Murphy, Hammond take home gold for Charlo

Zach Urness

Leader Staff

The most impressive thing about Amanda Murphy’s performance at the state tournament was not that she won both the shot put and the discus. It was not that it was her third and fourth state titles. It was not the fact that it put the icing on a career in which she won either the disc or the shot in every meet she entered and it was not the fact that she set yet another Charlo High School record.

No, the most impressive thing about Murphy’s performance at this year’s state tournament in Missoula was that her winning mark in the shot put, 41 feet and nine inches, not only won her the class C crown, but also would have won her the class AA, A and B state titles. And her winning mark in the discus, 131 feet and six inches, not only beat her closest competitor by better then 15 feet, it would have won her the state A and B crowns.

“I was very excited and kind of relieved,” said Murphy. “My back was killing me the day before, but I came in and got warmed up early. By the time I was ready to go I felt pretty fresh and really had the adrenaline going.”

Those performances, along with a state championship from Adri Hammond in the pole vault who, with a spring of 10 feet and six inches, nearly broke the class C record, helped the Charlo girls score 47 team points and take fourth place overall.

“I couldn’t have asked for more,” said head coach Bret Thompson. “Watching Amanda and Adri break school records. We had a great meet.”

Hayley Carr also found her way to the medal stand at this year’s state meet, taking third place in the javelin with 113 feet and six inches.

“Hayley really came out of nowhere,” commented Thompson.

Rochelle Touissant also took third place in the high jump, hitting four feet and 10 inches. Stephanie Murphy, following in her sister’s footsteps, earned a fourth place finish in the shot put at 36 feet and two inches.

Stephanie Maughn rounded out the group of Charlo girls with a medal around their neck, as she took sixth place in the pole vault with a spring of eight feet and six inches.

“It was great to see some of the younger girls step up,” said Thompson, “the older girls set the tone and younger girls kind of followed in their path. It’s a good sign for next year.”

The boy’s team had an excellent first day on Friday, scoring 22 point which, at the time, was good enough to put them in a tie for first place. They couldn’t keep it up on the second day, however, and the Vikings ended the meet in eighth place.

Senior T.J Kerr led the way for the Charlo boys with a second place finish in the javelin, tossing the pointed spear 168 feet and one inch. He also competed in the shot put and discus.

The pole vault was a particularly good event for the boys, as J.P. Toussaint and Chance Firestone cleared 12 feet and six inches, good enough for second and third place respectively.

“Those younger boys, J.P and Chance, they’ll be something to watch for next year,” said Thompson.

Charlo will lose a number of talented athletes to graduation. The girls side will be hit the hardest, as Amanda Murphy, Adri Hammond, Hayley Carr, and Stevie-Leigh Sammons will all graduate.

But the girls will also return plenty of talented contributors like Rochelle Touissant, Mary Barnette, Megan Harriman, Stephanie Murphy, Jaris Kelley and Stephanie Maughn.

From the guys side T.J Kerr and Shadow Deveraux will graduate. Some of the boys who should make an impact next season include Cody Nitschke, Chance Firestone, and J.P Toussaint.