Thomas Spencer heads to divisional track to represent St. Regis

The St. Regis Tigers track team started out with only five individuals out for track and has now dwindled down to one individual who will compete at divisionals this weekend, May 21-22.

Coach Maury Johnston said that due to injuries and other situations it has been a rough ending for the season. About two weeks ago, Juliana Spencer, the only girl out for track who ran in the two long distance races, the 1,600 and 3,200, hurt her knee. Johnston said that they're not exactly sure what she did to it, possibly pulled a tendon, but at districts this past weekend he gave her the choice if she wanted to run on it.

Juliana chose to go ahead and run in the 3,200 and ended up taking first in the event with a time of 14:21.60, a huge two-minute increase from what she normally runs.

"It was sore afterwards and seeing how she ran 14 something when she normally finishes 12:40, I highly doubt that she'll run at divisionals. We don't want to hurt it anymore," Johnston said. "She just got an injury at the wrong time. These things happen."

So with Juliana out, her brother Thomas will be the sole individual from St. Regis headed up to divisionals this weekend. Thomas qualified in two events the high jump and 3,200 meter race. He cleared 5-8 at Polson this last weekend good enough for a second place finish. However, Johnston said that he's cleared 5-10 in practice and if he can clear that height at divisionals, he should go on to state.

"He's got a lot of potential in the event," Johnston said. "It seems the same thing happens at every time. He clears 5-6 and then he gets called and has to go run the two mile. After running the two mile, he jumps again and barely misses 5-10. The nice thing is that it won't happen at divisionals."

Johnston also believes that Thomas has the potential to go to state in the 3,200 as well. At divisionals, Thomas who is in 14-C will compete against kids from three other districts, 11-C, 12-C and 13-C. Johnston said that right now he's ranked about sixth in the competition. He took second at districts this last weekend with a time of 11:56.84.

"He'll need to run probably about 11:40 to go to state," Johnston said, "so not a tremendous amount faster."

Divisionals for Thomas will be held at the Missoula Big Sky Track on Friday and Saturday. Johnston said that while it is a bit unusual to go to the competition with only one student, as normally in years past he's taken four or five, which is just the way it goes when you start out with a small team.