Rec Sports

How horse racing at the Kentucky Derby is being taken over by fans

How to read a horse racing form at the Kentucky Derby Kirby Adams visits with Churchill Downs’ Kevin Kerstein to find out the basics of reading a racing form. Shared horse ownership models are making thoroughbred racing accessible to those outside of the traditionally wealthy ownership sphere. Partnerships and LLCs allow groups to pool resources, […]

Published

3 weeks ago

April 25, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Shared horse ownership models are making thoroughbred racing accessible to those outside of the traditionally wealthy ownership sphere.
Partnerships and LLCs allow groups to pool resources, sharing the costs and potential profits of owning and racing horses.
This trend has contributed to a new class of horse owner, from retired teachers and Ford workers to doctors and lawyers.

A retired JCPS teacher, a Ford worker, a youth sports coach, some UPS employees, and a few doctors and lawyers, along with roughly 30 others, beamed from the winner’s circle at Keeneland in early April.

Bourbon Breeze had charged late down the stretch at Keeneland on April 10 to pull off her first victory of the 2025 spring racing season.

The ragamuffin crew cheering and beaming from the winner’s circle in Lexington hadn’t just bet on the filly to win the race. They were all the racehorse’s owner, and this win meant they got a piece of the purse.

“Awesome day for Motley Crew Stables,” Mick Motley, co-founder of Motley Crew Stables and co-owner of Bourbon Breeze, said in a text message after the win.

Motley, a retired JCPS teacher, is no newcomer to the horse racing world. For nearly three decades, he’s actively owned and raced horses with a slew of friends and family in a space usually reserved for the rich and the blue bloods of the thoroughbred world.

“We’ve found a way to survive for 30 years, and nobody’s ever lost a whole lot of money, and certainly nobody’s ever made a whole lot of money, but we have experienced all the highs and lows like any other owner,” Motley told The Courier Journal.

Motley and his crew, a registered LLC, aren’t alone.

Since the 1990s, horse racing, dubbed the “Sport of Kings,” has evolved through various ownership methods that allow everyday people to more easily participate in the sport. No longer do you need to have a ton of money to own part of a thoroughbred. Instead, people can join models such as a partner LLC, like Motley Crew Stables, that allows groups of people to buy in and then share profits from a winning horse, or a partnership, a company that purchases and manages racehorses for a group of individuals who share the costs and profits of the horse.

With the growth of partnerships, a new class of horse owner has emerged over the past 15 years or so. This “alternative” method to ownership means no one individual is saddled with the thousands, or millions, of dollars it can cost to buy, train and race a thoroughbred.

“It’s really a sharing of the risk, and it’s a sharing of the upside,” said Terry Finley, CEO and president of West Point Thoroughbreds, a horse racing partnership that helps clients become thoroughbred owners.

“The world of racing, it’s such a fascinating world,” Finley added. “You’ve got kings, you’ve got CEOs, you’ve got movie stars, you’ve got athletes, you’ve got billionaires, you’ve got people who own pizza shops and bars and teachers. It just runs across the across the spectrum.”

And high-level success is not unfathomable for people who get into the horse racing world through a partnership or other shared ownership ventures.

In 2024, Motley Crew Stables won a race at Churchill Downs Racetrack during Wednesday of Kentucky Derby Week. After winning on a prominent race day, the excitement from the group of owners was palpable as they overflowed the winner’s circle, forcing Churchill Downs officials to corral them on the track for their victory photo.

In 2022, West Point Thoroughbreds’ clients were owners of Flightline, who won the Breeders’ Cup at Keeneland.

This year, Finley and team are hoping to replicate that success with Sandman, who won the Arkansas Derby on March 29 and punched his ticket for the Kentucky Derby, held this year on May 3.

“It feels like anybody can get in now … I think myself and anybody else in our group, we’re living proof that you can get into the horse racing business,” Motley said.

‘It’s a journey’

Historically, owning a racehorse would be a daunting endeavor for the roughly 500 active clients at West Point Thoroughbreds, but the partnership model has made the sport feel accessible for the people who share ownership of some 145 racehorses.

“It’s very similar to other investments and other structures outside of racing; you’re much more powerful when you get a group together and you can pool your resources,” Finley said. “That’s really at the heart of partnerships, the ability to pool your resources to increase your chances to get the one, or hopefully more than one, horse that makes it all worthwhile.”

In 1996, Motley Crew Stables started with roughly 30 co-owners and $30,000, half of which was used to claim the group’s first horse, Phony Prospect.

Motley said he likes to keep his group to no more than 40 partners at a time and always wants to keep positive cash reserves from share buy-ins and horse winnings, so members aren’t expected to have regular payments for the horse. Anytime the horse wins purse money, it rolls into the group’s operating budget.

