FHS will be a force at state cross country

Smarts will play as big a role as conditioning today as teams compete in Missoula for the state cross country meet. Bigfork, Columbia Falls, Eureka, Flathead, Libby, Polson and Whitefish are all sending teams to run at the University of Montana Golf Course.

The fast course features rolling terrain with only one big hill near the two-mile mark. Speeds will be up and times will be down. But controlling the adrenaline a state competition generates will be necessary for the runners.

"The race will depend on how intelligently the kids run," Columbia Falls boys coach Richard Menicke said. "If you get suckered into a pace you can't hold, it won't be a fast race."

Many teams will head out too fast, and the runners who compete with their heads as well as their legs should finish well.

Runners will also have more attention than when running the state course at Helena. The trail at Missoula doesn't take the competitors out too far from where spectators can watch.

Bigfork's Brooke Andrus - the reigning class A champ - is coming off an ankle sprain but hopes to claim another title. Her conditioning is still good because she trained on a bike and on an elliptical machine while her injury healed.

"I know the state meet comes down to the last mile and who has the most guts," Andrus said. "I'm going to run gutsy. I'll be so focused on the race I won't notice if it hurts."

Ronan's Terinee McCready scares Andrus the most. Andrus beat McCready by just five seconds at last year's state meet, but was 47 seconds behind her at divisionals this year.

The class A competition is stacked with talented teams. Ronan, Havre and Miles City are far and away the strongest, but teams from Browning, Dillon and Hardin are all battling for the top five.

"There is a very close margin of

just a couple points for a number of teams," Whitefish coach Bill Brist said.

For the Flathead runners, the state tournament is a stepping stone to national competitions at either the Foot Locker race or the Nike Team Nationals. Flathead coach Paul Jorgensen has taken teams to the Foot Locker race in California for the past 19 years.

The Nike race, held in Portland, is by invite only. The showing at state will likely determine whether the Braves or Bravettes receive an invitation.

Flathead

The Braves, coming off an undefeated season, will have to fend off strong Bozeman and Helena High teams to defend their state title this year. The boys are ranked 16th in the nation and are the favorites for another first-place finish.

Joregensen said his team is cautiously optimistic because Bozeman was expected to win last year, but fell to the Braves.

"Anything can happen," he said. "Last year we went in and beat the team that probably expected to win. We take nothing for granted."

Elliot Welder and Seth Grossman are front runners for the strong team, but will have to watch Nolan Real Bird from Billings Skyview, who will be a factor for the individual title. Welder finished second last year and is the slight favorite to win it all today.

On the girls side, four teams have a legitmate chance to win state. Bozeman is the favorite, but Flathead, Billings Senior and Helena Capital all field strong squads. Elysia Andrews and Tera Klein are both running very well for the defending champion Bravettes and should place high at state.

Although a state title is a goal, Jorgensen said his teams are aiming for other individual benchmarks that should help the boys and girls win.

Flathead runners

Boys

Elliot Welder, 12

John Fairweather, 12

Sean Clark, 12

Seth Grossman, 11

Carl Nystuen, 11

Justin Barth, 10

Seth Svennungson, 10

Aaron Wilson, 12 - Alternate

Girls

Riata Booky, 12

Liz Myers, 12

Elysia Andrews, 11

Shannon Ross, 11

Andrea Yager, 11

Tera Klein, 10

Heidi Windauer, 9

Allison Grubb, 10 - Alternate

Bigfork

The Valkyries were dealt a blow when they lost Tiffany Williams to injury. The loss of Williams reduces the number of girls to four, which means Bigfork won't be able to compete in the team scores.

The Valkyries placed 12th last year.

For the boys team, Julian Taylor and Wes Hill will run for the Vikings.

"Wes is shooting for the top 15," Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said. "He hasn't done that before. And Brooke is hoping to repeat as champion."

Bigfork runners

Boys

Wes Hill, 12

Julian Taylor, 10

Girls

Brooke Andrus, 12

Jamie Morgenstern, 12

Brittany Hall, 10

Stephanie Williams, 9

Columbia Falls

The Wildcats, after finishing in eighth place last year, have had an up and down season due to injuries and disciplinary losses, but still have a good team put together.

All-conference runner Brian Merseal looks to top his 47th-place finish last year and move Columbia Falls up in the standings.

"If we have a good day, I think we have a good shot of being in the top eight," Menicke said. "I want them to go out with a race they can feel proud of. We're focused on improving."

The girls are coming off a fourth-place finish at the Northwestern A divisional and have a chance of placing in the top 10 at state. The Wildkats finished 16th last year.

"Ronan, Havre and Miles City are by far the most dominating teams in the state," Columbia Falls girls coach Steven Gasche said. "After that it will be a role of the dice. There is a lot of excitement and high expectations for each other. We're at peak condition, and we're looking forward to it quite a bit."

Columbia Falls runners

Boys

Steffen Anderson, 12

Jack Scherman, 12

Brian Merseal, 11

Tim McCracken, 11

Michael Taylor, 11

Tripp Gimbel, 9

Jeremiah Howland, 9

Jaffe Wilde, 12 - Alternate

Girls

Jessica Dedman, 12

Nellie Lutz, 12

Brittany Calderwood, 11

Jennifer Hafferman, 11

Addie Houle, 10

Chelsey Marjerrison, 10

Mikke Elek, 9

Dana Gross, 12 - Alternate

Whitefish

Considering the Bulldogs are in a rebuilding year, the team has performed well. The boys have a chance of placing in the top seven after finishing 17th last season.

Ian Mallams and Drew Coco could each place in the top 10 if they run like they have all year.

"Our guys have been running so well lately," Brist said. "It bodes well for us next year. They are making the right steps to make it to where they'll be competitive next year."

Freshman standout Beth Donovan leads an equally young girls squad. Donovan should also finish in the top 10 if she matches her usual performance.

Brist said his runners are handling the pressure of state well.

"There isn't the pressure for the young kids like there is for a senior," he said. "This is an opportunity for them. They'll just run like they do every time. We'll come away looking good."

Whitefish runners

Boys

Ian Mallamms, 11

Jacob Fern, 11

Joseph Alexander, 11

Blake Bjornson, 11

Kellen Bodily, 11

Erik Anderson, 10

Drew Coco, 9

Austin Troiano, 12 - Alternate

Girls

Anne Danczyk, 11

Janna Rozar, 11

Loie Russell-Templeton, 11

Kassie Schell, 11

Lauren Kuennen, 10

Claire Miller, 10

Beth Donovan, 9

Natalie Kearns - Alternate

State Cross Country Tournament Schedule

11 a.m. - B Boys

11:35 a.m. - C Boys

12:05 p.m. - B Girls

12:40 p.m. - C Girls

1:10 p.m. - A Boys

1:45 p.m. - AA Boys

2:20 p.m. - A Girls

2:55 p.m. - AA Girls