HELENA — Former Helena High pole vault state champion Chase Smith returned to his hometown recently, assisting longtime Bengals’ pole vault coach Bill Hurford with annual summer camp. Smith, who owns Montana’s all-class state record at 16 feet, 4 inches, currently vaults for the University of Washington.
Smith has twice captured NCAA all-American efforts, earning second-team honors in each of the last two indoor seasons. He has won two straight Mountain Pacific Sports Federation titles, clearing 17-04 1/2 at the meet in February.
