COLUMBIA FALLS — The Polson Pirates and Lady Pirates ransacked the Columbia Falls Invitational on Saturday, March 31, with each team placing 12 times en route to impressive finishes. The Lady Pirates won the event, finishing with 84 points, edging Cut Bank’s 81.33.

Personally responsible for four Lady Pirate placings was junior Anna DiGiallonardo, who won the 100-meter dash in a blazing 13.06, the 200 in 27.35, earned second in the 400 with a time of 1:06.51 and fourth with a 14’8” long jump.

Claudia Hewston also impressed thanks to a first-place performance in the 1,600 (5:45.37) and third-place results in the 800 (2:37.39) and pole vault (7’6”). 

Sister Madeline Hewston finished fourth in the 400 with a 1:07.31 time, while Amelia Brooks raced to second in the 100-meter hurdles at 17.36 and Annie Venters launched herself to fifth in the pole vault with a 7’ performance.

Both the 400 and 1,600 relay teams were on the precipice of first place, finishing just shy with second-place times of 53.56 and 4:40.70, respectively.

Eight different Pirates placed in their individual events, led by senior Vince DiGiallonardo, who earned second in the 100-meter dash (11.84) and long jump (19’11”) and sophomore Tel Motichka, who took fifth in the 800 (2:13.75) and sixth in the 1,600 (5:09.59).

Clark Rubel’s 45’11” shot put was good for second place, Jared Rubel took sixth in the 300 hurdles in 46.15 and Paul McClurg ran to third in the 100-meter dash in 11.86.

Brock Bleazard, with an 11’6” pole vault, earned fifth, as did Zach Camel in the 400 at 54.68, while Alex Nystrom earned sixth in the 3,200-meter race, running roughly two miles in 11:16.56.

The relay teams earned second and fifth place in the 400 and 1,600, respectively, thanks to times of 46.29 and 3:46.60.

The Pirates and Lady Pirates will have the week off before returning to action on Tuesday, April 10 at the Flathead Invitational.