Mallams, Donovan pace 'Dogsin cross country
The Daily Inter Lake
WHITEFISH - The Whitefish boys and girls cross country teams came out on top in a triangular meet on Saturday.
The WHS boys, led by Ian Mallams, finished with a score of 20. Columbia Falls was second, 39, and Frenchtown third, 75.
Beth Donovan paced the WHS girls to a first-place total of 21. Frenchtown was second, 42, and Columbia Falls third, 75.
The Whitefish girls had runners go 1-2-3 with Donovan, Anne Danczyk and Clare Miller. Donovan and Danczyk both broke 20 minutes with times of 19:30 and 19:59, respectively.
Miller finished the three-mile run at the WHS campus course in 20:12.
"Two (Lauren Kuennen and Janna Rozar) of our top five didn't run today," said WHS coach Bill Brist.
"They came down with a bug (illness). The three running in the top five did do a good job. They were our lead three. They took us out and carried us for the day."
Brist said Marni Hale, who didn't compete last fall, finished with "a breakthrough effort."
She placed 13th and broke the 22-minute barrier.
The Whitefish girls had nine individuals place in the top 15 spots.
Mallams posted the best time on the day. He was clocked in 15:59, the only runner to dip below 16 minutes.
"He was ill earlier in the week," Brist said.
"He took the lead right from the gun, ran a real solid race."
Brian Merseal of Columbia Falls was second, 16:41, and Jacob Fern of Whitefish third, 16:45.
Whitefish had eight runners in the top 15.
"Merseal ran a fantastic, smart race," said Columbia Falls coach Richard Menicke.
"Tripp Gimble ran a strong race finishing sixth. It was the first time all season both were under 17 minutes."
Gimble's time was 16:59.
Menicke said eight of the boys posted lifetime best times.
"As a team it was a great tune-up for the divisional," Menicke said.
"Our best race so far."
Brist said Whitefish's Nos. 3-4-5-7 runners "showed our real strength. They ran pretty good races. Three were under 17 minutes, those are pretty good times. They seem to be coming along."
Erik Anderson, Joseph Alexander, Blake Bjornson placed 4-5-7 for Whitefish.
This was the final meet for Columbia Falls and Whitefish before the Northwestern A Conference meet Saturday in Pablo.
Saturday at Whitefish
Distance: 3 miles
Course: WHS campus
Boys
Team Totals
Whitefish 20, Columbia Falls 39, Frenchtown 75
Top 15
Iam Mallams, Whitefish 15:59
Brian Merseal, Columbia Falls 16:41
Jacob Fern, Whitefish 16:45
Erik Anderson, Whitefish 16:56
Joseph Alexander, Whitefish 16:57
Tripp Gimbel, Columbia Falls 16:59
Blake Bjornson, Whitefish 17:02
Shawn Whitman, Columbia Falls 17:23
Patric Jessat, Columbia Falls 17:25
Nick Donovan, Whitefish 17:27
Michael Harrison, Whitefish 17:29
Josh Stedman, Frenchtown 17:29
Pat McGunagle, Whitefish 17:31
Greg Normand, Frenchtown 17:33
Michael Taylor, Columbia Falls 17:33
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Girls
Team Totals
Whitefish 21, Frenchtown 42, Columbia Falls 75
Top 15
Beth Donovan, Whitefish 19:30
Anne Danczyk, Whitefish 19:59
Clare Miller, Whitefish 20:12
Shanna Burke, Frenchtown 20:35
Kendra Wabaunsee, Frenchtown 20:36
Erin Maxted, Frenchtown 20:37
Kelly Beiser, Whitefish 20:58
Loni Hanson, Whitefish 21:04
Cassie Schell, Whitefish 21:27
Addie Houle, Columbia Falls 21:30
Nicole Mickelson, Columbia Falls 21:30
Natalie Kearns, Whitefish 21:31
Marni Hale, Whitefish 21:37
Emily Jones, Whitefish 21:45
Lacey Lovell, Frenchtown 22:14