Charlo track and field shows skills at meet

MISSOULA - In the first track meet of the season, the Charlo track team set the bar high for upcoming meets with many athletes picking up where they left off last season.

The Charlo boys' placed third last Wednesday at the Jim Johnson Invitational with 83.5 points following Thompson Falls, which scored 93.5, and Darby, which finished first with 114. The invitational took place in Missoula at Dornblaser Field.

The Charlo girls' team didn't have any competing seniors at the meet and were one of the youngest teams, ending the day in fifth place.

Charlo track and field head coach Bret Thompson said things are only going to get better as the season progresses.

"We had some boys that weren't able to compete because of academic responsibilities; their return to the team in the upcoming weeks is only going to make the boys' team stronger," he said.

Thompson said the girls' team has much potential to grow this season.

"The girls ran very well," he said. "They were running times this first meet that matched the end of last season."

Another athlete who almost matched his success from last year was Jame Petersen on the pole vault.

Petersen jumped 12-6, taking first place in the pole vault. His best height last season was 13 feet. Chance Firestone took second place in the vault jumping 11-6.

The boy's 400-meter relay team finished second, only a tenth of a second behind Darby. Thompson said considering that two of the four runners went to state last year, he expects the relay team to finish stronger in the future.

"We are still trying some guys out for that relay," he said. "We don't have a set relay team yet."

Thompson said with the weather warming up, the team should have more time to get outside and practice their individual events. He said the team's running shape needs to improve in the upcoming weeks as well.

Other top finishers for Charlo were Chance Rosenbaum, who finished fourth in the 800m race, with a time of 2:11.27. Michael Smith ran a 5:12.59 finishing sixth in the 1600m race and finished fourth in the 3200m race with a time of 11:07.21.

Tra Ludeman ran a 46.91 finishing third in the 300m hurdles. Ludeman also finished fifth in the high jump with a leap of 5-4. Austin Bauer tied for fourth in the long jump with a length of 18-1.

Top finishers for the girls were Deondra Brown, who finished fourth with a time of 13.72 in the 100m race. She also finished sixth in the 400m race with a time of 1:09.03. Brittany Shaver ran a 2:40.67 finishing second in the 800m race. Shaver finished third in the 1600m race with a time of 6:01.40.

Alex Esterby placed sixth in the shot put with a throwing distance of 27-4, 3/4. She also placed fifth in discuss throwing 85-9.

Charlo's next track meet is at 9 a.m. on April 10 in Frenchtown.