Seniors will lead Charlo track team

Zach Urness

Leader Staff

After winning the district title and sending 15 athletes to state last season, the Charlo track and field team has once again set the bar high, and hopes to place in the top three in state and divisionals.

“Our ultimate goal is to win the whole thing,” said head coach Bret Thompson. “But just coming home with some hardware is nice. Another one of our goals is to get every kid to place in districts and divisionals.”

The Vikings will have a very good group of returning seniors on the girls’ side, led by two-time state champion Amanda Murphy, who took first prize in shot put a year after she won the discus.

“We’re hoping that she can win both this year,” said Thompson of Murphy’s drive toward her third and possibly fourth state championship trophy.

Charlo will also be led by Adri Hammond, a two-time state placer, and Hayley Carr, who placed in the long jump and the javelin. Stevie-Leigh Sammons also will return to help lead the team.

“We have a good group of seniors,” commented Thompson.

Rochelle Toussaint, who place in the high jump as a freshman, will look to continue her success this year.

The Vikings don’t return any state placers from the boys team, but Thompson said that he feels like seniors T.J Kerr and Shadow Deveraux will have an excellent chance this season.

“We think that they can get there this season,” said Thompson.

Thompson also noted that they have good numbers from the freshmen class coming out this season including nine girls and seven boys.

“We have some good freshmen on both the girls and boys teams,” he commented. “And they will provide some good talent for the future.”

But no matter how the season turns out, Thompson makes one guarantee to all of the athletes who come out for track and field.

“One of the things we tell out kids is that no matter what, they will be faster and stronger then they were at the beginning of the season,” he said.