By Bill Foley

In less than a full school year, Kinley Hamilton has already left quite an impression at Butte Central.

The former Chinook Sugarbeeter apparently caught the attention of Carroll College, too.

With her new classmates, family, teachers and coaches by her side, the Butte Central senior signed an NAIA National Letter of Intent to compete in track for Carroll Wednesday afternoon.

Hamilton said the decision to go form the Catholic high school to the Catholic college was an easy one.

“They were the first to offer me track, and I really like that I get to connect with my faith more there, too,” she said after signing with the Fightin’ Saints at the Butte Central Rotunda.

The signing came five days after Hamilton won the shot put at a Missoula meet that included Hellgate, Sentinel and Butte High. She also placed fourth in the discus.

Hamilton said she plans to compete in shot put and discus at Carroll.

“If they want me to try something new, I’m open,” Hamilton said.

She said hot put is her favorite event, adding “You can get out all your anger and throw it.”

Butte Central principal J.P. Williams said Hamilton has been a great addition to Butte Central.

“It’s not easy to a brand-new school, a brand-new city in your senior year,” Williams said, adding that Hamilton earned straight A’s and was always the first to raise her hand when a volunteer was needed. “Kinley, you’re a model student, and I just want to say, on your day, congratulations. You earned it. We’re super happy for you.”

Williams was a key contributor for Butte Central’s volleyball team last fall. BC coach Dan McGree said she is a welcome addition to the track team as well.

“We’re thrilled that you’re part of Butte Central,” the coach told Hamilton.

As a junior and freshman last year, Rileigh McGree and Ella Moodry scored 40 points at the Class A State meet. That put the Maroons in fourth place with just two girls competing.

Hamilton rolled into town with State experience on her side. She placed 11^th with a mark of 32 feet, 4 ¼ inches at the Class B meet in 2019. After the 2020 season was wiped out by COVID-19, Hamilton placed 10^th at the State B meet last May with a mark of 34-2.

Her personal best mark in the event is 34-6.

That is a mark she hopes to top before the end of the season.

“I want to just continue to grow in shot put and continue my marks,” she said, “maybe PR and qualify for State.”

Hamilton was joined at the signing by her mother Hope Hamilton, father Jeremy Garrison and grandfather Art Garrison.

At Carroll, Hamilton plans to major in education with the goal of teaching math in middle school or high school. She said she is happy that she is finishing her prep career at Butte Central.

“It was a little tough at first,” she said of making the move. “But everything turned out good.”