Alberton proved that experience can be overrated, with Panthers placing in unfamiliar events and two first-year Panthers walking away with first-place finishes at the District 13C Track Meet in Missoula Friday and Saturday.

Lady Panther Cleo Talbot placed first in the 1,600 and 3,200-meter run and third in the 800-meter run. “This is the first year she’s actually ran these events,” said Panther coach Rachael Clevenger. The senior ran the 1,600 in 6:15.53 to finish two spots ahead of teammate Becca Petersen. Talbot’s time in the 800 and 3,200 were both personal bests, which goes without saying. “That was her first time running the 3,200 and the 800,” Clevenger said.

Talbot was also on the winning 400-meter relay team, an event she has experience in. Talbot, along with Petersen and Shauna Hendrickson, were on the 400-relay team that went to state last year. This year’s addition, Jenna Rausch, helped the foursome win the event at the district meet with a time 54.58 seconds. Clevenger said the 400 relay is something the girls have really been working hard on this year. “They have a real good chance of going to state,” she said.

Rausch and Petersen were also on the winning 1,600-meter team, along with Andi Clark and Dani Hanley. Hanley also finished in second in the 100-meter dash with a time of 14.01 seconds. Hendrickson placed second in the triple jump with a distance of 32 feet, 2 inches and Rausch placed second in the 800 with a time of 2:39.30.

The Lady Panthers scored 107 points to finish ahead of Lincoln, Philipsburg and Victor. Drummond finished in first with 150 points and Arlee followed with 132 points.

The Alberton boys scored 82 points to finish in fourth place. The Trojans won with 173 and Victor came in second with 114 points. Arlee came in third with 108 points.

Both of Alberton’s top finishes came from Panthers who are in their first year of high school track. Senior Jordan Johnson won the long jump with a distance of 20 feet, 1/4 of an inch. Johnson also finished in fifth in the long jump. Clevenger said Johnson has steadily been getting better all year. “He’s really coming on strong right now, which is actually the right time,” Clevenger said.

First-year track athlete Phillip Brovold finished first in the javelin right ahead of his brother Jerry, who is also in his first year on the track team. Phillip threw the javelin 162 feet, 1 inch and Jerry threw it 159 feet, 1 inch. Clevenger said the two should be able to repeat their performance at divisionals next week. “They should go one and two at divisionals,” she said.

Phillip also finished second in the discus with a throw of 118 feet, 8 inches and Jerry finished fourth in the shot put with a throw of 38 feet, 11 inches. Clevenger said it was Phillip’s first time competing in the discus. “He’s never thrown the discus before,” she said.

Clevenger said with many of her team competing in high school track for the first time, the results at districts and throughout the season have surpassed her expectations. “They’re very athletic and very competitive,” she said.