A 400 to remember
Charlie Knapp, right, became only the second Montana runner this year to clock a sub-50 second 400. Knapp finished with a time of 49.99.
Beca Gunderson runs down the track in the mile race coming in third place.
Preston Chubert clears a hurdle in the 110 hurdles at Divisionals in Missoula.
Hope Reid set a personal record in the high jump at divisionals when she cleared 5 feet, which gave her a first place finish.
Charlie Knapp left the crowd at Big Sky Stadium speechless on Friday. It was a singular athletic performance that doesn't come along very often.
For only the second time this season a Montanan athlete ran a sub 50s 400 (49.99) and Knapp made it look easy.
Charlie Knapp left the crowd at Big Sky Stadium speechless on Friday. It was a singular athletic performance that doesn't come along very often.
For only the second time this season a Montanan athlete ran a sub 50s 400 (49.99) and Knapp made it look easy.
"The guy is a pretty naturally gifted runner and he makes it look easy. And I do believe he has the opportunity to do it at the next level," says Coach Randy Symon, who called the race a little piece of history. It set the Thompson Falls record in the event.
Knapp, who is in his first year of track, began to turn heads early in the season with his incredible leaping ability in the long and triple jump. However it has only been in the last couple meets that he began running the 400, which according to Coach Symon was a methodical plan to develop the budding star.
"We very carefully and methodically moved him towards the events that we knew he was going to be successful in," says Coach Symon. "It was a project in the works."
Now Thompson Falls may have an absolute juggernaut on the field. At the Divisional Meet Knapp accumulated a total of 44 points, which included three firsts, a second and a third place finish.
The 44 points was nearly half of the Bluehawks 99 points, good enough for a second place finish.
Alongside Knapp, 11 other Bluehawks placed in the meet including Steve Block who should be in contention at the state meet in the pole vault and Will Dalby who has a great chance to take home the javelin crown.
There were also a few key surprises for the Bluehawks. Cody Phillips, a sophomore on the team, had a personal record in the pole vault and the javelin to qualify in both events and Dominic Holt and Preston Chubert both qualified for state as freshman. The three underclassmen should create a great foundation for the Bluehawks future as they gain valuable experience in Laurel this weekend.
On the girls' side Hope Reid highlighted five girls heading to the state meet. The fantastic freshman, who does most of her damage in the hurdles, has had a goal all year long to compete at the same level as Mallery Knoll of Bigfork.
On Saturday the goal was reached as she ran what Coach Symon calls "the perfect race" and bested the talented Val in the 100 hurdles to win the event with a time of 15.89.
"Hope ran the perfect race and ended up coming out on top and hopefully she'll have the chance to repeat that performance next weekend," says Coach Symon.
Reid also won the high jump with a personal record of 5 feet and placed second in the 300 hurdles.
Along with Reid, Beca Gunderson placed in the 800 and the mile and should compete for a top-four finish at state in the 800.
Mariah Naegeli also made it in the two-mile and Allison Vaught and Elizabeth Fairweather made it in the discus and the shot put respectively.
Questions or comments on this story can be directed to Matt Unrau at editor@vp-mi.com.