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Bigfork's Track Team Shines at Hamilton Invitational Despite Weather Disruptions

Bigfork Takes Third in Shortened Meet

The Bigfork boys' track team delivered a strong third-place finish at the Hamilton Invitational, amassing 54 points—just three behind the winning team—despite the meet being cut short by inclement weather. Only 14 of the usual 17 events were completed, making every point count.

Sprint Dominance from Bigfork

Bigfork’s Robert Merchant, Quinn Kerr, and Tayden West commanded the 100 meters, finishing in a 1-2-3 sweep:

• Robert Merchant blazed across the line in 11.26 seconds, a standout performance in the sprints.

The Final Standings: A Nail-Biter at the Top

The tight competition led to an ultra-close finish, with Hamilton securing the win by just a single point:

• 🥇 Hamilton – 57 points
• 🥈 Corvallis – 56 points
• 🥉 Bigfork – 54 points
• 🏅 Columbia Falls – 34 points (Joe West dominated the javelin with a throw of 161-5).

On the girls' side, the competition was just as fierce:

• 🥇 Miles City – 73.33 points
• 🥈 Boulder – 64 points
• 🥉 Frenchtown – 48.33 points

Standout Performers Shine Across Events

Individual Highlights

• Tamret Savik (Corvallis) – A triple jump record leap of 45 feet, 6 inches, plus a second-place high jump finish.
• Henry Griffin (Frenchtown) – Showcased brute force in the throws:
• Shot Put: 56-3
• Discus: 175-6
• Joe West (Columbia Falls) – Javelin champion with a toss of 161-5.
• Easton Brooks (Hamilton) – Long jump runner-up, just an inch behind at 20-5.
• Ginger Bergland (Whitefish) – Crushed the 300 hurdles in a winning time of 46.96.
• Olivia Cottet (Polson) – Personal best performance in the discus, hurling 119-1 to take gold.

Bigfork’s Competitive Edge

Beyond the sprint sweep, Bigfork’s depth proved crucial in their overall placement, with multiple contributors stepping up in the shortened format.

Weather may have cut the meet short, but the spirits of these athletes? Not even close.