Zac Crews, Brooke Stayner Factor Big In Sentinel's Class AA Sweep

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

The Montana state meet returned after a year's absence and illustrated that the top boys team remains Missoula Sentinel. 

Sentinel won its first boys title in 2019 and held onto it on Saturday in Missoula as the Spartans got big contributions from across the board, but the distance races were some of the most fruitful. 

Sentinel had four scorers in both the 1,600 meters and 3,200 meters finals -- pulling 44 points out of those two events alone. 

Hellgate's Ignatius Fitzgerald won the Class AA 1,600 with an impressive 4:12.69 and also won the 800 in 1:56.00. Sentinel's William Mortenson won the 3,200 in 9:16.74. 

Zac Crews and Drew Klumph went 1-2 in the 110-meter hurdles for Sentinel and Klumph returned to win the 300s. Crews also won the javelin and was second in the high jump. 

The Sentinel girls made it a sweep, rolling up 91 points. Hurdler Brooke Stayner won the 100-meter hurdles in 14.71 and won the 300s in 43.94. She also won the long jump with 18-7. Anja Jackson added a win in the javelin (129-5). 

Sentinel's Audrey McElmurry won a great duel in the triple jump against Taylor Brisendine of Glacier, 39-7.50 to 39-4. 

Helena's Odessa Zentz was one of the brightest stars of the meet, winning the 200 (25.12), 400 (57.21) and 800 (2:12.55). 

Jaden Wolff of Billings West won the 100 in 12.27.

Hellgate went 1-2-3 in the 1,600, led by Sage Brooks' 4:55.48. 

Hannah Schonhoff from Bozeman won the high jump with 5-7. 

At the Laurel Sports Complex, where the A/B classes held their state meet, the Hamilton boys rode the the 1-2-3 punch of juniors Colter Kirkland, Lane Cole and Colter Purcell to the team title. Kirkland and Cole went 1-2 in the 800 meters and Kirland, Purcell and Cole placed 1-2-4 in the 1,600. In the 3,200, Cole got the win and Purcell was third. 

Those three also were part of a second-place 4x400 relay. 

Kirkland was also third in the pole vault. 

The Laurel girls won on their home track, led by Carly Cook, who won the 800 meters (2:19.28), placed third in the 400 and fifth in the 1,600. She also ran on the winning 4x400 relay. Alyse Aby and Grace Timm also scored in multiple events on the track. 

Mikena Ells from Whitefish won the 400 meters in 57.96 and the 200 in 26.07. She was also third in the 100. 

Jay Beagle from Libby won the boys A 400 meters in 49.38 seconds. He was also fourth in the 100 and third in the 200. 

Treyton Anderson from Beaverhead County won the boys A 110-meter hurdles in 15.02 and the 300 hurdles in 39.91. He also placed fourth in the 200 and was fifth in the 100. 

Hardin's Hunter Bear Cloud won the 200 meters in 22.13 seconds and was third in the 100. He also anchord the winning 4x400 relay (state-leading 3:25.33). 

In Class B, hurdles were key events for the victorious Jefferson boys. Braden Morris (15.33) and Dylan Root (15.59) went 1-3 in the 110 hurdles and Joey Visser (39.85), Morris (39.86) and Root (42.10) placed first, second and fourth in the 300s. 

Morris also took second in the triple jump. 

Wyatt Barney from Manhattan won the 400 (49.54), the 800 (1:55.82) and was on the winning 4x400 relay. 

Junior Alyssa Boshart was at the heart of Sweet Grass County's Class B girls team win. 

She won the 100 meters in 12.90, placed second in the 200 in 26.10, placed third in the 400 with 60.62 and was fifth in the 100 hurdles -- for a total of 28 points. She also ran on the winning 4x100 relay and the fourth-place 4x400 relay. 

In Class C, William Ullery won the 100 and 200 and was part of the winning 4x400 and second-place 4x100 relays to lead Fort Benton to a team title. Nick Marais added a win in the long jump and Hayden Diekhans won the triple jump for the Longhorns.

Owen Hoag, a sophomore from Seeley-Swan pulled out a close race in the 400 finals against Belt senior Kaimen Evans, 50.10 to 50.12. 

Walker McDonald from Seeley-Swan won the discus and shot put competitions. 

Sariah Maughan led Seeley-Swan's girls to the team title with her victory in the 400 meters (58.32) and 800 (2:14.86). She was also a key component of the winning 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. 

Klaire Kovatch added a win in the discus with 145-11 and took second in the shot put and the javelin. 

Freshman Brooke Reuter of Savage swept the 100 (12.49) and 200 (25.51) with two of the top times in the state. She was also second in the 400 (58.36).

Team Champions - 

Class AA - Sentinel boys 132 points, Sentinel girls 91 points - RESULTS

Class A - Hamilton boys 87 points, Laurel girls 97 points - RESULTS

Class B - Jefferson boys 62 points, Sweet Grass County girls 67 points - RESULTS

Class C - Fort Benton boys 74 points, Seeley-Swan girls 72 points - RESULTS