On May 25, 2024, Bigfork sophomore Robert Merchant clocked 11.23 seconds in the 100 meters, good for sixth place at the State A track and field championships.

In 2025 a hamstring went on him, and he managed just four high school meets. His best 100 in that span lasted 11.48 seconds. 

Not great. Not like now. 

On Tuesday at the Russ Pilcher Top 10 meet in Missoula, Merchant zipped through the 100 in a career-best 10.99. 

“I was hoping for a 10.8, just to give myself that kind of boost,” he said after anchoring Bigfork’s four-by-1 relay that finished fourth. “Still felt like a good race.” 

He had a better one: Later that afternoon he won the 200 in 21.71 seconds, which set the meet record and stands as the best time in Montana regardless of class.  

To what does he owe this rediscovered speed? First, he mentioned God. “Last year I was hurt all year. It helped me grow closer to Him,” he said. 

Secondly, he worked hard over the winter months, including with an indoor track club.  

No, not Stumptown.

“I started my own,” Merchant said. “We had a decent amount of kids show up. It was fun.” 

“It was his Senior Project,” Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said. “And he did an awesome job with it.” 

English teacher and former Wyoming Cowboy multi-eventer Caleb Seeton coached; Tamret Savik worked out, Merchant said, along with a group of freshmen who wanted to prepare for their first outdoor season. 

The Saviks, Tamret and Austin, were already well-known quantities. Add in senior Tayden West — he ran the 200 in 22.61 Tuesday, the No. 3 time in Class A — and junior Quinn Kerr and you have the potential for 90-plus points at State. Only twice in the last 10 meets has the A boys champion scored that many.  

“We’ve just got to stay healthy,” Loeffler noted. “Because on the track there’s only four of them.” 

Back to Merchant. All this has had smaller schools calling, but he’s admitted to Clemson University in South Carolina. He’s going for academics, but he’d love to earn his stripes on the track.  

“I think the 400 will be my ticket,” he said. Yet the only 400s he ran this year have come within the short relay. Loeffler plans to enter him and West in that open 400 at Saturday’s Bigfork Invitational. 

Kerr, West, Austin Savik and Merchant make up the two fastest relays in Class A, and it’s worth noting that group has run a total of one open 400 (Savik). Seems like a couple could add an event and even more points. 

That happens, and the Vikings are liable to win their first boys state title since 1985. We don’t see why not; not many programs have a Tiger in their tank. 

Sports Editor Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 406-758-4463 or [email protected].