KALISPELL — Unlike previous years where the 4×400 meters relay decided the team title, Gallatin’s 13-point lead over Helena erased all doubt. Instead, Raptors head coach Chantel Jaeger-Smith told the group to treat the race as “their victory lap.”
Junior Izzie Donaghey said the relay was the “cherry on top” for Gallatin. The team of Donaghey, senior Isabel Ross, senior Claire Rutherford and sophomore Hazel Cooper earned the Raptors a second-place finish in 3 minutes, 58.43 seconds.
Gallatin senior Isabel Ross, center, runs the anchor leg of the girls 4×400 meters relay at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
Her prediction came true Saturday, with the Gallatin girls claiming their first Class AA team title by defeating Helena 100-83. Jaeger-Smith said the title was a product of the entire group staying steady all season, even when they were “thrown some curveballs” on and off the track.
“I knew we could do it if we all worked together and did our part, which is exactly what we did,” Donaghey said, adding, “I’m really tired, but I’m so proud of everybody.”
Donaghey and Jaeger-Smith also pointed to the depth of the Raptors that led to the state title. Gallatin placed in every flat track event from the 100 meters to the 3,200 meters, along with the 100-meter hurdles, shot put, javelin, high jump, long jump and both relays.
Gallatin seniors Claire Rutherford and Isabel Ross (center) hold the Class AA first place trophy and celebrate with teammates at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
“Gallatin High as a whole, the ladies had a podium year,” Jaeger-Smith said. “It’s just really great that we had a good spread of girls all around. Regardless of class, regardless of event, they showed up, and they did great.”
The Raptors added eight individual medals Saturday. In the 1,600 meters, Ross finished first (personal-record 4:53.60), Cooper placed second (4:57.05 PR) and Rutherford placed fifth (5:06.95). Donaghey placed third in both the 100 (12.54) and 200 (25.24).
Junior Anita Black also placed fourth in the 100 hurdles (15.71). Senior Ava Dierolf (124 feet, 3 inches) placed fourth and sophomore Kate Breeding (122-08 PR) placed fifth in the javelin.
Gallatin senior Ava Dierolf competes in the girls javelin at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
After winning the 800 title Friday, Ross completed the double in similar fashion by leading the whole way alongside Cooper. Ross continued pushing the pace in the back half and beat her previous best time by nearly five seconds.
“It doesn’t really feel real until you cross that finish line,” Ross said, adding, “ I’m just really proud of myself. I fought for that gold medal kind of my whole high school career, and to get two at state my senior year, it’s kind of bittersweet.”
Gallatin senior Isabel Ross and sophomore Hazel Cooper lead the girls 1,600 meters at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
Ross added that she’s going to miss the Gallatin girls, a group that has become a “second family.” Placing in three individual events at state was the recognition Jaeger-Smith had been waiting for Ross to receive.
“She has the depth all the way up to a 5k but she really specializes in that 800,” Jaeger-Smith said. “She’s a very modest athlete, but she’s a team player. And I cannot shout out (Isabel) Ross enough. She’s got track in her future (at UC-Santa Barbara), and she’s going to be missed in this program.”
It wasn’t her best showing Saturday, Donaghey said, but she came away from her 100-200 double even more motivated for next year — especially competing alongside Kalispell Flathead senior Alivia Rinehart and Missoula Hellgate senior Sofia Szollosi.
“It’s definitely a start for me to get into more of the, ‘Everyone starts to know me,’ type of world,” Donaghey said. “But I’m ready to start pushing even harder for next year already. I’m so excited because I know I have so much more in me.”
Gallatin junior Izzie Donaghey, center, runs in the girls 100 meters final at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
Black was shocked by placing in the 100 hurdles after the mental obstacles she faced this season, stemming from a fall at the 2024 Eastern AA Divisional meet and a 14th-place finish at state. Over the past year, she’s worked on building her confidence back up.
“I was proud of myself for staying in my lane and not focusing on what other people were doing in their race,” Black said. “When I got to the finish line, I heard cheering and my name, and I was just like, ‘I did that.’”
She’s also proud to compete alongside this group of Gallatin girls.
