Vikings defend home track; Whitefish girls win Bigfork Invite

BIGFORK — Robert Merchant set the tone for Bigfork on the boys side, while Whitefish controlled the girls team race Saturday at the Bigfork Invitational track and field meet.

The Vikings scored 97 points, followed by Whitefish (57), Ronan (53), Columbia Falls (39.25), and Plains (32). On the girls side Whitefish finished with 106 points, ahead of Columbia Falls (66), Bigfork (55), Charlo (46), and Plains (33). 

Merchant won the 100 in 11.03 seconds before posting a personal-best 49.75 in the 400, which ranks fourth in Montana across all classes and No. 1 in Class A. 

Bigfork’s Quinn Kerr added second-place finishes in both the 100 (11.27) and 200 (22.82), while Tayden West took runner-up in the 400 (50.63). West’s time is sixth in Class A. 

Tamret Savik delivered in the field, winning the triple jump (46 feet, 6.5 inches) and placing second in the high jump (6-2), matching a personal best. 

Noah Hamilton-Dixon found points for the Vikings in the distance events, including a third-place finish in the 3200 (11:07.80). 

The Whitefish boys were led by Colby Minton’s win in the 200 (22.76) and their 1,600-meter relay (3:34.61). Minton sits fourth in Class A in the 200.  

The Bulldogs picked up key points in the shot put, where Braylon Dunn won with a personal-best throw of 47-2.75 and Anderson Barrile placed third (45-2.5). 

Columbia Falls was highlighted by its winning 400 relay (44.40) from Bryant Jolleymore, Miles Colliander, Easton Brooks and Jett Brandeberry. Trip Ross added a fifth-place finish in the 200 (23.90), while Colliander placed third in the 110 hurdles (16.51) to help pace the Wildcats. 

The Whitefish girls leaned on depth throughout the meet. 

Ginger Bergland led a 1-2 finish in the 400 (1:01.37), with Hayley Reardon behind at 1:02.27. 

The Bulldogs were strong in the sprints, placing multiple runners in the 100 and 200 and winning both the 4-by-100 (52.66) and 4-by-400 relays (4:21.79). 

Kendall Dye added key points in the distance events, winning the 1,600 in 5:30.06, a personal best. 

Columbia Falls girls found points in the middle-distance races, with Cora Hannan and Isla Alexander placing in the 800, while Ashley Andrews and Findley Dezzani added top finishes in the 1600. 

Bigfork’s Sofie Albiero placed second in the 200 (27.25) and Millie Hall added a win in the shot put (36-3) and runner-up in the discus (111-10). Hall’s mark in the shot sits fifth in Class A. 

Libby sophomore Capri Farmer cruised to victory in the 800 in 2:21.04, the No. 5 time in Class A. 

Complete results are available on Athletic.net.