Panthers Track 2022

The Saco Panthers Track and Field Teams saw their first meet of the season last Friday, and the Lady Panthers and Panthers saw success.

"This is probably one of the bigger track teams that we have had in a long time," said Saco Head Coach Barry Malone. "We are not in shape yet, and it is probably going to take a little hard work."

Saco will have six girls competing this season including three state performers; senior Jaycee Erickson, sophomores Teagan Erickson, and Josie Brown. The Erickson sisters both reached the podium last season and Teagan won the high jump. There will be four boys this season.

The Lady Panthers were able to place eighth in the Glasgow Invitational on Friday, April 1. The event featured 18 teams ranging from Class A to Class C.

Plentywood took first with 98.33. Savage was second with 55 points, Scobey was third with 53, Glasgow was fourth with 51, Whitewater was fifth with 43, Malta was sixth with 42, Havre was seventh with 39, and Saco was eighth with 38.

Saco was led by T. Erickson who won the long jump with a leap of 15-11.50. She was second in javelin with a throw of 106-7, and second in high jump after clearing 4-10.

T. Erickson was last year's State C High Jump champion after clearing 5-4. She also took third in the State C Triple Jump with a personal best of 34-11, and fourth in the State C Long Jump by clearing 16-10.25. She also qualified for the State C 800 meter run.

J. Erickson has made the State C Meet in all three years of eligibility (the 2020 season was canceled due to Covid-19). Erickson took home third place in pole vault after clearing 9-6 and placed fourth in javelin at the State C with a throw of 111-7.

J. Erickson won the javelin event in Glasgow last Friday with a throw of 111-9.

Sophomore Josie Brown qualified for four events at the State C last season. She competed in the 100 and 200, but scratched in the 100 hurdles.

"She competed in the sprints but she was trying to fight through the stomach flu," Coach Malone said.

Brown took ninth in the 300 hurdles in Glasgow, and won her heat despite taking a spill near the end of the race.

The team also welcomed back Abby Yeska, a sophomore who took fifth in discus in Glasgow with a personal best of 86-7.

The team will be joined by Jessa Erickson, a freshmen who posted a throw of 74-02 in discus and 67-0 in javelin.

The team will likely call up eighth-grader Ireland Mears for relay events.

Despite not scoring any points, the Saco boys saw improvements in their events.

Marshall Caves led the team with a seventh-place finish in pole vault after clearing 10-6, a new best. Caves had a new best in long jump of 15-1.

Freshman Blaine Downing was eleventh in pole vault after clearing 9-6. Downing also had a throw of 105-0 in javelin.

"He is a lot bigger and stronger than he was last year as an eighth-grader," Coach Malone said.

Senior Dylan Brown competed in four events. He had a time of 15.40 in the 100. He threw a 30-5 in shot put, 84-7 in discus, and 99-5 in javelin.

The team also welcomes Tjaden Ereaux, who is currently unable to compete due to injury.