“Everybody works so hard in their events, but they also come together to cheer and support everyone else in their individual things,” Black said, adding, “It makes it a lot easier to push yourself when you know that other people are rooting for you too.”
Gallatin junior Anita Black, left, and Missoula Big Sky’s Gracelee Banna run in the girls 110-meter hurdles final at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
On the boys side, Gallatin finished in sixth place with 40 points. The Raptors added three individual medals Saturday, with senior Jack Murray and sophomore Riley McGrath tying for second in the discus (168-10) and junior Louis Kamps placing second in the 200 (22.55).
Murray, an Idaho State commit, was excited to share the podium with McGrath — “He’s worked so hard and deserves everything coming his way,” Murray said — but was surprised to see himself back up there. He broke the all-class discus record at last year’s state meet (198-1), but he tore his bicep a few weeks ago.
He struggled to stay locked in mentally and keep his confidence up in the back half of this season, Murray said, despite being ranked No. 1 in Class AA in both the shot put and discus. Murray didn’t participate in the shot put Friday, with the discus final Saturday being his first throws in a meet since the Senior/Gallatin/West Triangular on May 3.
He couldn’t help but grin as he saw his second throw land fair. Jaeger-Smith said she was in tears watching Murray compete again.
“I was really, really worried going into it,” Murray added. “It kind of killed a lot of nerves being able to hit a mark on my second throw and just go enjoy the competition and see what happens.”
Gallatin senior Jack Murray competes in the boys discus at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
Jaeger-Smith had faith in Murray competing well despite the circumstances, she said, and was proud of how he “fought to the very end” this season.
“I think I can leave high school and be happy with what I’ve done and what I’ve accomplished,” Murray said, “and I’m really looking forward to the next four years and see what I can do for ISU.”
Bozeman’s Jones earns two sprint medals, Neil siblings place in 1,600
The Bozeman girls placed ninth in the team standings (21) and the boys tied for 13th with Billings Senior (10).
On Saturday, junior Scotland Jones placed fourth in the girls 200 (25.51) and fifth in the 100 (12.69). Sophomore Taylor Neil placed fourth in the boys 1,600 (4:15.25 PR) and sophomore Kylee Neil placed sixth in the girls 1,600 (5:07.03).
Jones was frustrated with not seeing more progress early in the season — she opened with times of 12.71, 12.71 and 12.70 in the 100 in her first three meets — but learned to be more patient as the year went on. She started to see results in the latter half, with a pair of PRs at the divisional meet (12.56 in the 100 and 25.51 in the 200) and a pair of medals at state.
Placing twice was exciting against two really fast fields, she said, leaving her even more motivated for the future.
“I have big things planned for next year hopefully,” Jones said. “I’m going to work really hard in the summer, really hard in indoor and next year’s gonna be even better than this year.”
From left, Kalispell Flathead’s Alivia Rinehart, Gallatin’s Izzie Donaghey and Bozeman’s Scotland Jones run in the girls 200 meters final at the Class AA track and field meet Saturday at Legends Stadium in Kalispell.
Shawn Raecke/For the Chronicle
Taylor Neil got the edge on Helena’s Milo Kauffman with a lean at the line in the boys 3,200 Friday, earning Neil third place in that race. He faced another lean at the line in the 1,600 Saturday, with Helena’s Elliot Stimpson getting the edge for third.
“Both of those leans I felt could have gone either way, and they just fell how they fell,” Neil said, adding, “(Stimpson and Kauffman) woke me up when I was in that home stretch, and they kind of pushed my time. So it’s good to have that competition.”
Neil wanted to challenge for a win in either event at state, but he was still satisfied with two new PRs and a pair of medals. He also found it to be a learning experience in terms of covering big moves and always staying vigilant in the front pack.
“It’s really good to get out here with those fast heats and just kind of learn from what you should have done or what you shouldn’t have done,” Neil said. “And I’ll just take that with me for the next couple of years and use that in these competitive fields.”
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A preview of the Case Western Reserve University varsity athletic events for the period of winter break (December 8-January 3) and a recap of the events from the previous week of competition (December 1-7). Schedule is subject to change with updates posted on athletics.case.edu when they are known.
