Second generation Highland Games thrower Megan McKee overtook Elissa Hapner on the final event—the caber—to win the the 2019 IHGF Pro Women’s Highland Games at Scotfest in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.


40th Annual Scotfest Celtic Music Festival and Highland Games: New Women’s World Champion
by Francis Brebner
President, International Highland Games Federation (IHGF)

Held in a superb setting in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, these games celebrated its 40th year by hosting this year’s IHGF Pro Woman’s Highland Games World Championships, with one of the best lineups ever of athletes: Emily Adams, Denise Greene, Adriane Wilson, Jessica Bridenthal, Nikita Marzano, Meagan McKee, Janine Kuestner, Elissa Hapner, Katie Crowley and Emily Hilty.

The first event got underway with the 16-lb. Braemar stone, with Marzano producing a hail of class putts with a winning best of 36’ 7”. Second place was very tight, with Bridenthal edging ahead of McKee, 35’ 6” to 34’ 9”.

In the 11-lb. open stone Wilson came alive with a dominating series of putts and a best of 45’ 2” for a new field record. Second place was Hapner with 43’ 3”, and third place was ever so close with Greene at 42’ 5” and a couple of inches behind, Marzano in fourth at 42’ 3”.

The 28-lb. weight for distance was electrifying as Hapner and Wilson challenged each other, with Hapner clinching the win with a superb throw of 47’ 8”, to Wilson’s very nice distance of 46’ 4”. Bridenthal was third at 45’.

Hapner and Marzano both rocked in the 14-lb. weight for distance, the only two athletes throwing over 80’. Hapner was the victor with a distance of 83’ 6”. Marzano followed at 80’ 2”, with McKee third at 79’ 9”.

McKee took the driver’s seat in the 16-lb. heavy hammer and let fly with a winning distance of 85’ 6”. Greene was not too far behind in second at 82’ 2”, and Bridenthal was third at 79’ 9”.

Continuing in the 12-lb. light hammer, McKee lashed out winning throws with a best of 105’ 11” to nail the win. Bridenthal barely pulled off second place with a distance of 100’ 6”, just an inch ahead of Hapner at 100’ 5”.   

Greene excelled in the 28-lb. weight over bar but was pushed all the way by Marzano and Kuestner, finally taking the win at 18’ while the two contenders tied at 17’.

In the 10-lb. sheaf toss, Adams and Hapner shared the winning height at a splendid 31’; third was Marzano at 28’.

Going into the last event, Hapner had a 5-point advantage over McKee, and the all-out battle continued. Only three athletes tossed the 16’ 5”, 85-lb. caber: McKee excelled with a 12 o’clock toss; Greene did 11 o’clock, and Wilson did 2 o’clock.

McKee prevailed with a 1-point lead on Hapner to be crowned the IHGF Pro Women’s World Highland Games champion of 2019. McKee, daughter of former pro Highland Games athlete Ron McKee, noted that, “To be a second-generation Highland games thrower and to know that all the training with my father came together and paid off was very gratifying.”

Overall placings:
1. Meagan McKee 33.5
2. Elissa Hapner 34.5
3. Nikita Marzano 36
4. Denise Greene 37
5. Jessica Bridenthal 42.5
6. Adriane Wilson 43
7. Emily Adams 51.5
8. Katie Crowley 72
9. Janine Kuestner 73
10. Emily Hilty 73.1

The IHGF would like to thank the athletic director of the games Sherri Sweet, festival director Steve Campbell, and officials of HASA, Dave and Gunner Glasgow and Larry and Terri Ventress, Mike Smith, and the judges for their hard work in making this such a memorable event.


IHGF All-American Amateur Highland Games Qualifying Series
by Francis Brebner
President, International Highland Games Federation (IHGF)


The tenth and final leg of the IHGF All-American qualifying series also took place in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma at the 40th Annual Scotfest Celtic Music Festival and Highland Games.

Men’s competition
Men’s heavy athletes included Jeremiah Giambartolomei, Ryan Huddleston, Andrew Kneib, Jacob Langworthy, Nick Myatt, Royce Fontenot, and Evan Sellars.

Giambartolomei produced a hail of putts all over 34’ in the 22-lb. Braemar stone, with his best at 35’ 6”for the win. Huddleston was second at 30’ 1”and Kneib third at 29’ 5”.

