Charlo Track: The final chapter

by Dylan Kitzan & Leader Reporter
| May 24, 2012 11:00 AM

After heading down to Corvallis for the divisional tournament and seeing nine athletes place in the top two in their respective events, the Charlo track and field team heads to state with high hopes of bringing home some gold.

Once again, the Vikings were led by a dominant Stephen Delaney, who won the 200-meter dash (22.90), the 110 hurdles (15.01) and 300 hurdles (39.74) and took second in the 400-meter race (51.18), leading Charlo’s boys to a second-place finish of the 20 teams with 75 points.

“I’m hoping he’s able to continue what he’s been doing,” head coach Bret Thompson said. “He’ll put everything on the line. Track is his thing and he knows he has to be prepared mentally and physically. He doesn’t mind hard work and hopefully it’ll pay off for him as a senior.”

Tra Ludeman finished just behind Delaney in the 110 hurdles (16.18) while Kail Pope earned a state berth with his fifth-place finish in the 300 hurdles (43.01).

“Kail surprised the kids he beat out more than he surprised us,” Thompson said. “That was just a great thing for him. For Tra, it was business as usual, right behind Stephen. He’s been plagued with injury for about a month, but we’re expecting a fast time from him.”

Webb O’Neill is also heading to state as he continues to, literally, set the bar in the pole vault. After jumping around 12 feet for most of the season, O’Neill reached 13’ two weeks ago at districts and raised the bar to 13’3” at divisionals last weekend. O’Neill also narrowly missed out on a state appearance in the triple jump, improving to 41’1.5” which netted him sixth place. Unfortunately, the top five in each event move on to Butte.

“His first attempt at the pole vault was a little shaky, but then he started jumping really well,” Thompson said.

Both Viking relay teams look like threats to compete at state. The short relay team won once again, this time in 45.47 seconds, while the long relay team earned third with an impressive time of 3:38.81.

The Lady Vikings, meanwhile, took fourth of 22 teams, scoring 46.5 points while sending five athletes to state in individual events.

“When we added Darby, Superior and Manhattan-Christian, it changed our division makeup and their strengths mirror our strengths,” Thompson said. “If they’re not there, we have more girls qualify. I was a little disappointed with the girls’ placings, but their times were really good. Now, it’s just a matter of getting to the finals at state.”

Deondra Brown and Aspen Runkel will be at state in two different solo events. Brown took fourth in the 100-meter dash (13.64) and fifth in the 200 (28.04) to qualify, while Runkel raced to third in the 400 (1:02.85) and fourth in the 300 hurdles (48.99).

Runkel also missed out on an opportunity to qualify in the 100 hurdles when teammate Rachel Hoyt edged her by the slimmest of margins (16.77 to 16.78) for the final spot in that event.

“Aspen was a little disappointed after placing at state last year,” Thompson said. “Rachel has made improvements all year and her times are down.”

Dawn Blevins remained steady in the javelin with a 119’8” toss to finish third, while Jordan Ludeman’s eight-foot pole vault nabbed fourth-place. Charlo’s short relay finished second in 52.64 seconds while the 1,600 relay, now comprised of Brown, Runkel, Hoyt and Ludeman, underwent emergency changes to the lineup, then ran its best time of the season to finish second in 4:15.53. Blevins was sick and couldn’t run, while Madison Foust couldn’t go while battling a back injury.

“Their backs were to the wall trying to earn a spot,” Thompson said. “It was a different mix, but maybe it’s the right mix.”

Foust was part of that shuffle and prior to getting hurt took sixth in the 400 in one of her better times of the season (1:04.59).

“She was supposed to be on our relay team and have an opportunity to improve on that time,” Thompson said. “She’s made improvements across the board this season.”

Hoyt also narrowly missed out on a trip to state in the high jump, taking sixth with a 4’8” leap. Getting ready for the state tournament, Thompson has high hopes, figuratively, for his runners and throwers and literally for his jumpers.

“I want them to compete,” Thompson said of his teams. “At this point, we can only do what we’re able to do. It’s going to be cold and wet; forecasts have highs at about 48. The boys and girls will have to be ready for not just the people, but also the weather. They’ll do the best they can.”