Merchant, Austin Savik help Vikings to first-day lead
FRENCHTOWN — Bigfork still has its foot on the gas and leads the boys portion of the Western A Divisional track and field meet after Friday’s action. With Robert Merchant hitting personal records in both the 100 (10. 79 seconds in the prelims) and 400 (48.
78), Bigfork had 46 points after nine events at the two-day meet. Polson (35 points), Corvallis (34) and Columbia Falls (31) sit 2-3-4. Southwest A teams held the top four spots in the girls team standings: Hamilton had 45 points after eight events, followed by Corvallis (39), Stevensville (28) and Frenchtown (26).
Columbia Falls (23), Polson (22) and Whitefish (14) are 5-6-7. Merchant, who will run the 100 and 200 on Saturday, already owned the fastest times in A in all three sprints. He also had company at the top of the podium in Austin Savik, who hit his PR in the 110 hurdles: 15.
23. Quinn Kerr, Savik, Tayden West and Merchant also teamed to win the 400-meter relay in 42. 77.
West clocked 50. 67 in the 400, taking third. Tamret Savik leapt 20 feet, 10 inches to take second in the long jump to Dillon’s Canin Christiansen (22-1); he’ll have the triple jump Saturday.