Kovatch and Smith Break SLE Track Records

MISSOULA - Seeley Lake Elementary (SLE) seventh-grader Klaire Kovatch and eighth-grader Avery Smith broke school records at the SLE track meet in Missoula Tuesday, May 10.

Kovatch beat the long jump record set by Cindy Baker in 1987 by three inches with a jump of 15 feet, 5 inches.

Smith broke Ryan Teafoe's record in the 200-meter hurdles that he set in 2000 by 0.3 seconds.

Kovatch has been long jumping since the fifth grade when she started track.

"I enjoy seeing how far I can jump and potentially PR [set a personal record]," wrote Kovatch in an email to the Pathfinder.

Last year Kovatch's longest jump was 13 feet, 4 inches set at the Meet of Champions. She took first in the long jump at the meet.

This year, she did not think she would break the record.

"I just try to jump to the top of the trees," wrote Kovatch.

When they marked Kovatch's 15 feet, 5 inch jump she was shocked.

"I was excited and couldn't believe it," wrote Kovatch. "If I qualify for the Meet of Champions, I want to beat it again!"

Kovatch's distance is just 4.5 inches short of the girls' long jump distance to qualify for state at the high school level.

Smith has been running the hurdles since the fifth grade when he started track.

"I love the hurdles because you're not just running and it's more of a challenge," wrote Smith in an email to the Pathfinder.

For Smith, hurdles is more about form than speed. He appreciates all the help he has gotten from his coaches Zelda Haines and Brett Haines.

Smith wasn't aware of the SLE 200 meter hurdles record until half way through the season.

"I knew I could get it because I was so close, only four tenths of a second off [at the Superior meet the week prior to breaking the record]," wrote Smith.

At the SLE meet Smith ran a time of 29.59 seconds in the 200m hurdles. This beat Ryan Teafoe's record time of 29.8 seconds.

"I was shocked, honestly. I didn't know what to think at first," wrote Smith when asked how it felt to break the record. "Then as the day went on, I'd realized that I had broken a school record and it felt pretty good!"