Three Malta Athletes Place at State

The Malta track and field teams competed at the 2024 State B Track and Field meet in Laurel last weekend. The two-day event started on Friday, May 24, and ended on Saturday, May 25.

The M-ettes scored three points at the meet and the Mustangs scored one point.

"The state track meet was a remarkable experience for everyone involved," Malta Head Coach Shyla Clausen said. "Our goal was to give our best effort and enjoy the experience, and we certainly achieved that."

Sophomore Denvyr Tuss led both teams in individual events. She took fifth place in shot put with a personal best of 36-9. She was also eighth in discus with a throw of 103-08.

Senior Giona Lamb was sixth in shot put with a throw of 35-11. Lamb was fifteenth in discus with a throw of 87-0 and nineteenth in javelin with a throw of 92-9.

M-ette Kendall Clausen, a sophomore, was twelfth in javelin with a throw of 104-03.

M-ette sophomore Carly Mears was seventeenth in pole vault after clearing 8-0.

The M-ette short relay team was eighteenth with a time of 54.16. The team consisted of Brooklynn Knowles, Neva Jacobson, Kenzie LaBrie, and Addison Ulrich.

Jacobson was twenty-first in the 100 hurdles with a time of 20.37.

Mustangs

The Mustangs were led by senior Gavin Slade, who was sixth in javelin with a personal best of 159-7.

Junior Mason Simanton was eleventh in high jump after setting a personal best of 5-10. Simanton was also fourteenth in the 100 with a time of 11.79.

Sophomore TJ Siewing was seventeenth in shot put with a throw of 40-9.75.

The Mustang short relay team consisted of Tripp Lefdahl, Gavin Slade, Mason Sjostrom, and Simanton. The team placed seventeenth with a time of 46.51. The time was a personal best for the group.

"Despite our hopes that Kyle Darrington's hamstring injury would heal in time for the meet, he was unable to compete," Coach Clausen said. "However, Tripp Lefdahl stepped in for Kyle in the 4x100 relay, and Kyle demonstrated tremendous leadership throughout the event."

Coach Clausen expressed pride in her team.

"As coaches, we are incredibly proud of our athletes and their efforts at the state meet," Coach Clausen said. "I want to thank all our track athletes and coaches for a fantastic and rewarding season."