Good Golly, McColly

Hinsdale Raider standout Kaitlyn McColly added three more first-place finishes to her track season on Saturday at the Fergus Invitational. The senior qualified for the State Class C track meet after winning the long jump and the 300 hurdles in Lewistown.

She won the long jump by over a foot-and-a-half, leaping 16'8, setting a personal record. Her nearest competition coming from Malta's Erica Smith who jumped 15'00.5. She won the 300 hurdles in 47.34, over two seconds ahead of Havre's Sadie Filius at 49.38.

She also won the pole vault, clearing 9'6. McColly had already qualified for the state meet in the pole vault and triple jump after her season-opener performance at the Glasgow Invitational on April 1.

McColly led the Raider girls to a seventh-place finish at the Fergus Invitational with help from Zora Holt, who placed fifth in the 3200 meter run with her time of 14:23.20. The two earned 32 points for Hinsdale, who finished behind Fergus, 124; Harlowton/Ryegate, 100.5; Malta, 69; Havre, 65; Belt, 51.5' and Park, 48.

Coach Taylor Olson said, "The weather was beautiful in Lewistown and it showed with the athletes' performances!" He also noted all of the Hinsdale athletes have set personal records at most meets and that his female throwers have shown improvement each week.

The Raider boys team earned 20 points for an eighth-place finish, coming in behind Belt, 114.5; Fergus, 105.5; Harlowton/Ryegate, 90; Havre, 60; Park, 55; Hobson-Moore-Judith Gap, 35 and Winnett-Grass Range, 23.

Senior Loden Idler ran the 100 meter dash in 11.68 to earn second place and a place at the the State Class C track meet. Jesse Lee completed the same race in 11.85 to take fifth place. In the field events, Lee placed third in the shot put with a toss of 40'1 and fourth in the javelin with a throw of 125'8. Lee had previously pre-qualified for the state meet in the high jump, clearing 6' at the Glasgow Invitational on April 1.

"The season is moving right along," Coach Taylor said, "we are missing out on some workouts due to weather, but are utilizing our indoor runways to get speed work done." He went on to add, "I am excited for the growth we will see in all our kids, and just being able to watch them compete every week."

Hinsdale traveled to Wolf Point on April 20 for the North East Montana Invite, but results were not available at press time. The Raiders will next be on the track and field this Friday, April 23 in Whitewater for the Whitewater HS Invitational with field events beginning at 8:30 a.m. and track events at 9:30 a.m.