Bismarck Legacy’s Calob Larson continues adding accolades to his resume
BISMARCK, N.D. (BVM) — After missing last season, Bismarck Legacy senior sprinter Calob Larson entered the early part of this season just looking to get some times in to see where he was at.
Larson was not expecting to break any records, but that is exactly what he did April 22 at the Dick Karlgaard Invitational where he broke a school and state record in the 200-meter dash with a time of 21.12 seconds. He also broke a school record with a time of 10.45 seconds in the 100-meter dash.
“It feels amazing; I was definitely not expecting it though,” Larson said. “I didn’t believe it at first.”
The times blew away his previous PR’s in both events and reminded everyone who may have forgotten over the last two years how strong of a runner Larson is. Larson entered his final season as the reigning state champion in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dash, events he won in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. He was also a part of the 4×100 state champion relay team.
That success led to him being named the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 Gatorade North Dakota Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year, but the Legacy senior has been running long before the accolades.
“I’ve always just liked running,” Larson said.
He would race his classmates during recess as a kid in elementary school. By eighth grade, he was competing for the LHS varsity track team and even qualified for state in the 400-meter dash and as part of the Sabers’ 4×400 relay team.
“At that time and the age I was I didn’t even comprehend what was happening,” Larson said. “I didn’t even think twice like I’m running against seniors here, 18-year-olds and I’m just an eighth. I never realized how big it was at the time.”
Larson would take seventh in the 400-meter dash, which also happens to be his favorite event.
“The 400 but it’s like a love hate relationship,” Larson said. “It’s just torture running it but at the same time I’m the must excited to run it.”
By his freshman year, he was one of the best sprinters in the state, winning multiple state championships. His sophomore season would be more of the same success as well as he won the state’s Gatorade Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year award, and with that success came motivation for Larson to push himself further.
“At the time I didn’t know what Gatorade Athlete of the Year was and when I got it for track I realized there could be other things that I could get,” Larson said.
That included heading to Iceland to compete in the Reykjavik International Games where he took second place in the 400-meter dash.
“It was an amazing experience,” Larson said.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t carry that momentum into his junior season, but now that he and the Sabers can finally return to the track, Larson is ready to take on the challenges that come with missing a season of track.
“Looking at what I did as a freshman you never know there might be that one kid that does the same thing,” Larson said. “Coming into this year after missing last year, you have two whole new classes you’re running with and it’s a whole new experience.”
Based on what Larson was able to do at the Dick Karlgaard Invitational, he’s more than ready for anyone who is trying to catch up with him and will finish his final season of high school track with even more accolades
