Saco Track & Field 2015

Having only four girls and two boys, the Saco Panthers are much younger and smaller than many Class C squads in Montana, however the schools boasts quality within those six athletes.

Sophomore Alana Malmend is the oldest of the Saco track athletes.

Malmend had quite a day in her first high school track outing at the Glasgow Invitational March 28, picking up first place in the high jump.

She recorded a jump of 5'0" and nearly cleared 5-2 at the meet.

"She's got some ups and she's got some speed," said Coach Barry Malone.

She finished fifth in the 100 meter dash with a time of 14.72 and fifth in the 200 meter dash with a time of 30.46.

As she gains more confidence through the season, Malmend may shock Class C.

Chris Depuydt placed 11th in the triple jump, with a length of 30-5 at the Glasgow Invitational.

Depuydt ran 13.70 in the 100 meter dash and 28.94 in the 200 meter dash. He also had a leap of 14-10 in the long jump.

"I swear he's sprouted up four inches from basketball til now," Coach Malone said. "He's growing into the body and working on getting a little more speed behind him."

Chandler Pippin had a 12-00 leap in the long jump in Glasgow. He ran a 15.21 in the 100 meter dash and 31.54 in the 200 meter dash.

Pippin will also do the triple jump and the 400 meter run this year.

Freshman Jada Sudbrack is another athlete that boasts speed and at 5'10" has great length.

"She's got some speed and in junior high she always did well in the hurdles and short sprints," Coach Malone said.

According to Coach Malone Sudbrack will participate in a plethora of events until eventually it's narrowed down to her top five events.

One event Sudbrack is willing to try is the 1600 meter dash, which is nearly the same distance as a mile, something Sudbrack is comfortable with.

According to Coach Malone Sudbrack's mile time is around the 6 minute mark.

Freshman Bailey Funk is another athlete that will participate in the 100 meter dash, long jump, triple jump, pole vault and the 400 meter run.

Funk will not participate until she recovers from a leg strain obtained early in the year.

Funk, Sudbrack and Challise Young were a strong part of Saco's junior high team that tied Opheim for the District 3C championship last year.

Young's strength lies in the throwing events.

Young will throw shot put, discus and javelin, though the javelin throw is something new to all first time high school track athletes.

"She's trying to break 20 feet in shot put, 50 feet in discus and she's never thrown javelin before because they don't have it in junior high," Coach Malone said.

Many of the athletes on Saco's team participate in short races and jumping events, which can bode well for them.

"They work really hard and I think they kind of feed off each other trying to compete," Coach Malone said.