Hurdling towards the postseason

Charlo track teams cap off successful week of track meets, have

eyes set at districts

RONAN - The Charlo boys had seven county champions last Tuesday, May 3, as the Vikings took second as team at the Lake County Invitational in Ronan.

Stephen Delaney continued his dominance in the hurdles by placing first in the 110 (15.69) and 300 hurdles (44.38), and Chance Rosenbaum placed first in the 800 (2:10.38) and pole vault (12-0).

"I think he's done really well with the type of weather we've been having, and when that's better those times should get better," Charlo head coach Brett Thompson said of Delaney.

The Vikings also saw Chico Stipe take first in the 200 (24.36) and first in both the 400 (45.31) and 1,600-meter relays (3:41.04).

On the girls side, Charlo placed second in the meet thanks to a deep roster of athletes.

Deondra Brown took second in the 100 (13.36) and third in the 200 (28.65) while Mackenzie Foust placed second in the 3,200-meter run (14:49). Aspen Runkel placed second in the 100 hurdles (16.83) and Rachel Hoyt took second in the 300 hurdles (52.70). Dawn Blevins took second in the Javelin (108-11) and both relay teams took second in their respective events as well.

Charlo has done well against bigger schools and that should bode well for them at the Class C districts today in Polson.

Thompson hopes that the experience will help his kids for the high-level of the district track meet.

"It's the reason they've been going to all the track meets with bigger teams," Thompson said. "I think that we've been pretty lucky, we've got some good kids and they work hard."

Thompson also pointed out that Charlo's numbers have helped them compete against the bigger schools and that districts will be the first time that the entire team is together.

At the Seeley Swan Invitational on Saturday, Delaney once again scored plenty of points for Charlo as he placed second in the 100 (11.87), first in the 100 hurdles (15.85) and first in the 300 hurdles (40.68).

Delaney also helped the Vikings place first in the 400-meter relay (45.18) and second in the 1,600-meter relay (3:36.57). Chance Rosenbaum also placed first in the pole vault (12-

6) and fifth in the 800 (2:12.71). Thompson also added that Charlo has two other great pole vaulters in Webb O'Neill and Jacen Peterson.

"The vaults for our boys has been good in general," Thompson said.

Michael Smith took second for the Vikings in the 3,200 (10:33) and fifth in the 1,600 (4:53.23).

"I think the kids are ready to get things going for the end

of the year," Thompson said.

For the girls, Aspen Runkel took first in the 400 (63.80) and the Lady Vikings won the 1,600 meter relay (4:24.10) en route to a fourth-place meet finish.

Runkel also placed third in the 100 hurdles (17.17). Dawn Blevins took second in the 800 (2:34.25) and second in the javelin (107-4). Deondra Brown had two fifth place finishes in the short races and Charlo also placed third in the 400-meter relay (53.97).

Rachel Hoyt placed third in the high jump (5-0) and Jordan Ludeman placed sixth in both the 300 hurdles (53.10) and the pole vault (7-6).

"We're really young and our freshman have done really well getting points for us," Thompson said. "It's going to be exciting in the future and they've definitely done well this year."

Thompson said that practices this week have been a little bit quicker with less emphasis on conditioning and more on the individual events.