Coming off a sweep of the Western AA divisional in Helena a week ago, the Glacier Wolfpack are hunting for more at the State AA and B track and field meet in Missoula Friday and Saturday.

Glacier boys coach Connor Fuller has 24 athletes making the trek and he hopes to bring back some hardware to Kalispell. 

“High expectations ever since the start of the program,” Fuller said. “The goal has always been to get your PR in at state and beat the person ahead of you.” 

Fuller noted a pair of seniors hoping to go out on top in Owen Thiel (distance runs) and Will Astle (throws). 

Thiel holds the fastest times run among AA athletes in the 1,600 and 3,200 — note that his best times in each event came in meets outside the state. 

Astle has the fifth best mark in AA for the shot put and the eighth best in the discus. Add Liam Palmer and Cooper Pelc in the hurdles to the contenders list as well. 

Freshman Kyle West has also made his mark in the sprints for the Pack this spring. His 100 PR is 10th best in AA, but he finished third at the divisional last weekend just .05 behind winner Blake Williams of Missoula Big Sky. 

The Wolfpack’s southside rivals Flathead have a more than solid sprinter themselves in Will Hollensteiner. The Braves senior, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury, competed in only the triple jump in Helena last week, but won it. He is entered into seven events for the Braves, a season after bringing home seven medals and helping Flathead to the boys state title. 

Braves coach Dan Hodge says his team may be in the middle of the pack this spring, but mentioned that anything can happen when feet hit the track. 

“Both relays could do well, we could possibly place someone in the 3,200 or the 1,600,” Hodge said. “You want your kids to go in with as much confidence as you can.” 

Kohen Rilley sits with the third best mark in AA for the shot put and should play a factor. 

For the girls, the Bravettes have 14 athletes headed to Missoula and Kaylee Fox hopes to have her squad at their best after some injuries have plagued the squad. 

“Hopefully we are going to be at full strength and ready to put on display what we have been working on over the course of the year,” Fox said. 

Bristol Lenz will play a major factor in the hurdles and long jump, she sits with the best time in AA for the 100 hurdles heading into the meet. 

Naomi Miller hopes to play a factor in the triple jump after setting a personal best of 35 feet, 8.5 inches and finishing second at divisionals last week. She also finished second in the long jump with her best mark of the season: 17-3.5. 

Freshman Brynn Kossman also looks to deliver a strong performance in the shot put after second place at divisionals. 

The Wolfpack girls see some of the same strengths as the boys: distance and throws. 

Freshman Ada Thiel and junior Lauren Bissen stood out in the 1,600 and 3,200, while Dacia Benkelman made a strong showing in the 800 in Helena last week, winning with a personal best of 2:17.27. 

In the throws Allie Krueger and Rylee Bigelow lead the charge in the shot put and discus, while Remi Osler adds a strong presence in the javelin. 

Coach Hollis May hopes her girls can be in the hunt for hardware on Saturday, but notes that Billings West and Gallatin will be tough to beat from the East. 

“The girls are feeling great,” May said. “They have really worked hard and focus on the little things that help in the big moment and have had a solid last couple weeks.” 

Weather could play a factor as a chance of rain and thunderstorms are forecast for both days, but the resounding sentiment from all the coaches was “everyone has to deal with it.” 

Lambertsen leads Lions in B

Josh Lambertsen leads a small but mighty crew from Eureka competing in Class B. 

Lambertsen tackles the sprints, high jump and pole vault for the Lions. 

Benjamin Hughes looks to build off a strong performance in the distance events after finishing third in the 800, fifth in the 1,600 and sixth in the 3,200 at the Western B divisional last week. 

Also a factor for the Eureka boys is River Traina in the 300 hurdles. 

On the girls side, Kricket Bridges could be in play for a medal in the pole vault after clearing 9-3 this season. 

Gabrielle Hughes comes into the shot put competition after winning the divisional crown last week with a personal best mark of 33-4.5.