State meets: Odgen, Schulz go for 4 in a row; Morley on record pace

History is on the line for a trio of local athletes at the state track meets this weekend in Great Falls and Butte.  

Glacier’s Todd Ogden and Whitefish’s Marlow Schulz are looking to join an illustrious group as they attempt to become four-time winners in a single event.

Bigfork’s Makena Morley is continuing her season-long attack on the state record books.

Ogden, who is the heavy favorite in the javelin at the Class AA meet in Great Falls, threw a personal-best 215 feet at the divisional meet last week, a school and meet record and the second-longest throw in state history. While still nursing a shoulder injury from football season, Ogden’s throw is more than 25 feet farther than anyone else in AA this season. He has a shot at beating both the all-class state meet record of 213-4 and the all-class record of 222-4 in Great Falls.

“He’s just a competitor,” Glacier boys coach Arron Deck said. “He’s always done well at the state meets, even as a freshman. Obviously as a three-time state champ you know how to compete at those big meets.”

Ogden isn’t alone as a state favorite among his teammates. Glacier’s Lonnie Sherman leads the state in pole vault, Nathan Connell is one of the top competitors in the 800- and 1,600-meter runs and Evan Epperly and Logan Jones are among the fastest in the sprints.

Austin Cook has also stepped up into the top three in the long jump.

“We’re just going to take care of what we can take care of,” Deck said. “The kids got after it this week in practice. It was a great week. I know they’re focused and dialed in.”

Flathead’s Matt Quist has jumped a state-high 6-9 in the high jump and Jess Beaman is among the state leaders in the long and triple jumps. Dillon Thomas has been one of the best in the 110 hurdles this season while Sylas Schutt is near the top in the distance runs. Caleb McCracken threw the second-best discus mark in the state last week at divisionals.

Flathead senior Rhiannon Sturgess won the girls 300 hurdles last week and finished second in the 100 hurdles, entering state among the favorites in each event. The Bravettes also hope to contend in the jumps with Emma Andrews and Janae Moon and in the throws with Jenessa Heine.

Glacier’s girls are paced by field events, Keyawna Larson returning as the javelin champion and Tessa Krueger among the best in the shot put and discus. Zoee Boschee won the triple jump a week ago as the Wolfpack placed four athletes in the event at the divisional meet.

Class A

In Butte, Schulz looks to dazzle for the fourth-straight year, having won eight individual titles in her career so far. The last two years she has won the 100, 200 and 400 and is seeking to become the first girl in state history to win the 100 four times and the other two sprints at least three. Schulz won the 800 her freshman season and enters as one of the favorites in that event as well.

While her schedule could change based on conditions, Schulz is entered in five individual events and both relays in her last weekend as a prep athlete.

“What an opportunity,” Whitefish coach and father Derek Schulz said. “What an opportunity she’s already had. Everything that happens for this track meet is gravy for her.

“It’s bittersweet that this is her last one, but it’s fortunate that she’s healthy and ready to go.”

She’ll likely have close competition to repeat, with Corvallis’ Sadi Henderson entering state on pace with the Whitefish star. Henderson, who topped Schulz in the 400 in 2011, has yet to repeat the feat at state, though she enters with faster times in the 200, 400 and 800.

“Sadi’s a competitor, Marlow’s a competitor,” Derek Schulz said. “There’s no question those will be good races.”

Marlow’s not the only fast Bulldog heading to Butte.

Phoebe Guercio is among the favorites in the 100 hurdles and the long jump and will contribute on both relays, which look to be among the best in the state. Junior Grace Kurtz adds speed in the 100, 200 and 400 and the Bulldogs could get points from Allie Schulz, Kate Doorn and Bekah Weaver.

Columbia Falls’ Carla Nicosia is near the top of the state in the triple jump and Samantha Mundel is racing near the top in the distance races.

The Whitefish boys are looking to defend their state title from last season, though they’ll be doing it without state 200, 400 and 800 champion Logan Harwood.

“You don’t replace Logan Harwood with one person,” Derek Schulz said. “You replace him with a bunch of guys. That’s more or less what we’ve done. We’ve got some good event coverage and guys that are competitive in every event.”

Jed Nagler qualified in five events at divisional last week, and the Bulldogs have athletes at, or near the top of the state, in Luke May (javelin), Sean Foley (pole vault and 100), Keaton Grove (hurdles) and Gage Smith (shot put).

“We’ll be busy,” Derek Schulz said. “That’s the way you want it. Every time you look at the track you want to see somebody from Whitefish. For the most part we’ll have that in both boys and girls.”

Polson’s Jacob Clairmont should challenge in a multitude of events. Columbia Falls’ Nakia Alexander is one of the best in the triple jump.

Class B

Bigfork’s Makena Morley was fast at last year’s state meet, but came away with three silvers, falling behind Townsend’s Chiara Warner’s all-class record-setting runs in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200.

Morley enters the state meet more rested this season, having raced lightly the first half of the season. Her fresh legs have shown with state-leading marks in the three distance races the last two weeks.

That pace is nearly fast enough to break the all-class records in each event, should conditions hold up in Butte.

Bigfork also enters as one of the favorites in the 400, Emily Cheroske running a class-best time in the event last week.

Eureka’s Emily Billow is one of the top throwers in the class. Plains, led by all-around athletes Nicole Rehbein and Hailey Phillips, look to be the heavy favorite in team points for the girls.

Bigfork’s boys look to challenge for a team title, led by Morley’s brother Logan in the distance races, Josh Sandry in the sprints and jumps and Tyler Iverson in the throws.

Eureka’s Khaz Yanak enters as one of the favorites in the triple jump along with Tory’s Nathan Olds. The Lions’ Christian Langston and Troy’s Sean Opland have ran some of the fastest sprints in the class this season.