Charlo community helps school, designs fun run
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
The Charlo football field fills with water in the spring months, and the Charlo Community Outdoor Complex board is raising funds to update the field and track and help prevent it from becoming what is often called a soggy mess.
Karen Peterson
courtesy photo
Charlo student Allie Delaney displays the design she created for the race-day shirts that will have a purple and white color scheme.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
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The Charlo community is pulling together to help the school upgrade the outdoor sports complex, and in an effort to raise a portion of the funds to make it happen, they are holding several races called the Ultimate Viking Challenge – competition is optional.
“With budget cuts over the years, the school has no money for this (improvement) project,” said Christy Bockman, Charlo Community Outdoor Complex board member and event coordinator.
The school will have complete ownership of the project when it’s finished. “It’s part of the school and the school will own it and oversee it,” she said. “We are raising money and doing the work for them.”
The race will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 25, at the Charlo track, which is the site of the future Charlo Sports Complex when it’s finished. Different race distances are mapped out with a 1-mile fun run, a 5K, and a 10K. The 5K will include a fun obstacle course at the end developed by Charlo student athletes and coaches. Participants and vendors can sign up until the race starts. Registration is set at $25 with a shirt and $15 without it.
“We want everyone to come out and participate, even if they don’t race,” she said.
Participants are encouraged to wear purple or dress like a Viking or wear the event shirt with its purple color scheme. Allie Delaney won the shirt design contest at the school.
“All the designs were really amazing,” Bockman said. During the event, several venders will be set up with things like health screens, including blood pressure checks and glucose readings provided by St. Luke Community Healthcare, Providence Health Services, and Missoula Bone and Joint.
The CCOC says their plan is to raise funds for a safe lifelong recreational complex for all ages. They are working to raise about $400,000 to upgrade the football field and the track in two phases. Construction on the first phase is set to begin in April, weather permitting. It includes plans to resurface and re-crown the football filed with sod, plant grass on the south end of the football field, and install an underground sprinkler system. The CCOC has raised $70,000 for that project, and are now working on raising money for the second phase that will include new all-weather track surfacing and lighting.
Bockman said it’s been about 45 years since the school’s outdoor sports area had any major improvements. “It’s really needed.” For more information or race registration, call Bockman at 406-260-8072 or at cbcc73@gmail.com. The Ultimate Viking Challenge and the Charlo Sports Complex also have Facebook pages with registration information.
