Mustang Track and Field heads to Great Falls

The Malta Mustangs were one point away from claiming the 2022 Northern B Divisional title on Saturday, May 21, in Great Falls.

The Glasgow Scotties won the meet with a total of 82 points. Malta was second with 81 points, Fairfield was third with 76.5 points, Wolf Point was fourth with 73 points, and Cut Bank was fifth with 71.5 points.

Seven Mustangs qualified for the 2022 State B Track and Field Meet, which will be held alongside Class C on Friday, May 27 through Saturday, May 28, in Great Falls.

"We had a small group of boys last year and we have a little more this year, which is nice," Coach Smith said. "We were second as a team. Glasgow took first and they have twice as many boys as we do."

Mustang senior Cash Salsbery led the charge by winning shot put with a personal best of 52-6.

"That was awesome to watch him get a new PR," Coach Smith said.

He also set a season-high mark of 150-04 in discus.

Heading to state, Salsbery has had the top throws in shot put and discus.

Senior David Pitman was second in discus with a throw of 130-6, third in shot put with a throw of 42-9.50, and fourth in javelin with a throw of 142-02. Pitman is ranked third in discus thanks to his throw of 144-1 at the Top Ten meet earlier this month. The only two that have thrown further are Salsbery and senior Wade Wykal of Jefferson who posted a mark at 145-6 in April.

Senior Connor Tuss qualified in four of his five events. He was third in javelin with a throw of 152-9, fourth in long jump with a personal best of 19-7, fourth in high jump after clearing 5-8, and fourth in long jump after setting a personal best of 38-10.

Sophomore Kyle Darrington was second in the 400-meter run with a personal best of 53.17. He was also fifth in the 200 with a personal best of 23.99 and fifth in the 100 with a time of 11.87.

Sophomore Gavin Slade was second in the 100 by a nose. He posted a time of 11.68, while Conrad's Brinkley Evans finished with a time of 11.66. He was also sixth in javelin with a throw of 138-2.

The short relay team consisting of Salsbery, Darrington, freshman Ivan Lefdahl, and Slade was fifth with a time of 47.03.

"We had to change the short relay up at the last minute and they still made it to state," Coach Smith said. "That had me a little nervous, but they did it."

The long relay consisting of junior Seth Siewing, junior Jon Siewing, Slade, and Darrington was fifth with a time of 3:48.27.

Junior Draven Lageson did not qualify for state but was close with a seventh-place finish in shot put. He posted a throw of 38-10.

Lefdahl was ninth in high jump after clearing 5-2 and ninth in long jump after a personal best of 17-6.