grebe wins long jump, aiming for 5 titles
Melstone’s Brody Grebe came up short in his quest for the State C long jump record on Friday, but he checked off one of his goals for the weekend. Grebe won the long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 8.50 inches.
“I’m just coming in, hopes high and hoping to do my best,” Grebe said. “Definitely that’s my goal. I always expect nothing less out of myself than going for first place.”
Grebe led the event handily going into finals. He had a lengthy decision before choosing to continue competing to aim for the State C record of 22 feet, 5.5 inches.
“That was pretty much it. I had popped a couple out there earlier in the season that were 22-08, just barely scratching like those (in finals),” Grebe said. “I just wanted to come out and push the board and see how far I could get. It didn’t end up well, but that’s all right.”
Grebe has four more state titles in sight. He qualified for Saturday’s finals in the 100 and 200. He’ll also compete in the shot put and triple jump and holds a top-three ranking in Class C in each event.
Seeley-Swan’s Klaire Kovatch wins 2nd consecutive discus title
Seeley-Swan sophomore Klaire Kovatch is already a perfect two for two in winning State C girls discus titles.
Kovatch was the leader in Class C throughout the entire season and was taking aim at the State C record this weekend. Although she came up short of that mark, Kovatch was pleased with her performance, which saw her win with a throw of 144 feet, 2 inches.
“I’m still kind of in shock a little bit, still kind of taking it in,” Kovatch said. “I’m a little disappointed, but I’m also not, because 144 is still good. I’m still happy with that. Just being consistently in the 140s is a goal of mine, so I’m still really happy about that.”
Along with teammate Terra Bertsch’s win in the pole vault on Thursday night, the Seeley-Swan girls have gotten off to the fast start for which they were hoping.
“We would like to win state, and having these wins just really sets us up for getting that. Hopefully we can continue that,” Kovatch said. “I think with Terra’s pole vault (Thursday) night, it really just got us jacked.”
Seeley-Swan has jumped out to a commanding lead after Day 1. The Blackhawks scored 37 points. Manhattan Christian is in second with 16 and Fort Benton is third with 14.
Fort Benton girls get boost from Leah Gannon in long jump
Fort Benton’s girls stole points in the girls long jump. Leah Gannon entered the event with the No. 4-ranked jump, but she leapt a personal-best 17-05.50 to win the event.
“It just feels good to show up and compete. It puts a lot of stress off me,” Gannon said. “I think it’s just all about getting PRs, upsetting people and doing the best we can.”
Fort Benton is among the favorites this weekend for the State C girls team title, and any points the Longhorns steal along the way could just be icing on the cake. Fort Benton ended Day 1 in in third place with 14 points.
For results and team scores after the first day of the Class C state track and field meet, please click here.
