It was the first meet of the season, one which survived the threat of incoming snow and cold temperatures.

And that allowed for several dozen Western Montana track and field teams to see what they have and what other schools have as the 2023 season got underway in the Corvallis-hosted Blue Devil Invitational this past Saturday.

The majority of the teams at the meet were Class A teams, giving Sanders and Mineral County entrants an early season measuring stick of sorts.

By the time the final event was over, Superior stood out among the Class B-C entrants despite not fielding a full strength team in either men’s or women’s competition.

Hamilton won both the men’s and women’s varsity team titles, where the women nearly doubled second place Corvallis in team points, 205.5-114, while the Hamilton men captured first place team honors by topping number two Frenchtown 115-95.

Superior fared well against the lofty competition, finishing fourth out of nine women’s teams and eighth in the men’s standings out of 13 teams with enough competitors to qualify for team point recognition.

With key weight throwers and top seniors not taking part in the meet for a variety of reasons, the Bobcats got a good look at their bevy of young athletes, some of whom finished high in multiple events.

The same was true for Hot Springs, which got some good results from among its talented sophomore class, notably David Chapman, who finished 22nd in the men’s 100 meters in a school record 12.85 seconds.

Chapman also recorded personal bests in the 110 meters hurdles, the shot put (31-04), the long jump (16-09) and the triple jump (36-03).

Bobcat senior Decker Milender garnered the most team points for Superior via his third place showing in the 800 meters (2:25) and fourth place finish in the pole vault (10-00).

The highest showing among local athletes was the second place finishes by Braelynn Mangold in the women’s 800 meters run, and a second runner up showing in the women’s triple jump where she recorded a personal best hop, skip and jump of 30-03.75. Lady Bobcat Maryisa Swope, a freshman, was fourth at 800 as Superior had solid showings by several eight and ninth graders. Swope also had a fifth place finish in the high jump.

Alberton, the third area team entered in the Corvallis meet, had freshman Shea Fredette get a 10th place finish in the men’s 200 meters and a seventh in the 400 meters to lead the Panthers.

Superior sophomore Trizten Avila was also a high finisher in multiple event, taking home fourth in the men’s 400 meters and finishing seventh in the 200 meters.

Distance runner Wyatt Campbell was the top point getter for Hot Springs men, coming in seventh in the 3200 meters run and 14th at 1600, both with personal best times.

Despite the absence of senior standout Isabella Pereira, who will be running the 100 meters event for Whitworth College of Spokane next year on a track scholarship and is among the favorites to win a state title this year, Superior picked up an 11th place finish in the sprint from junior Alysha Ryan, who also was fourth in the 300 meters hurdles.

Lady Bobcats distance runner Haley Kruger came in third in the women’s 3200 meters and added a sixth place showing at 1600 meters.

Alberton sophomore Georgia Fredette also had a good meet, coming in ninth in the shot put and 13th in the discus.

Alberton and Hot Springs will take part in the Dave Tripp Memorial event this Friday in Polson, while Superior will travel down Interstate 90 for Saturday’s Frenchtown Invitational.