Glacier’s Bernhardt balances books, band and the hurdles

The opening of the 2022 track and field season started well enough for Glacier’s Caleb Bernhardt, who smoothed through the 110-meter hurdles in 16.10 seconds.

Then came the 300s, and a pretty spectacular wipeout. Road rash was on special last Thursday at Glacier High School, and Bernhardt picked up a career’s worth.

“Both knees, both shoulders and his face,” Wolfpack boys coach Arron Deck said. “There were hurdles and body parts everywhere.”

Remarkably, Bernhardt got to his feet and finished the race, closing fast enough to take sixth out of 11 runners. That’s his favorite part. We know what his least favorite is.

“It was my first big one — I’ve had a couple stumbles here and there, but nothing like a crash-crash,” he said. “Little bit of a surprise to me.”

Bernhardt was talking after Glacier swept its Tuesday dual against Great Falls High. He swept the hurdles races, and won the 300 hurdles in 42.28.

“Faster in the 110s (15.98), and better in the 300s,” he said, then chuckled. “Didn’t fall this time.”

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The hurdles aren’t for the faint of heart, and make up a fairly tight-knit group. As a freshman Bernhardt ran behind the state’s best, Drew Deck (Arron’s son), who won the State AA title in the 300s as a junior in 2019.

“I got to have one season with him,” Bernhardt said. “I learned a lot from him. He’s definitely one of the people I look up to. I saw him go, and I wanted to go after him, make my own way, and try to beat some of his records.”

“Both of those kids lost a year with the Covid,” Coach Deck noted. “Those hurdlers are pretty close. There are not a lot of kids, in my opinion, that are tough enough to hurdle. So I appreciate the ones that do.”

The journey for Bernhardt began in the Highlander Track program, though it picked up more at Kalispell Middle School.

“Going over pool noodles isn’t really the same,” Bernhardt said. “Seventh and eighth grade I know I did all right. I know I wasn’t the fastest, but as far as form, I had it.”

His sophomore track and field season was erased by Covid-19, though he admits that maybe he wasn’t as prepared as he should have been.

In 2021 he made sure he was.

“Junior year I definitely expected to be better, but I surprised myself,” he said. “I kept PR-ing, and just kept going.”

His times were the best in AA until State — where Missoula Sentinel’s Drew Klumph edged him for the 300 hurdles title, 40.20 to 40.28.

“It’s definitely a bit of a rivalry,” he said. “I think he beat me more times, but until State I had the faster mark. He’s the one person I’m shooting for. Obviously I’ve got a little chip on my shoulder, especially after losing by .08.”

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Since that point Bernhardt redoubled his efforts, trying to complement his frame and form with strength.

“Having a height advantage helps,” Bernhardt said. “I want to say I’m 6-foot-2, because that's what I was last year. But after hitting the weight room, I’m 6-1, maybe 6-1 1/2. But I’m not 6-2 anymore.”

Told this, Deck laughs.

“That’s just him,” he said. “Most kids would have told you they were 6-2 1/2.”

Deck is pleased with how Tuesday went. “I was a little apprehensive, wondering how he was going to respond,” he said of Bernhardt. “It shows you what kind of athlete he is, and the mindset and personality he has.”

On top of that it was a quick change: The meet was moved from Friday to avoid a conflict with music festivals. Speaking of which…

“He came out and ran the 110 hurdles,” Deck said Tuesday. “And then he ran back in so he could attend seventh period.”

Seventh period was percussion band.

“Balancing band and track takes some sacrifices,” Bernhardt said. “But luckily we’ve dialed things in so I don’t have to miss too much.”

A 3.7 grade-point average and a top 300 hurdles times draw attention of colleges, and Bernhardt isn’t opposed to running at the next level. But he’s just as anxious to get to Missoula to learn to code and pursue his interest in NFTs.

“He’s had a plan for a couple years,” Deck said. “I think if he had the opportunity to run he would do it. If not he’ll just work on his businesses.”

Until then, there’s a state title to chase. Bernhardt has put in the time and effort, and has already gotten the hard part out of the way.

“It’s kind of a right of passage,” he said Tuesday night. “Can’t really say you’re a hurdler unless you crash once.”