“It’s very accessible, and once you find that out, you still get the same thrills as those guys running … on Derby Day,” Motley said.

Tim Sanders, a worker at Ford and a semi-recent addition to the crew in the last seven years, has put in no more than $4,000 since joining.

For him, like many others, horse racing is an investment, not a “get rich quick” opportunity, and something he hopes to remain part of for a long time.

“It’s not a sprint, it’s a journey,” Sanders said. “You’ve got to be in it for the long haul to be able to enjoy the fruits of the labor.”

And the “long haul” may be key for a sport that has seen gradual decline in attendance and on-site gambling from fans as new forms of sports gambling have popped up across the country.

“I just shudder to think what our sport would be without partnerships … I think our industry probably would be in tatters without partnerships,” Finley said.

Sanders and Motley’s love and passion for horse racing began on the backside of Churchill Downs Racetrack.

As teenagers, both spent time around Angel Montano Sr., one of the winningest trainers in Kentucky in the 1970s. Sanders grew up across the street from the track, and Motley would walk and groom the horses. That access introduced the men to the unbridled spirit for which Kentucky horse racing is known and created a life-long fixation.

As they got older, their love for horses, and the sport of racing, never faded. Motley would go on to co-found Motley Crew Stables in 1996 and Sanders would join another horse ownership group before making his way to Motley’s team about seven years ago.

“It changes lives,” Finley said of horse racing. “It captivates people. It gives them a whole new world to jump into and to explore.”

‘The sport of little paupers’

For some, like Gene Palka, going into horse racing wasn’t a lifelong affair.

After he retired from the U.S. Army and moved back to Kentucky with his wife, Cindy, they bought three pleasure horses within three months, then decided the next step was to go in on a racehorse.

“When we came to Kentucky, it was nice, but there was something missing,” Cindy Palka said. “And then once we did invest in that first one and you do OK, you’re like, ‘I really like this.'”

One investment of about $10,000 into a horse 15 years ago was all it took for the Palkas to be hooked. Now, they spend their retirement traveling to racetracks around the country to watch their horses, even making a showing at the Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs Racetrack in 2018.

“We are not kings and queens, but we can be among them, and the horses have been our pathways into these incredible venues,” Gene Palka said.

As they watched their newest horse, Ivory and Ebony, barrel down the track at Keeneland on April 7 during its rescheduled opening day, the Palkas couldn’t help but gawk at their pretty filly, who placed second in the fifth race.

“You have euphoria,” Cindy Palka said after the race.

But it’s not all joy. The Palkas have dealt with everything, from serious injuries of their horses to a win at Laurel Park in Maryland, after which they watched the same horse be handed over to a new owner who bought it just before the race started.

Through it all, the sheer pleasure of horse racing ownership and the community they’ve found along the racing circuit has kept them in the sport.

“We’ve had the highest of highs and the lowest of lows,” Gene Palka said.

The highs and lows of the sport, Sanders, with Motley Crew Stables said, hit the same whether you’re the ruler of Dubai or a Louisville born and bred blue-collar worker.

With the pinnacle of horse racing just around the corner, Motley, Finley, Sanders and the Palkas gear up to spend long days at the track, in the paddock, lingering on the backside and enjoying the world of horse racing.

“It’s not just the sport of kings; it’s the sport of little paupers like us,” Motley said.

Contact business reporter Olivia Evans at oevans@courier-journal.com or on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @oliviamevans_.

This story was updated to add a video.

Rec Sports

First Tee Week shines spotlight on coaches

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (May 16, 2025) – The inaugural First Tee Week begins next week, uniting chapters, communities and corporate partners nationwide in a powerful celebration of the coaches who are shaping the next generation, both on and off the golf course. Running May 19-25, the national campaign, themed “Dear Coach,” highlights the unsung […]

Published

14 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida (May 16, 2025) – The inaugural First Tee Week begins next week, uniting chapters, communities and corporate partners nationwide in a powerful celebration of the coaches who are shaping the next generation, both on and off the golf course.

Running May 19-25, the national campaign, themed “Dear Coach,” highlights the unsung heroes of youth development. By combining golf with a life skills curriculum, First Tee coaches empower kids and teens to build confidence, resilience and inner strength that lasts a lifetime.

To help quantify the impact of youth sports coaches, First Tee released new research in partnership with Harris Poll this month. Parents say coaches can impact their child’s ability to work well with others (89%), respect others (89%) and remain resilient in the face of challenges (88%).