Again in the 16-lb. open stone and using the rotational technique, Giambartolomei’s produced the best mark at 42’ 8”. Second went to Kneib at 40’ 1” with Huddleston following at 38’ 7”.

Giambartolomei kept up his winning streak in the 56-lb. weight for distance with a best of 33’ 4”, with second-place Myatt at 29’ 2”.  Third place was a battle, with Kneib going ahead of Huddleston, 28’ 8” to 28’ 7”.

It was still all about Giambartolomei in the 28-lb. weight for distance as he added another win with a 66’ 6” effort. Second was close with Kneib at 59’ 10” and Langworthy at 59’ 5”.

The tables turned in the hammers as Huddleston gave his all and unleashed a barrage of throws marginally over Giambartolomei’s, pulling off the win at 89’ 1” to 88’ 4”. Langworthy was third at 84’.

Huddleston continued to ride the wave in the 16-lb. hammer, doing 109’ 1”, with Giambartolomei inches behind at 108’ 3”. Third was Langworthy at 105’ 2”.

Giambartolomei returned to the driver’s seat in the 56-lb. weight over bar with a winning height of 15’ 1”. Kneib did 13” and Huddleston 12’.

The climax was the 16-lb. sheaf over bar with Giambartolomei and Langworthy matching wits. Giambartolomei prevailed in the end at a height of 30’ to Langworthy’s 29’. Third was a tie between Huddleston, Kneib and Fontenot at 25’.

The caber, at 19’ 5” and 110 lb., proved a major challenge with only Giambartolomei tossing this mighty stick, doing 2:45.

Overall placings:
1. Jeremiah Giambartolomei 11
2. Ryan Huddleston 29.5
3. Andrew Kneib 30
4. Jacob Langworthy 34
5. Nick Myatt 46
6. Royce Fontenot 46
7. Evan Sellars 55.5

It was a great competition for Giambartolomei, who will advance to the finals of the IHGF All-American Highland Games Championships at the Great Plains Renaissance Festival, 28–29 September. The winner will then compete at the 2020 IHGF World Highland Games Championships in Fefor, Norway during Power Week.

Women’s competition
The women’s group included:  Jamesia Sanou , Anitra Jones, Kate Langworthy, Elizabeth Elliott, and Shari Wilder

The 16-lb. Braemar stone was a big first win for Sanou, with a class putt of 26’ 8”. In a seesaw battle, Jones took second at 21’ 10” over Langworthy at 20’ 8”.

In the 9-lb. open stone Jones tried to keep close to Sanou, but Sanou pulled out her best when she needed it to capture a second win at 35’ 11”. Jones landed in second at 32’, and Langworthy was third with 26’ 9’ .

In the heavy weight for distance, Sanou was in a realm of her own, lobbing out a nice throw of 38’ 3” for first. Jones followed at 24’ 3”, with Langworthy at 22’ 3”.
Sanou kept up her intensity in the 14-lb. weight for distance with an incredible series of throws and a best of 77’ 10” for her fourth straight victory. Langworthy and Jones trailed at 42’ 8’ and 41’ 6” respectively.

Sanou reigned supreme in the light and heavy hammers and took both wins, letting fly with a best of 92’ 5” in the 12-lb. hammer, with second-place Langworthy at 61’ 5”and third-place Jones at 54’ 1”. In the 16-lb. hammer, Sanou produced another class throw of 79’ 4”, outpacing Jones at 46’ 2’ and Langworthy at 45’ 6”.

The 28-lb. weight over bar was fantastic to watch as Sanou cleared 17’. Langworthy was second at 12’ and Jones third at 10’.

Sanou prevailed in the 10-lb. sheaf, clearing the height of 20’ for the win, besting Langworthy  at 18’ and Elliot at 14’.

The caber toss was a challenge with placings established based on degrees: Sanou 65 degrees, Langworthy 50 degrees, and Jones 35 degrees.

Overall placings:
1. Jamesia Sanou 9
2. Anitra Jones 23
3. Kate Langworthy 23
4. Elizabeth Elliot 35.5
5. Shari Wilder 44.5

Sanou will compete in the finals of the IHGF All-American Highland Games Championships at the 2019 Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival, in Wichita, Kansas, 28–29 September, where the overall winner of the woman’s IHGF All-American Highland games Championships will receive $1,000 prize scholarship.

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