MISSOULA- Competitors on the track and field wearing red and gold the last couple of spring seasons have found an abundance of success in long distance events. From five state titles in 2023, to multiple collegiate signees in the last three years, the Knights of Hellgate have made a name for themselves.
But there is one field event in particular where up-and-coming talent is masked behind that success.
Timbur Nilson, a senior at Hellgate, has thrown the javelin for the Knights the past three years. After his first three years throwing behind two-time All-State recipient Aiden Nichols, he is ready for a strong finish- with a state title in mind.
“I started track back when I was a freshman,” said Nilson. “One day I just decided to show up to javelkin to try it out, and Wolly (Nilson’s coach) said that I would be a really good javelin thrower bv my senior year.”
And the Hellgate javelin coach’s assumption paid off.
Nilson currently stands atop the 2024 Montana class-AA rankings with a throw of 178’ 7”. The next highest for AA competition on the leaderboard is Big Sky’s Adam Guajardo at 158’ 7”. Tyson Bauder of class-A Hamilton is the only male athlete to top Nilson in the entire state with a toss marking just over 180 feet.
“I had a pretty good sophomore year, and I kind of just expected to be hitting bigger numbers my junior year,” said Nilson. “I think I only needed like seven feet for a PR, so I grinded in the off season and worked on getting stronger for this season, which definitely paid off for success.”
Hellgate as a program is no stranger to success in the Javelin event either. Ryan Woldstad placed eighth in the 2021 State track meet with a throw of 158’ 8”. Aiden Nichols would then go on to win back-to-back state titles for the Knights in 2022-23 with throws of 182’ 1”, and 192’ 0”. In his sophomore and junior seasons, Nilson also placed to earn AA-All State honors in 2022 with a toss of 153’ 9”, and again in 2023 recording a throw of 160’ 4”.
“I really just tried to work in the gym this off-season,” said Nilson. “Working on my form through videos and critiquing little things was my big focus.”
In only three years, Nilson has gained 50 feet of his best throw his opening year. Still, with an all time PR of 178’ 7”, he is looking forward to more as Hellgate hits the meat of their 2024.
“I am looking forward to hitting some more PR’s, and I think 190 is for sure in the picture. That- and winning state- are a couple goals that I would like to see happen this year.”
