Vikings, Lady Vikings capture multiple first-place finishes

The Charlo High School boy’s track team continued to carry their tradition of track excellence over into the Western Class 14-C District Tournament at Big Sky High School in Missoula.

The Vikings’ boy’s track team finished with a total of 10 first-place finishes Saturday afternoon and hope to carry their momentum over into the Western C Divisional Friday and Saturday at Frenchtown High School.

Charlo is stockpiled with top-tier talent directed by their MHSA Hall Of Fame coach Bret Thompson and one of their top-tier participants is also their most decorated athlete in the school, Landers Smith.

Smith captured three first-place individual finishes and two first-place team finishes in the 4X100 and 4X400 relays. Smith finished first in the 100-meter dash recording a time of 12.04 seconds and first in the 200-meter hurdles with a time of 24.50 seconds.

Smith has developed a reputation for being one of the top pole vault competitors in Western Montana and showcased his skill again at Districts, capturing his third first-place finish of the year clearing a distance of 12 feet.

Smith was also a member of the 4X100 relay team consisting of Garett Vaughan, Brock Tomlin, Toby Odom and Smith. The Vikings’ relay team finished first and recorded a time of 46.35 seconds.

Smith and company proceeded to capture first place in the 4X400 relay. The relay team consisting of Bridger Foust, Toby Odom, Isaiah Allik and Smith recorded a time of 3 minutes, 44.92 seconds.

Bridger Foust finished first in the 800-meters recording a time of 2 minutes, 14.38 seconds and he wasn’t the only first-place finish of his distance team.

Wills Degrandpre added two more first-place finishes at Districts in the distance events. Degrandpre placed first in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes, 50.45 seconds and the 3,200-meter run recording a time of 10 minute, 47.51 seconds.

Toby Odom captured first in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 43.64 seconds. Odom also finished third in the 100-meter dash recording a time of 12.16 seconds. Odom finished first in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 17.56 seconds.

There were also other performers that cashed in with top-five finishes. Brock Tomlin finished third in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.27 seconds and Allik finished fourth with a time of 26.37 seconds. Allik placed second in the 400-meter dash with a time of 57.42 seconds, a personal record.

Charlo isn’t as well known for its throwers but Sam Fowler emerged in the discus by placing fifth with a personal record in the shot put recording a throw of 33 feet, 9 inches.

Riley Richards placed second in the discus with a throw of 102 feet, 2 inches and Brock Tomlin placed fourth in the javelin with a throw of 122 feet, 10 inches.

Other Charlo performers that turned in top-five performances included Darian Liberty, who finished fifth with a distance of 16 feet, 9.50 inches and Liberty placed third in the triple jump recording a time of 37 feet, 7 inches.

The Vikings also had three top-five finishers in the pole vault including Bridger Foust, who finished second and recorded a distance of 10 feet, 6 inches, another personal record. Vaughan finished third and cleared a distance of 10 feet and Roper Edwards finished fourth clearing a distance of 9 feet, 6 inches.

The Charlo boys will have one more opportunity to perform before State on May 18-19 at the Western Class C Divisionals at Frenchtown High School.

Lady Vikes excel in District

The Charlo High School Lady Vikings captured ten first-place finishes on May 11-12 at Western 14-C Districts.

Lady Vikings track participant Tyrah Hammond is closing in on peaking at the right time and at Districts she had three individual first-place finishes in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 400-meter dashes.

Hammond recorded a time of 13.30 seconds in the 100-meters, first in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.37 seconds and first in the 400-meter dash with a time of 1 minute, 2.81 seconds.

Destiny Manuel is another runner that had first-place finishes in the 800-meter run and 1,600-meter run. Manual recorded a time of 2 minutes, 42.72 seconds, a personal record in the 800-meters and first in the 1,600-meter run with a time of 6 minutes, 26.12 seconds.

The Lady Vikes’ freshman Carlee Fryberger placed first in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.24 seconds. Kaitlin Cox finished second in the 100 with a 17.23 seconds and Allie Delaney finished third recording a time of 18.23 seconds.

Delaney set a personal record in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 52 seconds and Kira McPhail finished third in the 300 with a time of 53.71 seconds.

The Lady Vikings showcased their speed in the 4X100 relay and 4x400 relay with two first-place finishes. The 4X100 team that consisted of Cox, Hammond, Manuel and Fryberger recorded a time of 52.57 seconds and in the 4X400 Manuel, Cox, Delaney and McPhail finished with a time of 4 minutes, 36.53 seconds.

Liev Smith set a personal record with a throw in the shot put of 28 feet, 9.25 inches for fourth place.

Other first-place finishes for the Lady Vikes came in the jumping events with Kaitlin Cox and Carlee Fryberger. Cox set a personal record in the long jump with a distance of 16 feet, 1.50 inches and Fryberger finished first in the triple jump clearing a distance of 35 feet, 1.75 inches. Cox also finished second in the triple jump with a distance of 33 feet, 11.50 seconds.