The Columbia Falls track squad has about 100 athletes this year hoping to nab a spot on the podium. Last year the girls team took second at the state Class A tourney and they hope to be in the mix again this year, noted coach Jamie Heinz. The girls lose long-distance runner Samantha Mundel and jumper Carla Nicosia to graduation, but they have a lot of returning athletes, including all of last year’s state champion 1,600 meter relay team.

In addition, they’ll have jumpers Kiara Burlage and Ellie Johnson. Burlage took sixth in the long jump at state as a sophomore.

Allyson Gimbel will return to throw the shot put — she was second at state last year.

On the boys side, the Wildcats return senior jumper Stephen Lindsey who was fourth in the long jump at state last season. They should also see good things from long-distance runner Sage Wanner, who took eighth at the state cross-country meet last year. They’ll also get back sprinter Tanner Dana, who was sixth in the 200 at state and Kyler Burns, who took sixth in the high jump.

They also have several new athletes to the sport, including junior Dakota Bridwell, who will look to make his mark in the javelin and sophomore Austin Green, who will run sprints as well as toss the javelin.

The boys were 13th at state last year, but this year Heinz said the field is wide open. Gone is the Northwest A conference. The conference meet now encompasses the western half of the state.

Whitefish was the favorite, but Jed Nagler, one of the Bulldog’s best athletes, will be sidelined with an injury.