Headlining First Tee Week will be “The Coach Effect,” an alumni panel at the Charles Schwab Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas, featuring Cam Jordan of the New Orleans Saints and former LPGA TOUR players Tiffany Joh (now a USGA developmental coach) and Cheyenne Woods. The discussion will be moderated by Golf Digest editorial director Max Adler, with panelists sharing personal stories about the mentors who helped shape them.

First Tee Week chapter highlights include:

First Tee – San Francisco is inviting parents to participate in classes so they can meet their kids’ coaches and learn more about First Tee’s key commitments.
First Tee – Metropolitan New York will honor coaches during its fundraising event at Winged Foot Golf Club, emceed by Golf Channel’s Damon Hack.
First Tee – Eastern Michigan is collaborating with a popular local coffee chain to offer a special First Tee Week boba tea and host “Thank you, Coach,” events at its various locations.
First Tee – Delaware is hosting a coach and volunteer appreciation golf outing at Patriot’s Glen National Golf Club in memory of longtime coach, board member and friend, Karen Hart.

“For nearly 30 years, First Tee has been strengthening communities through our programs and the incredibly committed adults who come together in support of the next generation,” said First Tee CEO Greg McLaughlin. “First Tee Week is an opportunity to shine the light on our coaches who are the heartbeat of what we do. They help kids navigate life with confidence and character and First Tee would not have the impact it does without their involvement.”

First Tee Week is supported by corporate partners including Accenture, Bridgestone Golf, CapTech, Forbes, Golf Channel, Golf Digest, Harris Poll, Morgan Stanley, the PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Superstore, PXG, Supreme Golf, Topgolf and the USGA.

With 150 chapters, more than 5,000 trained coaches and 3.1 million youth served annually, First Tee continues to be a leader in positive youth development through sports. First Tee Week is the first-ever national network-wide campaign for the organization.

There’s still time to get involved in First Tee Week. Find an event near you or share your “Dear Coach” story at FirstTee.org/DearCoach.

About PGA TOUR First Tee Foundation (“First Tee”)
The mission of First Tee is to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and instill life-enhancing values through the game of golf. First Tee is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization that is supported by the PGA TOUR and many other organizations, foundations, companies and individuals. Over more than 27 years, First Tee has reached millions of young people through its network of 150 Chapters, 12,000 schools and 2,000 youth centers. Headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, programs are delivered in all 50 United States and select international locations.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Megan Hart, First Tee   
meganhart@firsttee.org
(904) 940-4348

