Whitefish’s girls and boys track and field programs were second and third at the State A meet last year, and Columbia Falls’ boys were a narrow second to Corvallis.

The Blue Devils are still strong, coming off their sweep. But the Bulldogs and Wildkats remain stellar as well. 

Whitefish’s girls, for example, lost some thoroughbreds like Hailey Ells and Brooke Zetooney but in Rachael Wilmot and youngster Anna Boysen, well, it just seems like there’s always some speed in Stumptown. 

“Often times track is a second or third sport, and we get that,” Whitefish girls coach Matt Beckwith said of his athletes. “But there’s a handful of them that are really about track and field, and that’s a lot of fun. 

“Rachael has been working really hard and has high expectations for the season. With Anna Boysen, same deal. She keeps getting stronger and faster and we’re excited about the possibilities for her this season.“ 

Beyond those two Beckwith is excited about junior Sol Holmquist in the throws and a bunch of unproven youngsters like sophomore Sophie Douglas in the distances. 

“We have a lot of unknowns,” he said. “We graduated a really incredible class. But we have some young kids that are talented and had some success in their other sports that we think we could cover a lot of bases. And that this time of year, are kind of dark horses.” 

Willie Roche, coach of the Whitefish boys, has similar thoughts. Carson Krack, hurdler extraordinaire, graduated, but the cupboard isn’t bare. 

Colby Minton, a sophomore who transferred up from Missoula’s Valley Christian, won the 400 in the Bulldogs’ first meet, at Legends Stadium on Tuesday. 

“I don’t remember the last (400) kid at Whitefish that ran 53 seconds at the first meet,” Roche said. “That’s exciting.” 

Another positive. Senior Ethan Amick, a distance runner who ran the Missoula Marathon last summer, tested with his teammates and was among the fastest Bulldog sprinters. 

“He’s the third fastest,” Roche noted. “Turns out he can run. He anchored the four-by-1 (short relay) in Kalispell. Outstanding leader, outstanding kid.” 

Roche said that Carson Gulick, a standout in the 110-meter hurdles, is branching into the 400 which should also help his 300 hurdles. 

There’s another Zetooney, Riley, a senior who should help in the sprints and relays as well. Simon Douglas leads the distance crew. 

Over in Columbia Falls, there’s no replacing Malakai Simpson on the boys side but Jamie Heinz likes what he has. 

“Our goal every year is to be one of the top programs in the state,” said Heinz, whose Wildcats trailed Corvallis by less than two points in the standings at state. “You never replace a Malakai or a Derrick Wiliams, but that provides opportunities for kids that are waiting and excited to go.” 

Exhibit A: Jack Phelps, a senior who has run well in the 400 and 300 hurdles. “Now he gets to step up,” Heinz said. “He’s going to be good in the 100, 200 and 400.” 

Sophomore Jett Brandeberry is going to work into the sprints; Lane Voermans gives the Cats one of the top throwers in Class A. 

Banyan Johnston, a sophomore and the reigning State A high jump champ, will hurdle and be in the triple jump. Returning seniors Oliver Kress and Isak Soyland give Columbia Falls a great 1-2 punch in the pole vault. 

On the Wildkat side, junior Sol Bullemer is back in the girls pole vault and triple jump. Senior Chloe Savoy is moving from the 800 out to distances, after a breakout cross country season.  

“We’re excited to see what she can do for us,” Heinz said. 

Senior Courtney Hussion will lead the Kats in the jumps and junior Tia Baker is a leader in the hurdles. 

The Northwest A, home to Columbia Falls and Whitefish, is loaded with returning talent. 

Polson’s boys boast a couple of distance standouts in junior David DiGiallonardo and sophomore Jackson Bontadelli; senior Astin Brown is threat in the shot put.  

The Lady Pirates’ Morgan Delaney is a dynamite distance runner, and just a sophomore. 

Libby’s Tristan Anderson, a junior, excels in the high jump and javelin; Browning’s Noah Butterly is another top high jumper, as is junior Teslin Trombley for the Lady Indians. 

The Logger girls also have long jumper Bergen Fortner, a junior. 

Bigfork boasts a pair of juniors with state experience: Tamret Savik in the jumps and Robert Merchant in the sprints. 

That duo and the rest of the Vikings host the Bigfork Invitational, kicking the season off in earnest on Saturday. The State A meet is May 24-25 at Legends Stadium, running concurrently with the State AA meet.