Lady Vikings take third, boys have good showing

COLUMBIA FALLS — The Charlo Lady Vikings track team started things off right this season finishing third as a team with 62 points against some tough Class A teams last weekend in Columbia Falls.

Charlo's Amanda Murphy was a double winner in two throwing events. She tossed the discus 110 feet and the shot put 37-5 1/2 to finish on top. Murphy's shot put distance of 37-5 1/2 beat her throw during State last year (35-8 1/2) by 21 inches. Murphy can run, too. She finished fifth in the 100 meter run with a time of 14.2 and third in the 200 meters with 28.87 seconds.

"Amanda has been lifting and put some extra time in this past at summer camps," said coach Bret Thompson.

Adri Hammond was hopping high for the Lady Vikings. Hammond recorded a vault height of 7 feet 6 inches, good enough for second place. Hammond was followed closely by teammate Hayley Carr, who tied for sixth with a vault of 6-6. In the javelin event, Carr placed third out of six with a throw of 101-4 1/2.

Charlo's Samijo Kain tied for fifth in the high jump with a leap of 4-8.

Besides being able to vault over seven feet, Hammond is quick around the track also. She finished second in the 800 meter with a time of 2:46.0. Charlo's Stevie Sammons also placed in the 800 meter run with a time of 3:01.5 to help rack up the team points.

In the 400 meter relay Vikings Murphy, Hammond, Carr and Ma'rya Hungerford took sixth with a time of 55.6. The Lady Vikings 1600 meter relay team, comprised of Hammond, Hungerford, Stevie Sammons and Samijo Kain, finished third with an impressive time of 4:44.11.

"We were eight seconds faster in the 1600 than we were last year at the same meet," said Thompson.

Boys place two

The Charlo Viking boys track team only placed two of its athletics during this past weekends competition.

Kyle Middlemist finished the day in sixth place with a vault of 10-6.

Charlo's Shae Sammons took home fifth place in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.3 seconds.

"I was happy with the boys. We got a chance to see where we are at," said Thompson.

"We just have to stay healthy and work hard to improve," Thompson said.

The Vikings will next face Alberton today (Thursday) in Missoula and after today the team will have a week off before heading to the Dave Tripp Meet in Polson.