Link

Rec Sports

Kalispell teams rule West AA track, but Henderson smashes TJ record

Published

48 minutes ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

By Bruce Sayler
The billing was shared. The record-breakers, the weather and the workers starred on Saturday at Bulldog Memorial Stadium where the Western AA Divisional high school track meet finished on the Charlie Merrifield Track.
Butte High senior Sam Henderson was expected to break the boys’ triple jump meet record and he responded. He shredded it. The record in the 1,600-meter relay also tumbled and Butte Sports Hall of Famer Dan Hanley’s 45-year-old record in the boys’ 200-meter sprint was tied.
Temperatures were mostly in the upper 50s without wind or rain while the sun smiled down on the Gene Fogarty Sports Complex, which housed the meet site on the East Middle School grounds.
“I wasn’t ready on my first one,” Henderson told bystanders after he smashed Mathew Tokarz’ Western AA triple jump record set in 2012. “I got too much height.”
So, he marked 46 feet, 4 ¼ inches. Then, he scratched on his second.
The third jump, though, was monstrous. Standing on the runway and eyeing the pit, Henderson began the slow clap of his hands. His teammates joined in, so did his rivals and then, after realizing Henderson was declaring he was targeting the record, so did the crowd in the stands.
Tokarz’ record was 46-7 ½. Henderson had never reached that distance.
Saturday, he popped a 48-7 ¼ — within a quarter of an inch of demolishing the previous meet record by two whole feet.
He can add the honor to his University of Montana track scholarship and the 6-10 personal-best in the high jump he posted on Friday while also winning that event. His winning high jump was six inches higher than his nearest competitor. His triple jump beat the runner-up by more than two-and-a-half feet.
“It was my personal record by three inches,” he said about the triple jump. “Now, I need two-and-a-half more (to break the state record).”
The state Class AA meet will be held next weekend in Kalispell.
“I’m proud of the kids,” Butte High head coach Arie Grey said. “There were a lot of kids who made the finals who weren’t supposed to and some kids making it to State that weren’t supposed to.
“Sam’s record made it a special day.”
Kalispell teams topped the standings. The Flathead boys retained their title from last year while scoring 123 points, outpacing runner-up Helena High, which totaled 91. Helena Capital was third with 74, one more than Kalispell Glacier.
The Glacier girls upended defending champion Flathead in the girls’ team competition. The Wolfpack stacked 115 points while Missoula Hellgate placed second with 95 and Flathead third with 76, five more than fourth-place Missoula Big Sky.
The Big Sky boys clocked 3 minutes, 20.70 seconds to win the 1,600-meter relay and knock a 10th of a second off the record. The old mark of 3:20.80 was put by Bozeman High in 1980 – the same year that Butte High’s Hanley blistered his 21.80 mark in the 200 meters. Flathead’s Ben Blivens matched the time on Saturday. Friday’s first day of the meet saw Dylan Hill of Helena High reset the boys’ 800-meter record with a 1:53.75, beating the old best time of 1:54.23 Henry Ballinger of Helena High ran in 2023.
Henderson won two events and led the Bulldogs in place-winnings. Other Butte High place-winners in the boys’ events were: Levi Wiltsie, fifth in the 3,200-meter run; the 1,600-meter relay team, sixth; Brett Polich, fifth in the shot put; Jaeger Hansen, fourth in the javelin; Dylan “Bobby” Bache, fourth in the long jump; and Cohen Andrews, fifth in the long jump.
