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Slonaker, Aldridge lead Heat in Missoula meet

JOHN HAMILTON | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 3 months AGO
by JOHN HAMILTON
| May 13, 2026 12:00 AM

With speed-burner Daniel Slonaker and hurdling demon Ben Aldridge doing a majority of the scoring for the Savage Heat, Hot Springs track teams competed in the Kim L. Haines meet at MCPS Stadium in Missoula Saturday.

The Savage Heat boys scored 34 team points to finish sixth in team scoring while the Hot Springs girls, operating without team leader Kara Christensen (who was busy attending her big sister Katelyn’s Carroll College graduation), managed to score three team points in her absence.

Continuing his remarkable recovery from a knee injury suffered during football season, Slonaker won second place in the 100 meters (in a personal best time of 11.50 seconds) and the 200 (in another personal best time of 23.40), besides running a leg, along with Samson Jakabosky, Bill DeTienne and Aldridge on the third place 400 meter relay.

Aldridge also had another outstanding meet, winning second in the 300 meter hurdles in a personal best time of 40.86 seconds, placing fourth in the 110 hurdles in 16.95, and not scoring but finishing ninth in the 100 meter dash and in the long jump.

As has been the case several times this season, Aldridge and teammate Chase DePoe had another close duel in the long jump, with DePoe winning this time 18-5.5 to 18-5.0, claiming eighth place.

With the Savage Heat girls, Kora Hensrude won fifth place in the 300 meter hurdles (in 53.12 seconds) and Alisha Jakabosky won sixth in the javelin (with a personal best throw of 96-10).

Hensrude just missed placing in several other events, taking seventh in the shot put, and eighth place in both the discus and the 200 meters.

The Savage Heat will now compete in the District 14C meet in Missoula Friday and Saturday, hoping to earn spots in the Western C meet, also in Missoula, the following week.

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