AA track: GFH’s Harris, Klinker earn state titles

BUTTE – Great Falls High’s Reed Harris and Scott Klinker both saved the best for last.

The senior Harris took his first state title with a victory in the 200-meter dash in his final race as a Bison, while Klinker landed a career-best leap to claim the triple jump title as the Class AA state track meet concluded here Saturday.

Harris’ victory in the 200 at Bulldog Memorial Stadium came by a razor-thin margin as he edged Billings Senior’s Tanner Macy by 0.09 seconds to earn a personal-best time of 21.87.

The Boston College football commit trailed Macy early but closed in the final stretch to take the win.

“I was a little nervous coming around the corner because (Macy) was so far ahead of me,” said Harris, who also took second in the 100. “I just needed to keep my form good and stay smooth because I knew if I would’ve tightened up I wouldn’t have passed him.”

The individual title caps a star career for Harris, who earned multiple All-State nods in football and was also all-conference in basketball as a junior.

“It’s honestly been a great last four years,” Harris said. “There’s been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of things to learn but I think at the end of the day there’s just good things to think about and take away from and the lessons that I’ve learned. It’s been an honor to represent Great Falls High.”

Klinker hit a career-best jump in his final rep of the season, leaping 46 feet, 10.5 inches for the title, his third All-State finish of the meet including long jump (5th) and high jump (T-6th).

Klinker’s mark was over three feet ahead of second-place finisher Brody Thornsberry of Kalispell Flathead (43-01.75) and beat his former PR by 1.5 inches. It was the first year the junior had competed in the event.

“I feel great,” Klinker said. “I was trying to work my way up to 47 (feet) but just got as far as I could. It’s just all this hard work and effort I’ve put in to triple jump and getting all the phases down was hard to do and once I got it, it felt so good.”

Great Falls High’s Ryan Harrington finished second in the 1600 with a time of 4:15.09, also setting a personal record.

The junior crossed the finish line third, after champion and new all-class record-holder Weston Brown (4:10.68) and teammate Nathan Neil. However, officials ruled that Neil illegally cut off Harrington at the start of lap four, resulting in disqualification.

Harrington, who hit another PR Friday in a third-place finish in the 3200, said he’s

The performance in the mile was the second career-best time of the weekend for Harrington, who also finished third in Friday’s 3200 behind Brown and Neil, respectively.

“It feels good, especially here at elevation it’s good to know that I’m still improving even from divisionals,” Harrington said.

Brown’s mile time beat Kalispell Flathead’s Jake Perrin’s previous all-class record of 4:12.06 set in 2016, and Neil’s time would have also broken that mark had it not been for the DQ. Harrington spoke with Neil and Brown in the infield following the race to curb any hard feelings.

“I have nothing but respect for (Neil) and he won that fair and square,” Harrington said.

The junior said he’s hungry to keep improving with one season left in his career.

“I’m always striving for records and looking for the next big milestone,” Harrington said. “The big things are obviously the state championship and that record.”

Wyatt DeVoss added an All-State discus finish to his résumé, finishing sixth with a personal-best heave of 157 feet, 1 inch. The all-time career sack leader in football for the Bison, DeVoss has committed to Montana Tech.

C.M. Russell High’s A.J. LaFurge earned third in the 110 hurdles with a time of 15.19 seconds, his second All-State finish in the event. He also made the podium in the 300 hurdles after entering as the eight-seed.

The Carroll College football and track signee finishes a fine career for the Rustlers that includes multiple state places in wrestling and an All-State selection at running back in football last fall.

“It’s great. I love CMR and I love all my boys that have been there, too,” LaFurge said. “It’s awesome to spend these last four years with my friends and just play sports that I love.”

Aizalyn Flaten garnered her first medal of her young career, taking third for the Rustlers. The freshman, also an All-State cross country runner for CMR, moved up three spots in the final after being seeded sixth.

“It feels good,” Flaten said. “This freshman year has been a little rough coming off of injury. So next year, I hope to get my other events (100 hurdles, 800) back to where they were.”Tristan Hiller also reached the podium for the Rustler boys, slinging the javelin 165 feet, 7 inches to take fifth.

Bozeman Gallatin and Helena Capital tied for the boys’ team championship with 63 points each, while the Helena High girls dominated for the trophy with 114 points.

This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montana AA state track: GFH’s Harris, Klinker earn state titles