The Darby Tigers literally ran away with a state championship on Saturday with wins in the 200, 800, 1,600 and 3,200 races. Doug Raymer won the three distance races and Aaron Johnston won the 200. The two runners, plus Colton Johnston and Jeremy Campbell teamed up to place second in the 4×400 relay race.
The trophy, the first in the school’s history, was a sweet redemption for the team who had hoped to win last year but lost out after Sean Abrahamsen and Aaron Johnston became ill. Coach Steve Gideon said the team made winning the state championship this year a goal at their first meeting this spring.
“We have such a good group of kids,” he said. “Sarah (Jakober) was the valedictorian this year, Aaron (Johnston) was salutatorian and Sean Abrahamsen was number three in the class.”
He added that although Johnston didn’t get sick at the track meet, by Sunday morning he was so ill, he couldn’t give his salutatorian address at graduation on Sunday.
Darby held a one-point lead after the first day’s events. Raymer and Sean Abrahamsen finished first and second in the 1,600. Raymer clocked a 4:30.77 and Abrahamsen finished in 4:32.11. Raymer came back on Saturday and set a Class B record in the 800 at 1:55.27. Shawn McCracken of Conrad set the old record in 1985 at 1:56.50. Campbell was fourth in the 800.
The runners in the 3,200 meter race were many of the same that Raymer and Abrahamsen had run against last fall in cross country according to Gideon. “Doug was exhausted after the 800 and Sean really stepped up. He had the lead for five laps and really sacrificed for the team. I am so proud of him.”
Gideon said it was pretty evident with three laps to go that the Darby runners were in control of the race. Raymer took the 3,200 with a time of 10:03.49 and Sean Abrahamsen finished third.
On Friday, Pres Harris of Plentywood edged out Aaron Johnston in the 400 meter race by five one hundredths of a second. The 400 had been Johnston’s best race but after the 200 finals on Saturday, he may claim the 200 as his favorite now. He broke the tape at 22.88 to win the race and give the Tigers a comfortable margin for the team championship. Johnston finished fifth in the 100-meter race.
Darby finished the meet with 76 points. Manhattan was second with 53 points. Deer Lodge and Florence tied at 35 points each for third place. The Tigers were met in Darby with a grand hometown salute with fire trucks, sirens and a large crowd.
“It really made graduation and the win special for these kids,” said Gideon. He added that each of his assistant coaches had one athlete win a state championship. Nate Olson coached Johnston and Merv Smith coached Sarah Jakober.
Florence had several athletes who finished in the top six. Ross Mangun was third in the triple jump with an effort of 43 feet, 1 inch. Reed Jenkins finished right behind him with 42 feet, 8 inches. Mangun was fifth in the long jump with 20 feet, 1 inch. Madison Bolton was fifth in the 1,600-meter race with a time of 4:39.29. He finished sixth in the 800-meter race. Damon Ward finished second in the discus with a heave of 148 feet, 9 inches. Brandon Forson of Deer Lodge set a state record in that event with 178 feet, 4 inches. Dylan Reynolds was third in the 300 hurdles with a time of 40.44. The Florence 4×400 relay team finished in third place behind Manhattan and Darby. Manhattan had 3:24.15, Darby 3:28.61 and Florence 3:30.45.
On the girls’ side, Darby’s Sarah Jakober won the triple jump with a hop, skip and leap of 36 feet, 4 inches. She was fifth in the long jump with 16 feet, 1 inch.
Megan Leathers finished second in the shot put with 37, 4 inches, seven inches behind Ashley Medeiros of Loyola. Leathers was second in the discus as well with an effort of 119-4. Tess Porch was fifth in the 100-meter race.
Victor’s relay teams did well at the Class C meet in Missoula. The 4×400 relay team finished sixth and the 4×100 relay team was fourth. Kyle Ball was third in the triple jump with an effort of 43 feet, 1 ½ inch.