Mike Brandt, Staff Writer

BOZEMAN — It was supposed to be a fun weekend of competing against the country’s top high school cross country runners. But Caroline Hardin will have more than running on her mind come Saturday morning.

The Bozeman High School freshman, and former Three Forks resident, earned an all-expense-paid trip to Portland, Ore. to compete in the 7th annual Nike Cross Nationals. Hardin, and her Bozeman Hawks teammates, qualified for the event after placing second at the Northwest Regional meet in Boise, Idaho on Nov. 13.

But on Wednesday tragedy struck the Three Forks community when Montana Highway Patrol Trooper David J. Delaittre was gunned down in the line of duty just outside of town. Delaittre was a Three Forks resident and the older brother of Rebecca Delaittre, Hardin’s best friend.

Hardin still plans to compete with her teammates Saturday, but will do so with a heavy heart. And since she’ll be unable to comfort her childhood friend during a very difficult time, Hardin is dedicating the race to David Delaittre....