Last Week’s Recap
Women’s Basketball (0-2)
Dropped a pair of close contests last week, falling to Marietta 67-66 at home on Wednesday and Denison 74-61 on Saturday on the road
Junior guard Mya Hartjes led all Spartans with 19.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game
Wrestling (1-2)
Went 1-2 at the Yellow Jacket Duals on Friday night on the campus of Baldwin Wallace University
Lost to Division II UNC Pembroke 35-12 and #20 BW 31-15 before defeating Wilmington 45-7
Senior Art Martinez was named the University Athletic Association Wrestler of the Week after he won all three of his matches, including two by pin
Men’s and Women’s Track & Field
Opened the 2025-26 indoor season by hosting the Spartan Alumni Holiday Classic in the Veale Center on Saturday
Broke school records in the women’s 200-meter dash and 4×400-meter relay and matched the program record in the 60-meter dash
Combined to win seven events with 11 finishes in the top three
Wednesday, December 10
Schedule
CWRU Men’s Basketball (4-3) at Hiram (3-4)
Hiram, Ohio · Price Gymnasium
7:30 PM
Live Stats | Video
Saturday, December 13
Schedule
CWRU Men’s Basketball (4-3) at Allegheny (2-4)
Meadville, Pa. · David V. Wise Center
1:00 PM
Live Stats | Video
Saturday, December 20
Schedule
CWRU Wrestling (2-2) at Chocolate Duals
Grantham, Pa. · Jordan Court in Hitchcock Arena
10:00 AM vs. #17 Ithaca (0-0)
12:00 PM at Messiah (3-1)
2:00 PM vs. #12 Arcadia (1-3)
Live Results | Video
Monday, December 29
Schedule
CWRU Women’s Basketball (5-3) vs. Oberlin (3-4)
BW Invitational
Berea, Ohio · Ursprung Gymnasium
3:00 PM
Live Stats | Video | Tickets
Tuesday, December 30
Schedule
CWRU Men’s Basketball (4-3) vs. Kalamazoo (2-5)
Cleveland, Ohio · Horsburgh Gymnasium
2:00 PM
Live Stats | Video | Digital Program
CWRU Women’s Basketball (5-3) at #21 Baldwin Wallace (5-2)
AMHERST, Mass. – University of Massachusetts track and field junior Collin Catherwood and hockey junior Jackson Irving have been named the UMass Student-Athletes of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday. The duo will be honored at the UMass Sports Luncheon this Wednesday at the Berkshire Dining Commons from Noon to 1 p.m.
Guest speakers will be football video coordinator Bill Sisler and Fall Male Scholar Athlete Award winner Keegan Andrews of Football.
At the Harvard Classic on Saturday, Catherwood took the top spot in the men’s 5K with a time of 13:58.38. The Central Valley, N.Y. native also broke the men’s 5K indoor program record.
Irving made 37 saves to backstop hockey to a 2-0 win at No. 12/11 Northeastern on Sunday in a non-conference matchup at Matthews Arena, recording his second shutout of the season. The Newbury, Massachusetts native currently holds a .934 save percentage and a 2.75 GAA on the year.
Charlotte, NC (December 9, 2025)– Week One of CIAA Indoor Track and Field showcased both returning standouts and emerging talent as programs opened the season with competitive early meets. The conference saw strong sprint performances, record breaking throws, and athletes establishing early momentum. The CIAA recognizes four student athletes for their standout performances during the week of November 30 through December 6.
WOMEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Olivia Cosby, Winston Salem State
Junior sprinter Olivia Cosby opened her season with an impressive performance at the Visit Winston Salem College Kickoff at JDL. Cosby placed third in the 400m seeded with a time of 56.83 and later anchored the 4x400m relay to a total time of 3:58.54, closing her leg with a strong 58.72 split. Her effort set an early tone for the Rams as they launched their indoor campaign.
WOMEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Breanna Reid, Bowie State
Freshman thrower Breanna Reid made a memorable collegiate debut at the Fastrack Season Opener, breaking the Bowie State school record in the weight throw with a mark of 14.32m. Reid’s second place finish introduced her as an immediate contender in the CIAA and showcased significant promise for the Bulldogs’ throws unit.
