X-country

By DAVID LESNICK

season heating up

The Daily Inter Lake

Summer is suppose to be over.

Fall sports are in full swing and school is back in session.

But the weather sure isn't acting that way.

Hot afternoons have made for challenging practice sessions.

"It's been hard to practice when it's hot," said Flathead cross country coach Paul Jorgensen.

"And my kids are stripped down. It just takes the enthusiasm out of it when it's that hot "

If the trend continues, hot temperatures could make for a difficult Flathead Invitational today, which will attract 24 teams and more than 800 runners to the Kidsport Complex.

"You just don't work quite as hard," said Jorgensen during the week.

"Some kids can handle it, some of our younger kids have a difficult time with it. We can still get the job done, but we can't quite go as hard as we'd like. Despite the heat, they have good attitudes. At least we don't have the smoke (to contend with like other parts of Montana)."

Jorgensen says his team, however, is still in excellent condition.

"I think we are about where we were last year," said Jorgensen of the boys.

"I think we're about the same. We were pretty tough last year. I think we have more overall depth this year. We're pretty solid 10-11."

For the Bravettes …

"Our girls aren't as strong as they have been in the past," said Jorgensen.

"But they are young, they are improving."

Flathead's boys and girls are defending champions.

"Pretty much the same schools as last year," said Jorgensen.

"Mount Spokane won't be here. North Central from Spokane will. They will be the only out of state team. North Central is usually pretty solid."

Jorgensen says Flathead, Big Sky and Whitefish will be the teams to beat on the boys side.

For the girls, "it's pretty open," said Jorgensen.

Hellgate and Ronan could battle for top honors along with several others.

On the individual front, some local names to look for are: (boys) Flathead's Seth Grossman, Carl Nystuen, Seth Svennungsen and Justin Barth, Whitefish's Ian Mallams, Polson's Logan Torgison, Thompson Falls' Shane Donaldson and Missoula Big Sky's Hunter Nelson; (girls) Ronan's Terinee McCready, Sadie McMillan and Kaneesha Benson; Flathead's Tera Klein and Elysia Andrews; Whitefish's Beth Donovan and Polson's Tana Bull.

Grossman finished fourth last year, 16:10. and Nystuen 12th, 16:31. Klein placed third, 19:23. and Andrews fourth, 19:48

Flathead's Lineups

Boys - Seth Grossman, Carl Nystuen, Seth Svennungsen, Justin Barth, Dan Howell, Orion Bras, Alec Surynt

Girls - Tera Klein, Elysia Andrews, Lauren Fox, Kayla Byle, Andrea Yeager, Bri Ori, Kathleen Barth

Meet Times

10 a.m. - Junior high girls

10:30 a.m. - Junior high boys

11 a.m. - Girls junior varsity

11:30 a.m. - Boys junior varsity

Noon - Girls varsity

12:30 p.m. - Boys varsity