Young Wampus Cats hungry to improve in 2012

CLARK FORK — With apologies to Charles Bronson, Lee Marvin and Jim Brown, the Clark Fork track team has their own “Dirty Dozen” this season — as in just 12 athletes competing.

With only two seniors on the squad there is not a lot of experience, but a nucleus of young talent has Wampus Cats head coach Frank Hammersley excited about the team’s potential.

Leading the way will be junior Axel Anderson, who will do the shot put, discus and run the hurdles. Anderson has already put the shot more than 35 feet, and will have a chance to do well at districts and possibly earn a state berth.

The boys team is thin this year, with sophomore Nick Jones running the sprints and hurdles and freshman Brandon Bowen competing in the pole vault, where he has already cleared eight feet.

Leading the girls team will be freshman distance runner Megan Frazier, who Hammersley believes is already the top girls distance runner in the North Star League and has a bright future.

“She has endurance and is a hard worker,” said Hammersley. “She’s very dedicated to what she does.”

Senior Jessica Driver will do the 300 hurdles and the 200, and fellow senior Bella Kinney will run the 100 and put the shot. Danielle Lowry and Tapanga Ebel will both throw the shot and discus for the girls team.

Hammersley is hoping to take three athletes to state if all goes well this year.

“If Brandon can get over nine feet, he might be able to go,” said Hammersley, who thinks Anderson and Frazier should make it as well. “It’s a good group and they have fun. They’re all trying to help one another.”

The Cats have a new pole vault and high jump pit, as well as new shot put and discus areas, and will look to show off their new track when they host a North Star League meet on May 1.

The Cats are at the Kellogg Invite today.