PROVO, Utah — Odessa Zentz led a strong contingent of Montana athletes at the USA Track and Field Region 11 Junior Olympic Championships over the weekend.
Zentz, running for the Helena Vigilantes in the 13-14 age group, won three events, including a remarkable effort in the 400-meter run. Zentz crossed the finish line in 59.05 seconds to earn the win and set a meet record. She also added wins in the 800-meter run (2 minutes, 32.88 seconds) and the high jump (1.47 meters).
Zentz’s teammates also performed well. Madilyn Todorovich got wins in the 80-meter hurdles (14.98 seconds) and high jump (1.37 meters) in the 11-12 age division, and Kylie Hartnett won the 15-16 3,000 meters (10:59.50). On the boys’ side, Tyse Todorovich claimed three 8-and-under event titles, and Trey Tintinger claimed another high jump medal. Tyse Todorovich won the 100-meter dash in 15.44 seconds, the shot put with a throw of 7.58 meters and the javelin with a mark of 20.03 meters. Tintinger, Montana’s all-class record holder in the high jump, cleared 2.02 meters in Provo.
Lauren Heggen, the Missoula Sentinel standout competing for the Mountain West Track Club, earned victories in the 100-meter hurdles (14.59 seconds) and triple jump (11.98 meters) in the 17-18 division. Also in the age group, Bozeman jumper Delaney Bahn cleared 1.67 meters to win the high jump.
The Mountain West Track Club also featured winners Joseph Mambo and Tanner Klumph. Mambo, in the 13-14 age group, won the long jump (5.34 meters), and Klumph won the 15-16 3,000 meters in 10:22.19.
Ethan Kimm, of Bozeman Track, won the high jump (0.92 meters) in the 9-10 age group, and Andrew Wheat, a Helena Capital pole vaulter competing for Speed Goat Track Club out of Clancy, claimed the pole vault title in the 15-16 age group at 3.2 meters.
Kyleigh Koehler, of Garrison, also grabbed two first-place medals. Competing in the 11-12 age division, Koehler won both the shot put and discus, breaking the Region 11 discus record with a throw of 23.18 meters. Her mark of 8.5 meters gave her an easy win in the shot put, as well.
The top five finishers in each individual event, and the top two in the multi-events, advanced to the USATF National Junior Olympic Championships July 23-29 in Greensboro, N.C. For complete results from the Region 11 Junior Olympic Championships, please click here.