For the Butte High girls, Dylann Bartoletti placed sixth in the 100-meter dash; the 400-meter relay team came in third; the 1,600-meter relay team was fifth; Mylee Demarais placed fifth in the shot put; Brityn Stewart grabbed second place in the javelin and Peyton Trabert tied for fourth place in the pole vault.
The members of the Butte High girls’ 400-meter relay team were Autumn Clary, Cadence Graham, Saege Grey and Bartoletti, and their 1,600-meter relay team was comprised of Wakely Burelson, Sophia Houchin, Grey and Graham.
The Bulldog boys’ 1,600-meter relay team had Bache, Sam Sampson, Raeder Grey and Camden Houchin.
The team was so determined to gain a placing and advance to the state meet that anchorman Houchin lost his legs down the stretch, head coach Arie Grey noted. They went out on him and Houchin fell to the ground. He regained his feet in time to nip the Flathead runner for seventh place. The Braves had been way behind the field due to dropping the baton on the first exchange and having to chase it down, pick it up and continue.
Then, Missoula Sentinel, fifth across the finish line, was ruled to have committed a violation, cutting in front of a rival runner too close, and disqualified. The decision moved Butte High into sixth place and qualified the Bulldogs for the state meet.
“The kids were inspired a lot by seeing what Camden did, leaving everything out there for his team,” coach Grey said. “He left everything out there to get to state.”
Grey said results director Liza Dennehy and the many volunteers who worked the meet were also stars of the show. The meet featured the stadium’s new track scoreboard, which provided event updates, standings and race videos throughout the day to the fans.
Boys
Team scores – Kalispell Flathead 123, Helena High 91, Helena Capital 74, Kalispell Glacier 73, Missoula Big Sky 72, Butte High 35, Missoula Hellgate 32, Missoula Sentinel 27.
100 – 1, Ben Bliven, Flathead, 10.97. 2, Jaxon Allery, Sentinel, 11.06. 3, Luke Ruch, Helena High, 11.07. 4, Cooper Nelson, Capital, 11.11. 5, Parker Link, Hellgate, 11.20. 6, Pacer Lybbert, Helena High, 11.21.
200 – 1, Ben Bliven, Flathead, 21.80 (ties meet record set by Dan Hanley, Butte High, 1980). 2, William Hollensteiner, Flathead, 21.90. 3, Cooper Pelc, Glacier, 22.40. 4, Cooper Tschan, Sentinel, 22.45. 5, Blake Williams, Big Sky, 22.50. 6, Brady Williams, Big Sky, 22.54.
400 – 1, Lane Chivers, Flathead, 49.18. 2, Adam Guajardo, Big Sky, 49.94. 3, Ben Bliven, Flathead, 50.31. 4, Travis Ryland-Davis, Helena High, 50.71. 5, Blake Williams, Big Sky, 51.19. 6, Kellen Gibson, Sentinel, 51.28.
800 – 1, Dylan Hill, Helena High, 1:53.75 (meet record. Old record 1:54.23 by Henry Ballinger, Helena High, 2023). 2, Kason Kastner, Flathead, 1:54.39. 3, Owen Thiel, Glacier, 1:54.73. 4, Henry Sund, Helena High, 1:55.82. 5, Isaiah Cowan, Big Sky, 1:57.12. 6, Chris Jenemann, Helena High, 1:57.87.
1,600 – 1, Elliot Stimpson, Helena High, 4:15.78. 2, Owen Thiel, Glacier, 4:16.50. 3, Henry Sund, Helena High, 4:22.22. 4, Milo Kauffman, Helena High, 4:26.04. 5, Dylan Hill, Helena High, 4:27.61. 6, Miles Joseph Miller, Hellgate, 4:28.66.
3,200 – 1, Christopher Holland, Flathead, 10:11.78. 2, Eli Highness, Helena High, 10:20.47. 3, Carson Thorne, Flathead, 10:23.63. 4, Brodyn DeShaw, Flathead, 10:25.21. 5, Levi Wiltsie, Butte High, 10:25.67. 6, Mica Kantor, Sentinel, 10:31.43.
110 hurdles – 1, Oliver Mow, Capital, 14.22. 2, Corbin Weltzien, Hellgate, 14.25. 3, Ethan Anderson, Glacier, 14.50. 4, Kellan Krueger, Big Sky, 14.62. 5, Cormack Batt, Big Sky, 14.74. 6, Cooper Pelc, Glacier, 15.15.
300 hurdles – 1, William Hollensteiner, Flathead, 38.51. 2, Lane Chivers, Flathead, 39.04. 3, Ethan Anderson, Glacier, 39.74. 4, Merek Mihelish, Capital, 40.15. 5, Cormack Batt, Big Sky, 40.42. 6, Kellan Krueger, Big Sky, 40.57.
