Charlo, Arlee boys track teams excel in Divisionals, prep for state
Charlo High School’s reputation in track and field dates back to now over three decades, and the Vikings did nothing but further cement it’s long-standing reputation in the Montana High School Class C Divisional track meet Thursday and Friday at MCPS Stadium in Missoula.
An abundantly talented Noxon team edged the Charlo boys out of placing in the top three, but Charlo still had plenty of individual performers they showcased at Divisionals.
Degrandpre dominates distance
Charlo runner Wills Degrandpre set a personal record in the 3,200-meter run and placed first in both distance events.
Degrandpre finished first in the 1,600, recording a time of 4:32.13 seconds, and he didn’t stop there.
Degrandpre set a personal record with a time of 10:14.98 finishing first in the 3,200.
Arlee High School’s Sage Nicolai, a sophomore, placed ninth setting a personal record in the 3,200 with a time of 11:23.05.
Vaughan excels in hurdles
Throughout the years, Garett Vaughan has made a lot of headlines as one of Charlo’s standout football players, but what has made the senior successful on the gridiron is his blazing speed.
Vaughan showcased his speed and athleticism that has made him such a critical member of the Vikings’ football team over the last couple of years by placing in the top-five in the 110-meter hurdles.
Vaughan placed fourth in the 110 hurdles run with a time of 17:41.
Vaughan’s teammate Landers Smith, who was the star quarterback for the Vikings and is now signed to play football at Montana Tech University, finished second in the 300 hurdles recording a time of 42.08.
Vaughan also finished sixth in the event with a time of 44.51.
Vikings’ relay team excels
The Vikings 4X100 relay team and 4X400 relay team both had top-10 finishes.
The 4X100 relay team consisting of Braydon Zempel, Isaiah Allik, Vaughan and Smith finished fourth with a time of 46.28. The 4X400 relay team of Vaughan, Allik, Degrandpre and Nick Daugherty finished sixth with a time of 3:48.06.
Daugherty finished in top-10 in jav
Charlo competitor Nick Daugherty recorded a distance of 141-06, finishing sixth in the javelin competition at Divisionals.
Daugherty, now a junior, overcame a traumatic concussion following his sophomore season to now compete on Montana’s biggest stage.
Liberty, Stringer finish in top-10 in the high jump
Charlo’s Darien Liberty and Arlee competitor Garett Stringer tied for eighth place in the MHSA Western Class C Divisional high jump competition.
Liberty and Stringer both cleared a height of 5-06 for a tie. It was a personal record for Liberty
Smith, Vaughan excel in pole vault
Charlo High School’s Landers Smith and Garett Vaughan have both excelled in the pole vault for the last couple of seasons.
This year, Smith has continued to step up his game in one of track’s most volatile events.
Smith captured first place, recording a height of 12-00, and Vaughan finished fourth with a height of 11-00.
Stringer, Smith shine at long jump
Arlee’s Garrett Stringer is beginning to carve a name for himself in track, and he further built his reputation when he edged out Charlo’s Landers Smith in the long jump competition.
Stringer recorded a distance of 19-07.75 to finish fifth. Smith finished eighth with a length of 18-07.75.
Liberty also finished tenth in the triple jump with a cumulative distance of 37-00.