MEN’S TRACK ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Dareon Faircloth, Bowie State
Sophomore sprinter Dareon Faircloth began his season in commanding fashion, winning the 60m dash in 6.74 to set a new Bowie State school record. He added a runner up finish in the 200m with a time of 21.89, demonstrating elite range and establishing himself as one of the conference’s top early season sprinters.
MEN’S FIELD ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Darius Brown, Bluefield State
Senior jumper Darius Brown delivered a strong showing in a competitive meet that included Division I opponents, placing third in the triple jump with a mark of 14.55m. His performance provided a solid start to his final indoor season and highlighted his experience and consistency.
Media Contact Anna M. Butzlaff Associate Commissioner, Strategic Communications Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) abutzlaff@theciaa.com
About the CIAA
Founded in 1912, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is the first, and longest running, African American athletic conference in the United States and one of the most recognized conferences in Division II. The CIAA conducts 14 championships attended by more than 150000 fans from around the country. The Basketball Tournament has been honored as a 2019 Champion of Economic Impact in Sports Tourism by Sports Destination Management for both 2018 and 2019.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the CIAA is governed by the Presidents and Chancellors of its 12 member institutions: Bowie State University, Bluefield State University, Claflin University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Lincoln University of Pennsylvania, Livingstone College, Shaw University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University, and Winston Salem State University. For more information on the CIAA, visit theciaa.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) announced its Athlete of the Week award winners for swimming & diving and indoor track & field on Tuesday. Student-athletes from Carleton, Macalester, Saint Benedict, Saint John’s, and St. Olaf claimed the Conference’s weekly honors.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week awards are nominated by the Conference’s sports information directors and selected by MIAC staff. Throughout the winter season, team sports (basketball and hockey) Athletes of the Week will be recognized on Monday afternoons, with individual sports (swimming & diving and indoor track & field) announced on Tuesday afternoons. The winners of the latest Athlete of the Week awards are listed below, along with details on their outstanding performances.
The MIAC Athlete of the Week archive has complete details on each week’s selections and winners.
MIAC Men’s Swimming Athlete of the Week Brayden Slavik Saint John’s University Sr. Green Isle, Minn. / Chaska
Brayden Slavik won two events with NCAA B-cut times and finished second in one more event at the Rochester Invitational on 12/4-6. Slavik won the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 4:30.15, which surpassed the NCAA B-cut time of 4:31.24. He added his second B-cut time of the weekend in the 1,650-yard freestyle with a time of 15:43.14 to win the event. Slavik beat that cut time by nearly seven seconds. Slavik also finished second in the 400-yard individual medley (4:04.88) and was a member of three SJU freestyle relay teams at the meet.
MIAC Men’s Diving Athlete of the Week Hans Anderson Carleton College Sr. Watertown, Minn. / Watertown-Mayer
Hans Anderson was the top NCAA Division III diver in both the 1-meter and 3-meter competitions at the Rochester Invitational on 12/4-5. Anderson scored 440.30 points on the 1-meter board to place second overall on 12/4 before totaling 458.45 points off the 3-meter board on 12/5 for another runner-up performance overall.
MIAC Women’s Swimming Athlete of the Week Haley Zelen College of Saint Benedict Jr. Shakopee, Minn. / Shakopee
Haley Zelen rewrote the CSB record book at the Rochester Invitational on 12/4-6, breaking three individual program records and contributing to a relay record while earning three NCAA Division III B-cut times. Zelen set new marks in the 50 free (23.07), 100 fly (54.72), and 100 free (50.79), and helped the 200 CSB medley relay team post a new record time of 1:46.69. Zelen’s time of 1:05.77 in the 100 breast ranks second in Saint Benedict history.
MIAC Women’s Diving Athlete of the Week Nina Schwab Carleton College So. Piedmont, Calif. / Piedmont
Nina Schwab won the 1-meter diving competition by nearly 80 points with a score of 486.00 at the Rochester Invitational on 12/5. That point total eclipsed her own program record set last season and also established a new MIAC overall standard, besting the previous mark of 485.40 that had stood since 2013. Schwab also won the 3-meter diving competition on 12/4 with a score of 427.90. She totaled 438.85 points during the preliminary round.