400 relay — 1, Helena High (Pacer Lybbert, Trey Peterson, Luke Ruch, Travis Ryland-Davis) 42.58. 2, Missoula Sentinel (Cooper Tschan, Calvin Bucklin, Hunter Cadena, Jaxon Allery) 42.76. 3, Missoula Hellgate (Rocky Mogstad, Parker Link, Oliver Caton, Corbin Weltzien) 42.81. 4, Missoula Big Sky (Blake Williams, Adam Guajardo, Brady Williams, Maron Fines) 43.14. 5, Helena Capital (Boone Davis, Cooper Nelson, Oliver Mow, Jackson Beard) 43.22. 6, Kalispell Glacier (Spencer Hodge, Shae Warner, Ulrich Warner, Ethan Anderson) 43.43.
1,600 relay – 1, Missoula Big Sky (Blake Williams, Brady Williams, Isaiah Cowan, Adam Guajardo) 3:20.70 (meet record. Old record 3:20.80 by Bozeman High (John Emory, Bruce Barnhart, Mark Gary, Dale Huls) 1980). 2, Helena High (Dylan Hill, Luke Ruch, Travis Ryland-Davis, Henry Sund) 3:27.65. 3, Helena Capital (Boone Davis, Merek Mihelish, Oliver Mow, Dylan Almquist) 3:27.86. 4, Kalispell Glacier (Shae Warner, Owen Thiel, Ulrich Warner, Mark Ahner) 3:28.74. 5, Missoula Hellgate (Clive Jackson, Case Procacci, Charlie Gruber, Grady Caton) 3:31.54. 6, Butte High (Dylan “Bobby” Bache, Sam Sampson, Raeder Grey, Camden Houchin) 3:34.21.
Shot put – 1, Ben Winters, Glacier, 52-1. 2, Derek Opitz, Helena Capital, 50-6. 3, Will Astle, Glacier, 50-5. 4, Evan Pyron, Hellgate, 50-3. 5, Brett Polich, Butte High, 48-5. 6, Vaughn Wirkus, Capital, 47-11.
Discus – 1, Dylan Smith, Glacier, 164-5. 2, Evan Pyron, Hellgate, 146-0. 3, Vaughn Wirkus, Capital, 144-4. 4, Ben Winters, Glacier, 143-11. 5, Sam Sirmon, Sentinel, 143-9. 6, Kellan Vallance, Sentinel, 139-5.
Javelin – 1, Tyler Crum, Capital, 183-1. 2, Adam Guajardo, Big Sky, 168-10. 3, Auston Rowe, Helena High, 164-11. 4, Jaeger Hansen, Butte High, 163-9. 5, Ethan Kastelitz, Glacier, 163-4. 6, Owen Daniel, Hellgate, 159-8.
High jump – 1, Sam Henderson, Butte High, 6-10. 2, Porter Gibbs, Big Sky, 6-4. 3, Azher Hazen, Helena High, 6-2. 4, Jaxan Lieberg, Helena High, 6-2. 5, Landon Zieg, Sentinel, 6-0. 6, Eli Coopman, Flathead, 5-10.5, Jack Rob
Pole vault – 1, Brayden Brisko, Capital, 15-0. 2, Ryan Fuller, Capital, 13-6. 3, Michael Mahar, Flathead, 13-0. 4, Zane Schnackenberg, Capital, 13-0. 5, Nick Carter, Big Sky, 13-0. 6, Creed Wiley, Glacier, 12-6.
Long jump – 1, William Hollensteiner, Flathead, 22-5 ½. 2, Ben Bliven, Flathead, 21-2 ¾. 3, Maron Fines, Big Sky, 21-1 ¾. 4, Dylan “Bobby” Bache, Butte High, 21-1 ½. 5, Cohen Andrews, Butte High, 20-10. 6, Cooper Nelson, Capital, 20-8 ¼.
Triple jump – 1, Sam Henderson, Butte High, 48-7 ¼ (meet record. Old record 46-7 ½ by Mathew Tokarz, Flathead, 2012). 2, William Hollensteiner, Flathead, 46-0. 3, Porter Gibbs, Big Sky, 45-10 ½. 4, Adam Guajardo, Big Sky, 44-4 ¼. 5, Jack Robinson, Glacier, 43-4. 6, Trey Peterson, Helena High, 43-1 ¼.
Girls
Team scores — Kalispell Glacier 115, Missoula Hellgate 95, Kalispell Flathead 76, Missoula Big Sky 71, Helena High 64 ½, Helena Capital 59 ½, Missoula Sentinel 24, Butte High 22.
100 – 1, Quinlyn Simmons, Helena High, 12.55. 2, Sofia Szollosi, Hellgate, 12.57. 3, Isabella Grutsch, Big Sky, 12.94. 4, Hazel Bishop, Helena High, 13.05. 5, Zeila Wagner, Glacier, 13.15. 6, Dylann Bartoletti, Butte High, 13.31.
200 – 1, Alivia Rhinehart, Flathead, 25.15. 2, Sofia Szollosi, Hellgate, 25.52. 3, Anneliese Bessette, Hellgate, 26.21. 4, Carmen Eddy, Glacier, 26.28. 5, Reagan Castillo, Flathead, 26.75. 6, Brooklyn Smith, Helena High, 26.78.
400 – 1, Nya Myers, Big Sky, 59.15. 2, Anneliese Bessette, Hellgate, 59.24. 3, Mia Swartz, Sentinel, 1:00.17. 4, Dacia Benkelman, Glacier, 1:01.53. 5, Elizabeth Urban, Capital, 1:01.62. 6, Addison Roush, Helena High, 1:02.39.
800 – 1, Gia Petrini, Hellgate, 2:17.93. 2, Alyssa Vollertsen, 2:18.80. 3, Jamison Molloy, Hellgate, 2:20.19. 4, Everett Holland, Flathead, 2:22.72. 5, Hadyn Garza, Helena High, 2:23.55. 6, Miel Newton, Glacier, 2:23.70.
