Raiders Pillage Top Spots

The Hinsdale Raiders traveled to Glasgow on April 30 for the Whitewater/Saco Invitational and took third places in both the girls' and boys' competitions. The girls' team racked up 75 points to finish behind the two host teams. Whitewater scored 136 for first place and Saco took second with 91. The boys scored 66.5 points, finishing behind Harlem, who took first with 168.5 points and Glasgow, who scored 128.5 points for second place.

"Our athletes did awesome. Most of our athletes recorded personal bests. Some of the big ones were Trey Johnson in the pole vault and 110 hurdles, Mattea McColly in the discus and Jesse Lee in the 400," said a proud Taylor Olson, Hinsdale's head coach.

Johnson won the 110 meter hurdles with his time of 18.12 and cleared 10-06 in the pole vault. He also set a personal record in the discus with a throw of 98-03 for fourth place. The junior tied for sixth in the high jump, clearing 5-00. Sophomore M. McColly threw the discus 87-05 for fourth place. Lee's personal record of 53.31 earned him first in the 400m. The senior also claimed first in the 100m with a time of 11.99 and first in the high jump, clearing 5-08.

Aiden Albus contributed to the Hinsdale boys' score, setting a personal record in the discus and tying Johnson for fourth with a throw of 98-03 and winning the 800m with a time of 2:31.72.

On the girls' side Zora Holt took fifth in the 1600m with a time of 7:41.21 and third in the 3200m, finishing in 14:58.41. Cienna Strommen set a personal record in the 100m hurdles and finished sixth with a time of 25.95. She was also on the 4x100 relay team with Montaya Idler, Zandora Longtree and M. McColly. The team placed third with a time of 1:06.54. Longtree took third in the javelin with a throw of 94-03.

Kaitlyn McColly earned five first place finishes, taking the top slot in the 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, pole vault, long jump and triple jump. The senior won the 100m hurdles in 15.64 and the 300m hurdles in 47.67. She cleared 10-00 to win the pole vault and her long jump came in at 16-08.50. She set a personal record in the long jump with a distance of 34-01.50.

"This is a special group of athletes," said Olson, "but I am most proud of how great of people they are. This crew is so positive and supportive. It is contagious to us as coaches and our junior high program." Olson praised his team's ability to bounce back after a subpar meet or event, saying, "The biggest growth on our team has been resiliency and competitive mindset."

The Raiders sent several athletes to the annual Top Ten meet in Glasgow on May 4. Full results will appear in next week's Courier. Hinsdale is scheduled to attend the Gene Nelson Memorial Invite in Wolf Point on Friday, May 7 with the first event starting at 9 a.m.

Hinsdale will then play host to the Jean Dreikosen Memorial Track Meet in Glasgow at Scottie Field on Saturday, May 8, with action starting at 9 a.m.