The Pioneer track season started nearly three weeks later than usual, thanks to the winter that wouldn't end. The Pioneer squad has almost doubled in size from last year. Jessica Roth is the lone senior on the team, as state qualifying triple jumper Jenna Leader was sidelined by a knee injury during the basketball season.
Returning juniors are Grace Finke and Tyler Schwarzbach. Also back is sophomore state hurdle qualifier, Bailey Gasvoda. Seanna Demontiney and Jeremiah Genereux return to the team as well.
New to the varsity squad this year are sophomores Ryan Roth, Clint Darlington, Amanda Cline and Brock Proulx. The team is rounded out by a large group of freshmen, including Brady Pleninger, Kade Strutz, Parker Proulx, Cam Schwarzbach, Madison Terry, Katherine Bold, Adrienee Gibson, Abriana Blanton and Noelle Beirwagen.
After a month of indoor practice, the team finally saw a track at the Choteau Acantha Invitational Meet on April 21st. A partial squad participated, due to the district music festival.
Ryan Roth placed sixth in the 3200 meters, placing him among the top runners in the Class C Northern Division. After the race, Ryan commented that it was "weird" running on a track, as he wasn't dodging potholes like he had been running the streets of town. Clint Darlington competed in the triple jump for the first time ever and placed sixth overall with a jump of 37'1". Jessica Roth placed fourth in the 3200 Meter Run and ninth in the 1600.
The Cal Wearly meet in Havre was finally held on April 25th, after being rescheduled three times. This is generally the largest meet of the season, with 34 teams participating.
Jeremiah Genereux placed fifth in the 3200 meters and Ryan Roth placed ninth in the 1600 Meter race. Jessica Roth place ninth in the 1600 meters and eighth in the 3200.
April 28th saw the Pioneers competing in Lewistown at the Fergus Invitational. Jeremiah Genereux had another good showing, placing sixth in the 800 and sixth in the 3200. The 4 x 400 relay team, featuring the four freshman boys (Proulx, Pleninger, Strutz & Schwarzbach) placed sixth. Kade Strutz placed eighth in the discus. Amanda Cline tossed the discus to a ninth place finish.
The 4 x 400 girls relay team (Demontiney, Cline, Blanton and Beirwagen) placed sixth. Bailey Gasvoda placed eighth in the 100 meter hurdles and Jessica Roth rounded out the placing with a fifth place finish in 3200 meter race and eighth in the 1600 meters.
The Jason Groseclose Memorial Track Meet was held in Rudyard on April 30th. This meet is limited in participation to athletes who did not qualify for the Top 8 meet (held the following day). It is a great opportunity for younger athletes to compete and experience success.
The Pioneers had a strong showing at this meet. Brady Pleninger placed fifth in the 200 and fourth in the 400. Parker Proulx placed fifth in the 400 and second in the javelin. Brock Proulx placed first in the discus, third in the javelin, and third in the shot. Kade Strutz placed second in the shot and third in the discus. Cam Schwarzbach placed second in the 800 and ninth in the 400. Clint Darlington placed second in the triple jump and tenth in the long jump.
The 4 x 100 relay team (Strutz, Schwarzbach, Pleninger and Proulx) placed fifth and the 4 x 400 relay team (Strutz, Schwarzbach, Pleninger and Proulx) placed fourth. On the girls side, Seanna Demontiney won the 400, took fourth in the 100 meter sprint and fifth in the 200. Madison Terry placed sixth in the 100 and 200 and seventh in the triple jump. Katherine Bold placed fifth in the 400, seventh in the discus and ninth in the 200. Bailey Gasvoda took second in the 100 hurdles and Abriana Blanton placed second in the 300 hurdles and fourth in the 100 hurdles. Amanda Cline placed sixth in the discus and eighth in the javelin. Noelle Beirwagen placed second in the 1600 and sixth in the 400. The 4x100 relay team (Gasvoda, Finke, Cline and Demontiney) placed 2nd and the 4x400 relay team (Finke, Cline, Bold & Beirwagen) placed 2nd.
The Top 8 meet was held in Choteau this year, as the Great Falls track renovations have yet to be completed. Three Pioneer athletes qualified to complete: Ryan Roth, Jeremiah Generous and Jessica Roth. Ryan Roth, who qualified in the 3200, was unable to complete, due to a nasty case of the flu. Genereux competed in the 3200, placing sixth overall. Jessica Roth also competed in the 3200, placing eighth overall.
The last regular season meet before the district meet is the Havre Invitational on May 1st. The District 9C meet will be held in Havre on May 9th.
