Poplar Claims Team Titles At Season-Opening Meet

The Poplar Indians cruised to top honors in both the girls’ division and boys’ at the season-opening Wolf Point Invitational on Friday, Aug. 29.

Poplar’s girls finished with 18 points for the title. Top teams in the boys’ division were Poplar and Williston Trinity.

Leading Poplar’s girls were freshman Journey Gourneau with a time of 22:20.65 for first-place honors. Mila Gramling, an eighth-grader, placed third at 23:26.39.

Poplar Coach John Wetsit was pleased with his team’s effort, but he said he wasn’t worried about times at this point of the season.

“It was a good start,” Wetsit said. “It was a good training.”

Three other Indians also placed in the top 10 for the girls’ division. Amelia Weeks ran the course in 24:11.02 for sixth place. Kellyn Azure was right behind in seventh place at 24:22.27.

Blake Follette was ninth with a time of 24:48.66.

Alara Cooper took 15th place at 26:17.78. Kelbee Redstone was 19th at 26:34.62.

In the boys’ division, Poplar’s freshman Jayden Eder ran to second-place honors at 18:32.59 and Isaac Irizarry earned third at 18:48.13. Plentywood’s senior Dean Sampsen was the overall winner at 17:40.57.

Poplar’s Eljin Grey Bear also earned top 10 honors with a time of 19:29.44 for ninth place.

Wilder Bearcub placed 14th at 20:43.11. Trentin Youpee was 29th at 22:32.43.

Raylando Red Eagle finished 34th at 23:14.68. Mickey Failing took 38th at 24:21.57.

The Poplar Invitational is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 6.