1,600 – 1, Lauren Bissen, Glacier, 5:09.92. 2, Gia Petrini, Hellgate, 5:16.13. 3, Josie Wilson, Flathead, 5:18.86. 4, Jamison Molloy, Hellgate, 5:21.79. 5, Kortney McKay, Helena High, 5:24.48. 6, Kate Lee, Helena High, 5:28.13.
3,200 – 1, Josie Wilson, Flathead, 11:34.57. 2, Ryah O’Dell, Helena High, 11:55.03. 3, Everett Holland, Flathead, 12:17.75. 4, Lily Oplinger, Helena High, 12:21.14. 5, Elizabeth Cornelius, Sentinel, 12:32.12. 6, Sage Bosshardt, Big Sky, 12:38.50.
100 hurdles – 1, Alivia Rhinehart, Flathead, 14.60. 2, Isabella Grutsch, Big Sky, 15.48. 3, Bristol Lenz, Flathead, 15.95. 4, Gracelee Banna, Big Sky, 16.20. 5, Pelea Sagato, Big Sky, 16.36. 6, Lainie Grensten, Sentinel, 16.54.
300 hurdles – Alivia Rhinehart, Flathead, 44.54. 2, Nya Myers, Big Sky, 46.06. 3, Carmen Eddy, Glacier, 46.49. 4, Addison Brisendine, Glacier, 46.71. 5, Hazel Bishop, Helena High, 47.37. 6, Addison Roush, Helena High, 47.90.
400 relay – 1, Kalispell Glacier (Breanna Barnes, Carmen Eddy, Emmery Schmidt, Zeila Wagner) 50.09. 2, Missoula Hellgate (Paisley Johnson, Sofia Szollosi, Elly Reed, Anneliese Bessette) 50.80. 3, Butte High (Autumn Clary, Cadence Graham, Saege Grey, Dylann Bartoletti) 51.00. 4, Helena Capital (Trinity Austria, Hosnya Ayidomihou, Brooke Howlett, Alyvia Sperry) 51.08. 5, Missoula Big Sky (Jemiah Belitz, Natalie LaForest, Pelea Sagato, Gabby Alec-Rebolledo) 51.11. 6, Missoula Sentinel (Makenna Kulbeck, Mia Swartz, Lainie Grensten, Mairyn Agostinelli) 51.33.
1,600 relay – Kalispell Glacier (Dacia Benkelman, Alyssa Vollertsen, Emmery Schmidt, Carmen Eddy) 4:04.62. 2, Missoula Hellgate (Grace Boyles, Gia Petrini, Jamison Molloy, Anneliese Bessette) 4:08.64. 3, Helena Capital (Trinity Austria, Adeline Osborne, June Lay, Elizabeth Urban) 4:12.34. 4, Missoula Big Sky (Grace Marshal, Emma Marshal, Adelaide Sugden, Nya Myers) 4:12.57. 5, Butte High (Wakely Burelson, Sophia Houchin, Saege Grey, Cadence Graham) 4:12.58. 6, Helena High (Harper Johnson, Kortney McKay, Lauryn Lieberg, Emmie Bermingham) 4:18.15.
Shot put – Allie Krueger, Glacier, 35-9. 2, Katie Kananen, Capital, 33-9. 3, Dani Wines, Capital, 33-8. 4, Greta Hageman, Capital, 33-6 ½. 5, Mylee Demarais, Butte High, 32-7. 6, Shay Casagrande, Sentinel, 31-11.
Discus – 1, Brooklen Kopp, Hellgate, 118-4. 2, Rylee Bigelow, Glacier, 117-11. 3, Bryar Michalson, Capital, 114-0. 4, Allie Krueger, Glacier, 109-10. 5, Dani Wines, Capital, 109-2. 6, Emi Berg, Sentinel, 108-4.
Javelin – 1, Kaelyn Saari, Capital, 127-5. 2, Brityn Stewart, Butte High, 120-8. 3, Charlotte Osier, Glacier, 116-10. 4, Madison Clement, Capital, 112-7. 5, Kinzey Clark, Hellgate, 108-7. 6, Morgan Meissner, Hellgate, 108-4.
High jump – 1, Jaidyn Pevey, Glacier, 5-4. 2, Ruby Roscoe, Hellgate, 5-2. 3, Alice Dolezal, Flathead, 5-0. 4, Chloe Jackson, Helena High, 4-10. 5, Britton Heuiser, Helena High, 4-10. 6 (tie), Lauryn Lieberg, Helena High, and Knoelle Ferguson, Capital, 4-8.
Pole vault – 1 (tie), Naomi Lee, Sentinel, and Breanna Barnes, Glacier, 11-3. 3, Knoelle Feguson, Capital, 10-6. 4 (tie), Reese Johnson, Sentinel, and Peyton Trabert, Butte High, 9-6. 6, Josie Crumley, Helena High, 9-6.
Long jump – 1, Madilyn Todorovich, Helena High, 17-2. 2, Britton Heuiser, Helena High, 16-6. 3, Zeila Wagner, Glacier, 16-4 ¼. 4, Gabby Alec-Rebolledo, Big Sky, 16-3 ½. 5, Hazel Bishop, Helena High, 16-3 ½. 6, Jaidyn Pevey, Glacier, 16-1 ¾.
Triple jump – 1, Gabby Alec-Rebolledo, Big Sky, 37-1 ½. 2, Isabella Grutsch, Big Sky, 35-0. 3, Alice Dolezal, Flathead, 34-11 ¾. 4, Ashlyn McDaniel, Big Sky, 34-4 ¾. 5, Dacia Benkelman, Glacier, 34-1 ¼. 6, June Lay, Capital, 33-11 ¼.

