Top Ten Show First Class Sportsmanship

It was a beautiful evening for a track meet. On Tuesday, Glasgow hosted the annual "Top Ten" track meet. The top ten meet was started in 1983 by Bob Farrell, Mark Yoakam and Norm Girard.

Athletes qualify just by being in the top ten in their events based on the overall results in Eastern Montana. Tim Phillips, head coach for the Glasgow Scotties, explained that they want the kids to do their individual best so they don't typically have them compete in everything they qualify for. This means that other kids can move up in the top ten and compete at the meet.

In the years since the top ten meet began, Girard has been a permanent fixture. He may have missed a few meets here and there, but there really is no record of that. Tuesday was also a special day because Girard was quietly celebrating his 75th birthday.

The athletes, on the other hand, weren't doing anything quietly. Those that participated are competitive. They worked hard to qualify in their events. None of them were there because of a fluke. They are top athletes – but times and distances aren't the only thing that makes them top athletes.

The sportsmanship at this meet was just as prevalent as the athleticism. After the boys 3200 meter run (that's eight laps around the track) the runners are understandably drained. That evening, Walker Allen from Glasgow gave the race everything he had, he had to grip the track for a few minutes after crossing the finish line. That's when fellow runners Matthew Rattling Thunder from Poplar and Spencer Losing from Baker extended him their support.

It wasn't an uncommon theme. A person will typically see teammates cheering each other on and congratulating each other. On Tuesday night, it was more than that. Opponents were seen supporting each other and applauding the effort of all who participated. Helping hands and comforting pats on the back were seen from other competitors after races were run.

Cheering and words of encouragement at the field events could be heard by spectators. It seemed everyone was excited when a record was broken – whether it was their own teammate, or not. On the podium, opponents were extending congratulations to each other and smiling for the cameras.

In the end, Malta came out on top overall, but Glasgow, Hinsdale and Nashua athletes made their way to the podium in several events.

GIRLS:

100 meter dash – Jordan Kulczyk placed fourth in a tie with a time of 14:00.

800 meter run – Amanda Wolff placed first with a time of 2:28.36; and Brinlie Nielsen placed fifth with a time of 2:38.80.

3200 meter run – Josie Braaten placed first with a time of 12:13.88.

100 meter hurdles – Amy Breigenzer placed first with a time of 16.40.

4x100 meter relay – Glasgow placed third with a time of 52.72.

4x400 meter relay – Glasgow placed first with a time of 4:21.09.

Pole Vault – Courtney Capdeville, from Hinsdale placed fifth with a height of 8-00.00.

Long jump – Jordan Kulczyk placed fourth with a time of 15-00.00.

Triple jump – Amy Breigenzer ninth with a distance of 31-01.00.

Shot put – Dana Hughes fourth with a distance of 34-07.00; Leinie Hughes placed sixth 33-09.00.

Discus – Dana Hughes placed fourth with a distance of 111-00.

Boys:

100 meter dash – Benji Phillips placed second with a time of 11.92.

400 meter dash – Lane Nickels, of Nashua, placed fifth with a time of 53.19.

800 meter run – Lane Nickels, of Nashua, placed first with a time of 2:04.38.

1600 meter run – Gabe Hallock placed seventh with a time of 5:00.98.

3200 meter run – Brett Johnson, of Hinsdale, placed sixth with a time of 11:03.44; Walker Allen placed eighth with a time of 11:06.61.

110 meter hurdles – Luke Breigenzer placed second with a time of 16.52; Ethan Etchart placed sixth with a time of 17.36.

300 meter hurdles – Luke Breigenzer placed third with a time of 41.83; Dallas Capdeville, of Hinsdale placed sixth with a time of 43.52.

4x100 meter relay – Glasgow placed first with a time oft 44.78.

4x400 meter relay – Glasgow placed first with a time of 3:31.77.

High jump – Dallas Capdeville, of Hinsdale placed sixth with the distance of 5-10.00; Daniel Horsman, of Frazer, placed eighth with a distance of 5-08.00.

Pole vault – Dallas Capdeville placed fifth with a distance of 12-00.00.

Triple jump – Chase Fossum placed fourth with a distance of 42-01.00.

Shot put – Lukas Johnson placed second with a distance of 42-11.00; Dallas Capdeville, of Hinsdale, placed sixth with a distance of 40-01.00.

Discus – Trevor Toavs placed third with a distance of 128-06; Lukas Johnson, of Hinsdale, placed eighth with a distance of 109-09.

Javelin – Benji Phillips placed first with a distance of 186-02.