Busy week for the Pioneer track team, 3 meets in all

Many track meets were canceled, but they are sure making them up now. Last week they had three track meets, one in Havre, one in Chouteau, and one in Great Falls. I love watching track when the weather is nice, and these three meets had real nice weather.

It's difficult to report on track meets because the number of athletes is crazy this year. At the Havre meet, they had 500 athletes, and I thought it was a long day, primarily because they had prelims and finals. However, the Great Falls meet had 910 athletes competing.

The year has been challenging because the weather didn't allow for much practicing outside for the first three weeks. That track has been reworked. The weather is much better, so the Pioneers are finally getting some running time out on the track.

The most important thing is that each athlete improves, even by a fraction of a second. Because races are won in a quarter of a second, and the field events are won by 1/8 of an inch. So each is working to improve their Personal Record (PR) or their Seasonal Record (SR).

At Havre, for example, in the 100 meters, there were 67 girls and 74 boys running the race. Kody Strutz improved by getting an SR in the 100 meters. In the 200 meters, Eva Wagoner took 6th out of 52, and Kody Strutz took 5th out of 46 for another PR. Mattie Gasvoda and Jenny Sant also got PRs in the 200. The boy's 400-meter relay took 6th. Angela Sant and Alex Worral both got PRs in the 800. Eva Yeadon jumped her best yet in the High Jump, as did Jai Baumann in the Long Jump. In the Triple Jump, Malaysia Baumann, Eva Yeadon, and Kody Strutz improved by getting PRs. Three Pioneers received their PR in the boy's shot put; Wylee Snapp, Severin Heimbigner, and Hunter Moore. Cooper Taylor and Rusty Gasvoda did their best throws in the Discuss.

Chouteau was a fun track meet for the Pioneers because it finished under the lights, and it was a breakout meet for many. Coach Wendy Taylor said, " the kids are doing fantastic... working hard, sometimes not working hard, but overall it's perfect. We had almost everyone get a PR in at least one event, some in multiple events." Kaya Demontiney got a PR in all 5 of her events in the Long Jump, 400 meter dash, 300 hurdles, 200 meter dash and the 4x400 relay. In the 100, Eva Wagoner took 3rd, Carmen Tan 4th, Braydon Cline, Rusty, and Mattie Gasvoda ran their best. Alex Worrall to 2nd and Angela Sant 3rd in the 800. In the mile, once again, Alex Worral took 2nd, and Angela Sant took 5th. In both the 100 Hurdles and the 300 hurdles, Eva Wagoner took 2nd with an SR. The girl's 4 X 100 Relay took 5th. In the 4 X 400, they took 4th. Angela Sant got a PR in the Javelin. Jai Baumann got a PR in the high jump and a 3rd in the Long Jump. Eva Yeadon, Carmen Tan, Lainy Terry, Mattie Gasvoda, and Eva Wagoner received PRs in the Long Jump. In the Boy's Discuss, Wylee Snapp took 6th with his best throw ever, and Darrell Sunchild and Ryder Galbavy also received PRs.

In Great Falls, the following had a breakout meet: Jai Bauman had 2 PRs, Mattie Gasvoda 3, Haley Schwenke 2, Darrell Sunchild 3, and Servin Heimbigner with 2 PRs. The other athletes getting PRs in their events were Eva Wagoner with an SR, Carmen Tan, Braydon Cline, Austen Haugen, Kaya Demontiney, Angela Sant, Lainey Terry, Wylee Snapp, and Rusty Gasvoda.

District track is two weeks away, and everyone is strategizing how best to win it!.