M-ettes take fifth at Memorial

The Malta M-ettes varsity track team took fifth place at the cold and windy Cal Wearley Memorial last Wednesday, April 3, in Havre. Malta's JV took first place.

The M-ettes were short-handed with a few team members out of state, but the team scored 43.66 points, placing them only a few points behind fourth place Chinook, who scored 47. Havre won the meet with 85 points. Fort Benton took second with 81 points and Glasgow took third with 80.

Erica Smith led the M-ettes placing in three of her four event. Smith took second place in triple jump with a length of 31-11. Smith took fourth place in the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 53.05. It was the second time Smith had ran the 300 hurdles.

"Last year I did it once and hardly practiced it, so it is very challenging," Smith said. "I felt like I could have a good chance in this event if I keep working at it."

Smith admitted that she needed to work on her hurdle skills and that she hit every hurdle during the race.

"I need to work on going up in a fluid motion," Smith said.

Smith was fifth in long jump after leaving a mark at 14-03.

Freshman Justine Lamb took second place in the 100 hurdles with a time of 17.21, a new personal record (PR). Lamb also took third place in the 300 hurdles with a PR 52.34.

Lamb tied with teammate Wylee Young for sixth place in the high jump. Both cleared 4-6 to place in the event.

"I did okay, but I feel like I could've done better, so next week I am going to try to get 4-8," Young said.

Young, a senior shared her advice for competing in Havre, a track that is pretty cold this time of the season.

"Just try to stay warm and not cramp up," Young said.

Young mentioned that high jump was her first event.

"I just like the feel of it," Young said. "I feel more competitive doing it than I do running."

Young placed fourth in the 400 with a time of 1:09.75.

Kyleigh Schipman was fourth in javelin with a throw of 103-02.

Sidney Meeks took fifth place in discus with a throw of 86-05.

The short relay consisting of Kaylee Bishop, Leslie Young, W. Young, and Smith took fourth place with a time of 55.21.

The long relay team consisting of Kayla Judd, Justine Lamb, W. Young, and L. Young took sixth place with a time of 4:52.20.

Though senior Raina Mortenson did not place, she set personal best in her two events, with a throw of 26-2.50 in shot put and leap of 12-3 in long jump.

Mortenson has set a goal to make it to state this season and she shared another goal.

"I don't want to be the last to finish the mile," she said with a laugh. "I have never ran it before."

JUNIOR VARSITY

IN the JV Meet, Malta took first with 72 points. Simms was second with 56, and Fairfield was third with 51.

Malta was led by Kaylee Bishop who took first in three races and placed in all four of her individual events. Bishop won the 100 meter dash with a time of 14.85, the 200 with a PR of 30.05, and the 400 with a PR of 1:08.64. Bishop was fifth in long jump with a leap of 12-4, a new PR.

Skylie Lefahl placed in all five of her individual events, and won the long jump event with a new PR of 13-02.75. Lefdahl took second place in the 400 with a time of 1:11.83, a new PR. Lefdahl took third in the 200 with a PR of 31.23.

Lefdahl also had a stron showing in throwing events, taking second place in shot put and discus with throws of 26-05 and 81-04. Both throws are new personal bests.

Makiya Wilke took eleventh in long jump with a leap of 10-05 and Jade Darrington took thirteenth in discus with a throw 36-04.

The M-ettes were scheduled to compete in the Fergus Twilight Meet on Tuesday, April 9, in Lewistown. The team is then scheduled to travel to Havre on Saturday, April 13, for the Havre Lions meet.