State Champs: Charlo Track

MISSOULA - After last Friday, Charlo was sitting in third place

behind Fort Benton and Joliet in the Class C state track meet boys

team scores.

MISSOULA - After last Friday, Charlo was sitting in third place behind Fort Benton and Joliet in the Class C state track meet boys team scores.

That was, of course, before the bulk of the running events had taken place.

"We thought we had a good chance to place in all the running events," Charlo track and field head coach Bret Thompson said. "The bulk of our events were going to end up on Saturday."

On the Saturday, Senior Austin Bauer helped the Vikings by taking fourth in the 100 (11.85) while Chance Rosenbaum placed third in the 800 (2:02.41). Bauer also placed third in the high jump (20-8) on Friday.

In the hurdle events, Charlo got a bagful of points after Stephen Delaney took first in both the 110 (15.43) and 300 hurdles (40.01). He placed third in the 400-meter dash (51.51) the day before.

"He scored 26 points by himself," Thompson said. "We're not in the trophies without it. That's what he did."

Counting the points won by the relays teams of which he was a member of, Delaney accounted for 46 of Charlo's 72 points.

Michael Smith anchored the Vikings distance efforts, placing fourth in the 3,200 (10:32.10) and 1,600 (4:43.11), the latter being held the day before.

On Friday, Charlo saw an impressive showing from freshman Jacen Peterson, who took fifth in the pole vault (12-6).

"It was the two points that was the difference before the relays," Thompson said. "He hung in there and got us two."

The Vikings had a slim 62-60 lead going into the 1,600-meter relay. The Vikings had to outrace Joliet in order to win their first state championship since 1972 and they did just that as Tyler Delaney, Rosenbaum, Stipe and Stephen Delaney combined for their best time of the season, 3:31.22 for first place and the title.

"It was pretty intense," Thompson said. " The kids knew what they needed to do. We came into it with the approach that it was an event that we needed to win."

Stipe bettered his leg time by two seconds while Rosenbaum ran one second faster than he had before in the race. They certainly knew how to perform on a dramatic stage as the Charlo fans and team members had gathered around the track to watch the final showdown.

"They all know what was at stake," Thompson said. "There was a lot of celebrating."

That would have also taken second in the Class A track meet held at the very same site. Where Charlo made the biggest impact was in the relays. They 400-meter relay saw Tra Ludeman, Chico Stipe Bauer and Stephen Delaney combine for an impressive first place time of 43.82.

It was a victory that set fire a team celebration and latter that day, a cascade of sirens and celebration that greeted them beginning in Moeise.

"The kids were excited," Thompson said. "It was something totally new to them."

GIRLS

Charlo track coach Mike Krahn probably said it best when it came to the Lady Vikings' comeback win in the 1,600 meter relay for first place (4:14.54).

"It's the icing on the cake."

Charlo finished fourth at state and flipped fate after they had been beaten by a comeback relay push by Seeley Swan at the divisional tournament. The team was comprised of Aspen Runkel, Deondra Brown, Rachel Hoyt and Dawn Blevins.

The big performer was Runkel, who placed five times. She took fourth in the 400 (61.50), fifth in the 100-meter hurdles (16.46) and second in the 300 hurdles (47.14). She was also a member of both relay teams that placed highly at state.

"That was five medals around her neck," Thompson said.

The 400-meter relay team finished third (52.24) and was less than a half second from finishing first.

CHARLO SAYS GOODBYE TO SOLID GROUP OF SENIORS

Chico Stipe? Chance Rosenbaum? Austin Bauer? Joel Lewis? Michael Smith? You will be missed.

"They were all needed, and then there was their leadership on and off the field," Thompson said. "There will be some big shoes to fill next year."

The boys helped their football team make a run through the state playoffs this year, while also making their wrestling

and basketball teams intimidating forces.

In the town of Charlo, you could look up to these guys.

"You'd see it at the elementary-aged students, they'd all pick a senior of who they wanted to be out on the playground," Thompson said. "They're good examples."

It's perhaps the best sendoff for these guys, a state championship, and now their accomplishments will be hanging in the rafters in the form of a banner for future Vikings to see.

"It's tough to see the seniors go and it's exciting to see what we have coming back next year," Thompson said.

For more photos of Class C track action, check out www.

leaderadvertiser.com.

STATE C RESULTS at

Missoula County Stadium

BOYS

Team scores: Charlo 72, Joliet 60, Fort Benton 50, Chinook 28, Wibaux 26, Simms 24, Twin Bridges 23, Noxon 20, Roberts 18, Winnett-Grass Range 17, Ennis 16, Terry 14, Hinsdale-Saco 12, Victor 11, Centerville 10, St. Regis 10, Shields Valley 9, Belt 8, Lima 8, Power 8, Reed Point-Rapelje 8, Roy-Winifred 8, St. Labre 8, Drummond 7, North Star 7, Whitewater 7, Bainville 6, Sunburst 6, Broadview-Lavina 5, Culbertson 4, Park City 4, White Sulphur Springs 3, Harlowton 2, Westby-Grenora 2, Absarokee 1, Arlee 1,

Bridger 1, Dutton-Brady 1, Gardiner 1, Turner 1.

400 - 3. Stephen Delaney, Cha, 51.51. 1,600 - 4. Michael Smith, Cha, 4:43.11. Long jump - 3, Austin Bauer, Cha, 20-8. Pole vault - 5. Jacen Peterson, Cha, 12-6.

100 - 4. Austin Bauer, Cha, 11.85. 800 - 3. Chance Rosenbaum, Cha, 2:02.41. 3,200 - 4. Michael Smith,

Cha, 10:32.10. 110 hurdles - 1, Stephen Delaney, Cha, 15.43. 300 hurdles - 1. Stephen Delaney, Cha,

40.01. 400 relay - 1, Charlo (Tra Ludeman, Chico Stipe, Austin Bauer, Stephen Delaney) 43.82. 1,600

relay - 1, Charlo (Tyler Delaney, Chance Rosenbaum, Chico Stipe, Stephen Delaney) 3:31.22. Shot put - 6.

Brady Potts, Arl, 45-7.

GIRLS

Team scores: Fairview 50, Joliet 40, Shields Valley 36, North Star 35, Charlo 31, Harrison 29, Belt 22

_, Lima 22, Terry 22, Seeley-Swan 21 _, Winnett-Grass Range 21, Chinook 20, Richey-Lambert 20,

Drummond 15, West Yellowstone 14, Big Sandy 12, White Sulphur Springs 12, Custer 10, Fromberg 10,

Geraldine 10, Power 10, Roberts 8, Wibaux 8, Augusta 6, Circle 6, Denton 6, Hinsdale-Saco 6, Melstone

5, Arlee 4, Savage 4, Centerville 2, Chester-JI 2, Fort Benton 2, Twin Bridges 2, Noxon 1, Park City 1,

Willow Creek 1.

400 - 4. Aspen Runkel, Cha, 61.50. 100 hurdles - 5. Aspen Runkel, Cha, 16.46; 6. Schaelyn Fell, Cha,

16.79. 300 hurdles - 2. Aspen Runkel, Cha, 47.14. 400 relay - 3. Charlo 52.24. 1,600 relay - 1, Charlo

(Aspen Runkel, Deondra Brown, Rachel Hoyt, Dawn Blevins) 4:14.54. Javelin - 4. Becca Nelson, Arl, 120-1.