The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

The Chinook Sugarbeeters were in Fort Benton on Thursday afternoon to kick start the 2022 Track and Field season off at the Snowbuster Invitational. Friday the Sugarbeeters, along with the Harlem Wildcats were in Glasgow competing at the Scottie Invitational. Track and Field teams in Turner and Hays/Lodge Pole will compete for the first time, today (April 6) and join Harlem and Chinook at the Cal Wearley Memorial Invitational at the Middle School Track and Field Complex in Havre.

Generally the first weekend of competition is less than perfect. The Snowbuster in Fort Benton often gets canceled due to weather. Schools are having their junior/senior trips as well as Proms, and families are taking some time to travel following the long winter schedule. Whatever the case may be coaches often deal with limited roster eligibility the first few times out and that was certainly the case this past week for both the Sugarbeeters and Wildcats.

Chinook is once again lead by Head Coach Kendall Harwood. The Sugarbeeter Assistant Coaches are Dylan Surber and Makhayla Farmer. This year the 'Beeters have 19 boys out and 9 girls. The Wildcats are led by Head Coach Kim Faulkinberry as well as Assistant Coaches Lyle Faulkinberry and Brian Hammett. The Wildcats roster includes 19 boys and 13 girls.

As far as the opening week of the season, the 'Beeters, while limited, did some pretty good things. "Our younger kids performed well at back to back meets. They had fourteen hours of track in two days which can be exhausting for anyone," said Harwood. "We were collecting some data on our freshmen to see where they can fit in with our team when they are in full force. Now that we know where they stand this early in the season we can customize our workouts to maximize point potential for the team in the postseason.

Harwood was impressed by his throwers in the season opener, "Our throwers had a great showing at Fort Benton with freshman Hannah Schoen and a few others getting personal records. Freshman Alexus Seymour grinded her way to placing in each of her events over the span of the two days. We saw some pretty awesome speed from each of our Freshmen sprinters. We will be looking at having two to three 4x100m relay teams by mid season. Carson Nissen is showing off his springs in the long and triple jump. Landen Beck impressed by showing early season strength and endurance in the mid distance and distance races."

As was expected the 'Beeters didn't have a full roster, "Our team competed without any upperclassmen (except Toby at Fort Benton) and did a great job. A couple buffer meets were great for our up and comers. I expect them to improve at every meet this year. They all have lofty goals. We'll work hard to get there," concluded Harwood.

The Wildcats were in Glasgow Friday and were shorthanded as well, "We will pick up about ten kids when we go to the Cal Wearley meet on Wednesday (Today), said Faulkinberry. As far as the teams performance week one, "I was pleased with the first track meet. For many of our kids this was there first high school track and field competition. So every single one of those kids got a Personal Record (PR) and that's something to try to improve upon throughout the season. Some of our kids are trying to find their niche and what events they want to do or try. As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to seeing the kids' efforts in practice show improvement at each track meet," concluded Faulkinberry.

Fort Benton Snow Buster

March 31, 2022 - Fort Benton, MT (Top 6)

Girls Results

100 Meter Dash - 6.) Hallie Neibauer, Chinook - 0:14.7.

200 Meter Dash - 4.) Hallie Neibauer, Chinook - 0:30.5.

800 Meters Run - 2.) Alexus Seymour, Chinook - 2:39.6.

Shot Put - 6.) Hannah Schoen, Chinook - 27’4.5”.

Discus - 5.) Hannah Schoen, Chinook - 76’8”.

Boys Results

100 Meter Dash - 4.) Toby Niederegger, Chinook - 0:11.9; 6.) Carson Nissen, Chinook - 0:12.2.

400 Meter Dash - 6.) Oliver Standiford, Chinook - 1:02.6.

800 Meter Run - 6.) Landen Beck, Chinook - 2:24.0.

3200 Meters - 5.) Listat Pope, Chinook - 12:41.4

High Jump - 3.) Oliver Standiford, Chinook - 5’4”.

Long Jump - 3.) Toby Niederegger, Chinook - 19’0”.

Triple Jump - 5.) Carson Nissen, Chinook - 35’ 6”.

Shot Put, 12kg - 8.) Quentin Edwards - 34’9”; 10.) Jackson Nordboe - 34’5”.

Glasgow Invitational

April 1, 2022 - Glasgow, MT (Top 10)

Girls Results

400 Meter Dash - 5.) Alexus Seymour, Chinook - 1:09.43; 8.) Raelynne Briere, Harlem - 1:11.72.

800 Meter Run - 5.) Alexus Seymour, Chinook - 2:42.71; 6.) Raelynne Briere, Harlem - 2:50.93.

Shot Put, 4kg - 6.) Chloe Messerly, Harlem - 30’6.25”.

Discus, 1kg - 9.) Hannah Schoen, Chinook - 78’09”.

Javelin, 600g - 8.) Hannah Schoen, Chinook - 81’0”; 10.) Chloe Messerly, Harlem - 80’01”.

High Jump - 7.) Keonna Medicine Bear, Harlem - 4’08”; 10.) EmJai Stiffarm, Harlem - 4’02”.

Boys Results

1600 Meters - 7.) Landen Beck, Chinook - 5:27.89.

3200 Meters - 4.) Landen Beck, Chinook - 11:36.58; 10.) Listat Pope, Chinook - 12:59.48.

110 Meter Hurdles 39” - 2.) Darrius LongKnife, Harlem - 18.68.

4x100 Meter Relay - 9.) Chinook (Landen Beck, Carson Nissen. Caden Sullivan. Oliver Standiford) - 0:52.15.

High Jump - 4.) Oliver Standiford, Chinook - 5’06”.