M-ettes on early roll

The Malta M-ettes are off to a great start in the 2016 track and field season taking first place at the Cal Wearley Memorial (CWM) last Wednesday in Havre, first place in the Havre Lions Invitational last Saturday and second place at the Glasgow Invitational on Saturday, April 2. They had 97 points at the CWM, 142 at the Lions Meet and 59 points at the Glasgow Meet.

During their first three meets the M-ettes have had a few first place finishers including Kaitlin Smith who took first place in javelin in all three meets. She had throws of 131 at the Lions Meet, 120-11 in Glasgow and 117-0 1/ 2 at the windy CWM.

"I feel (that throw was) pretty good for it being so windy," Smith said.

In the javelin event at the CWM, the wind was blowing right in the face of the throwers.

"Craig Stiles and Coach Flatt have helped me a lot with showing me how to throw into the wind," Smith said. "So that was very helpful."

She admitted to liking a little wind over no wind at all.

Smith also took first in the Lions' shot put event with a throw of 34-7 ¾ and fourth at the CWM with a throw of 31-9.

The CWM was junior Sophia Stiles' first meet of the year and she has already made her presence known by nearly taking the top spot in each event she has entered. She took first in the 100 hurdles (15.70), 300 hurdles (50.70) and triple jump (36-6 ½).

"I think that's a pretty good start," Stiles said after running the 100 hurdles at the CWM. "There was a nice breeze helping me out but for my first race of the season, I think I'm happy with it."

Last season Stiles had some issues with her ankle after hurting it in the basketball season. This year is a different story.

"It feels good," she said. "I didn't wrap it all basketball season and its strong now."

Stiles is the reigning Class B long and triple jump champion and the M-ettes have been off to a strong start. Stiles feels this year's team is special.

"I definitely think we are going to have a better shot at placing at meets as a team," Stiles said. "I think the kids that came out this year are really going to help. Obviously, like Mystic is doing amazing. I just really think they will help the team."

She took second in the long jump though both Stiles and Winnett-Grass Range's Shelby Browning left marks at 17-0.

Stiles placed first in every event she entered at the Lions Meet. Her times and lengths were 15.50 in the 100 Hurdles, 49.10 in the 300 hurdles, 17-4 in the long jump and 35-8 ¾ in triple jump.

Mystic Striker has been off to a strong start this season sweeping every even that she has entered this season.

Striker took first in both long distance runs at the Lions Meet with a time of 5:58.28 in the 1600 and 12:31.87 in the 3200. She also took first in both events at the Glasgow meet with times of 6:06.41 in the 1600 and 12.53.50 in the 3200. She only ran the 3200 in the CWM and took first with a time of 12:53.50.

"Coach Schye just told me to go as fast as I could against the wind so no one catches up and keep my arms relaxed," Striker said at the CWM. "It really helped because my shoulder has been hurting for a while. I haven't been using my shoulders right."

Marley Manoukian took first place in the pole vault after clearing 7-06. Manoukian took second in the triple jump with a length of 33-6. Both Stiles and Manoukian qualified for state in the triple jump.

Manoukian also took fourth in the Lions 17.40.

Riley Mortenson ran well at the Lions meet taking second in the 800 with a time of 2:42.80 and fifth in the 1600 with a time of 6:33. Mortenson also took third in 800 at both the Glasgow Invitational (2:36.49) and CWM (2:45.40). She took fourth in the CWM 1600 with a time of 6:05.40.

Jada Nicholson took second in the Lions' high jump after clearing 4-10; Hailey Nicholson took third after clearing 4-08.

H. Nicholson took third in the CWM 400 with a time of 1:09.30.

J. Nicholson took sixth in the CWM 200 with a time of 28.80.

Adrianna Bibeau took fifth in the Lions discus event after posting a throw of 84-1.

Mary Grace Kalal took fifth in discus in Glasgow with a throw of 83-2 and sixth in javelin with a throw of 95-10.

Malta's relay teams also fared well with the long relay team consisting of Striker, Ella Schye, Mariah Green and Riley Mortenson taking third at the Glasgow meet with a time of 5:02.70 and the long relay team consisting of Janessa Malmend, J. Nicholson, H. Nicholson and Raina Mortenson took sixth with a time of 5:01.80 at the CWM.

The short relay team of Manoukian, Stiles, J. Nicholson and Smith took second at the CWM with a time of 55.90.

The upperclassmen weren't the only ones faring well last week, some of the younger athletes also shined.

Sophomore TaChante Cole won both of her events in junior varsity at the CWM. Cole won the 800 with a time of 3:04.70 and the 1600 with a time of 6:38.

"I feel like I could've gone faster if I would've had someone up with me," Cole said. "I felt like I was slacking especially because it was really windy."

Cole definitely thinks that running cross country last year was beneficial to her track season.

"Cross Country really helped me learn how to pace myself," she said. "I didn't know how to prior to doing cross country. Doing three miles in cross country makes the 800 seem like nothing."