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Rec Sports

Hundreds of Pittsburgh-area kids take part in Cam Heyward’s youth football camp

Hundreds of kids sought to sharpen their football skills Saturday morning as part of Cam Heyward’s youth football camp. “Had nothing to do over the winter, so I was a little bored,” Gage Lindsey of Fairmont, W. Va., said. The day got even better for the participants when Heyward himself came in. “Cam’s a great […]

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1 hour ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Hundreds of kids sought to sharpen their football skills Saturday morning as part of Cam Heyward’s youth football camp.

“Had nothing to do over the winter, so I was a little bored,” Gage Lindsey of Fairmont, W. Va., said.

The day got even better for the participants when Heyward himself came in.

“Cam’s a great guy; I hope to learn everything from him,” Lindsey said.

Hundreds of kids here hoped to do just that.

“Kids are gonna be able to dream and be any position today,” Chris Dubek, COO of Flexwork Sports, said.

Dubek and his team helped the campers do some position-specific skill work.

“A lot of movement, a lot of pillar prep,” he said.

Each kid had something they wanted to work on.

“Just hand placement – hand movement… chop blocks,” Lindsey said.

But Dubek says there’s more to learn from this game than just on-field skills.

“It’s a game, football, right?” he said. “But how football translates to everything in life – work, academics, relationships. It all carries over.”

Kids like Lindsey just wanted to soak it all in, things like ball safety and proper tackling.

“Just learn, just learning,” he said. “Learning everything.”

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Rec Sports

Former New Bern star KJ Sampson hosts first youth football camp

NEW BERN, N.C. — Former New Bern High School football standout KJ Sampson hosted his first youth camp at the Twin Rivers YMCA, offering the local community kids the chance to learn from both current and former sports stars. The camp, which was free of charge, attracted 75 young participants eager to improve their skills. […]

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2 hours ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The event featured a variety of drills, including blocking, running over bags, tackling, and agility courses. Attendees also enjoyed some entertainment, with music and dancing adding to the day’s excitement.

Basketball head coach Calvin Campbell was among those who came out to support the event. Sampson, who is preparing to return to Florida State University for his sophomore year, organized the camp as a way to give back to the community. He was inspired by his own experiences attending Kevin Reddick’s camp during his youth.

Sampson said he wanted to provide the same opportunities for the next generation of athletes in New Bern.

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Rec Sports

Hundreds of Pittsburgh-area kids take part in Cam Heyward’s youth football camp

Hundreds of Pittsburgh-area kids take part in Cam Heyward’s youth football camp – CBS Pittsburgh Watch CBS News Hundreds of kids sought to sharpen their football skills Saturday morning as part of Cam Heyward’s youth football camp. KDKA-TV’s Chilekasi Adele reports. Be the first to know Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and […]

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May 18, 2025

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Hundreds of Pittsburgh-area kids take part in Cam Heyward’s youth football camp – CBS Pittsburgh

Watch CBS News

Hundreds of kids sought to sharpen their football skills Saturday morning as part of Cam Heyward’s youth football camp. KDKA-TV’s Chilekasi Adele reports.

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Rec Sports

Casey Millar climbs his way to the 2025 Youth Lead Climbing Nationals

Youth sport climber, Casey Millar, age 14, has qualified for the Youth Lead Climbing Nationals (YLCN) being held from May 19 to 21 at the Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, B.C. The climbing competition could take him to the 2025 Youth World Championships (YWC) in Finland in a sport that is in its third Olympic […]

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3 hours ago

May 18, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As the world of sports climbing becomes more popular, Chris Brazeau, owner and operator of Confluence Climbing Gym (CCG), says he sees those participating in programming in the facility enjoying the range of mental and physical challenges climbing provides. Brazeau explains the sport encourages athletes to experience a full physical and mental workout that provides “strength building” and is “a lot of fun.”

Casey Millar, age 14, was born and raised in Golden, B.C. He started climbing at the CCG at the age of 12 and began competing this year. After placing 8th in his rank during the Provincials in Calgary, A.B., on April 15th and 16th, Millar qualified for the YLCN.

“This is my first year of competitive climbing. I’m feeling pretty good about making it to Nationals. It was an awesome experience to get to Provincials,” Millar says. Millar will compete in boulder climbing at the YLCN. He says climbing is his “passion” and he “loves it.”

“It’s not like traditional gym training. It’s a mix. The difficulty of the movements can be quite technically challenging,” Millar says.

Millar trains five to six days a week. He is a grade nine student who is homeschooled. His flexible schedule allows him to take his homework to the gym and train while studying. He explains that during competitions, he doesn’t know what the course setup will be. Part of the challenge is getting a short amount of time to strategize his climb before climbing during the race.

Brazeau has been climbing for 30 years. He says the sport used to be a “fringe activity,” and indoor climbing has become more popular over the years and has expanded into a “sport all in itself.”

“It used to be seen as a place where you (mountain climbers) can train to be outdoors, or train during the off season,” Brazeau says, and explains, the colourful holds have evolved in his time as a climber, “they’ve come a long way.”

“It’s not just physical, it’s mental as well, there’s a problem-solving component. There’s a range of challenges to it that involve technical, tactile, mental, and physical challenges. It’s not just about being strong. You have to create a game plan of what the moves you will make might look like,” he says.

“In the competition, you get one shot to do the route,” Millar says.

“It’s a real skill to look at a route and have an idea of what to do,” Brazeau adds.

Brazeau has been training Millar over the last two years, he says he is “proud” of Millar.

“It’s quite an accomplishment for him. This is his first year competing, and he’s bottom of his class. He will have another year in his category,” he says.

Millar says when he went to Calgary for the Provincials, he found the Calgary Climbing Centre – Rocky Mountain location “pretty impressive” and he’s excited to compete among Canada’s best youth climbers.

When he’s not climbing, Millar snowboards, mountain bikes and skateboards.

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