MIAC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week Lance Nemecek St. Olaf College Sr. Minnetrista, Minn. / Mound-Westonka
Lance Nemecek ran the second-fastest 800-meter time in NCAA Division III this season with a meet record time of 1:54.02 at the M City Classic on 12/5. Nemecek’s time ranks third on both St. Olaf’s all-time performers’ and performances lists. He also led off the first-place 4×400-meter relay that won the event in a meet-record time of 3:21.77, which ranks fifth nationally and second on both St. Olaf lists.
MIAC Men’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week Soren Kaster Carleton College Jr. Horace, N.D. / West Fargo Sheyenne
Soren Kaster placed third overall and second among NCAA Division III competitors in the heptathlon with 4,606 points at the M City Classic on 12/5-6. Kaster’s score was the third-best in program history and ranks third in D-III this season. He clocked times of 7.44 in the 60-meter dash, 9.03 in the 60-meter hurdles, and 2:53.49 in the 1000-meter run; measured 10.09 meters in the shot put and a personal-best 6.31 meters in the long jump; and cleared 1.70 meters in the high jump and a MIAC-best 4.35 meters in the pole vault.
MIAC Women’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week Ariella Rogahn-Press Macalester College So. Albuquerque, N.M / Bosque School
Ariella Rogahn-Press won the 400 meters by more than five seconds at the M City Classic in Minneapolis on 12/5 with a time of 57.43. Her converted time ranks third in NCAA Division III this season.
MIAC Women’s Indoor Field Athlete of the Week Svea Frantzich St. Olaf College Fy. Stillwater, Minn. / Breck
Svea Frantzich recorded the fifth-highest pentathlon score in NCAA Division III this season with 3,005 points in her collegiate debut at the M City Classic on 12/5. Frantzich posted top-10 all-time performances on St. Olaf’s indoor list in the 60-meter hurdles (9.47) and long jump (5.44m) on her way to compiling the No. 8 pentathlon score on the Oles’ all-time performers’ list.
HARRISONBURG, Va. – James Madison track & field unveiled its indoor slate for the 2025-26 season on Tuesday afternoon, as announced by Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Delethea Quarles.
The Dukes began the season at VMI’s Colonel Bev Read Opener on Dec. 6, and will return to action in 2026, starting with the Virginia Tech Invitational (Jan. 16-17). JMU will remain in the Commonwealth for another trip to Lexington for the VMI Invitational (Jan. 23-24).
From there, JMU will close January at the Penn State National Open (Jan. 30-31) before turning its attention to the ECAC Championship, taking place at Boston University’s Track & Tennis Center, Feb. 7-8.
The Dukes return to Virginia for Liberty’s Darius Dixon Memorial Invitational (Feb. 13-14). James Madison then turns its attention to the Sun Belt Championship in Birmingham, Ala. at the Birmingham CrossPlex, Feb. 23-24.
JMU will look to qualify individuals for the NCAA Championships (March 13-14), which will be held at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark.
PRINCETON, N.J. – After a record breaking showing in Boston over the weekend, sophomore Harlow Tong earned Ivy League Men’s Athlete of the Week status, becoming the first Crimson to receive the honor this season.
Racing in the opening heat of the men’s 300m at the Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, Tong made an instant impact. Tong finished in first place with a time of 33.07, as his mark represents a new school record in the men’s 300m, surpassing the former record of 33.67 set by Oliver Murcko ’25 at the 2021 HBCU & Ivy Challenge. Tong’s time is also a new facility record at the renowned Boston University Track & Tennis Center.
A native of St. Paul, Minnesota, Tong is looking to build off a stellar first-year season as he begins his second campaign with the Crimson. Last year saw Tong breakout in the outdoor portion of the season, winning an Ivy League title as a member of Harvard’s men’s 4x100m relay team. Tong is also the school record holder the outdoor men’s 400m, running a 46.55 at the Tiger Track Classic.
The Crimson return to action on Saturday, Jan. 17, as Harvard hosts the Beantown Challenge at Gordon Indoor Track.
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