Banner day for Whitefish cross country
HELENA - It was a banner day for the runners from Whitefish.
The girls, led by individual winner Loni Hanson, picked up their first Class A title Saturday at the 44th annual MHSA Cross Country Championships at Bill Robert Golf Course.
"They did what they had to do," WHS head coach Bill Brist said. "They went out aggressive like they always have. They held it together."
Whitefish assistant coach Sarah Brist agreed.
"They didn't have to do anything remarkable today, just do what they have been doing."
The Whitefish boys were also in a celebratory mood, taking home the third-place trophy for a second straight year. Drew Coco paced the Bulldogs, placing fifth individually.
Flathead came through with a strong showing as well, placing second for the second year in a row in the Class AA boys' field. The Braves were led by Seth Svennungsen, who was the runner-up to Alex Brekke of Bozeman.
And Polson's Logan Torgison closed out his prep career in style, placing second in Class A to Patrick Casey of Laurel. Casey has lost just one race the last two years.
Torgison has been an all-state performer four times. He finished 15th as a freshman and third the last two years.
The Whitefish girls were dominant, putting five runners in the top 17 for a team score of 50. Hamilton was a distant second with a 146 total.
Hanson, just a sophomore, held the front position for much of the race and crossed the finish line in 19 minutes, 28 seconds. Eleven runners finished the race under 20 minutes.
Mesa Starkey of Polson was second, 19:33, followed by Terinee McCready of Ronan, 19:35. Whitefish's Lauren Kuennen was fifth, 19:46.
"She's a great runner," Bill Brist said of Hanson. "To be in first place in a field that talented; I would have never guessed it. I'm glad she did it. She outperformed all my expectations."
Hanson becomes the second WHS girl to win an individual state title. Donda Head was the first in 1971.
"Amazing," Hanson said of her triumph. "I just wanted to do my best. I wasn't sure how I was gonna do."
Bigfork's Kayla Carlson and several other girls took a wrong turn during the race, while Hanson and the rest of the runners stayed on course. Carlson and the others soon discovered the error and doubled back.
Carlson finished 13th, 20:03.
"I went the right way," Hanson said. "They changed the markings; it was a little more confusing (this year)."
Hanson was 35th at state last year.
"I'm just really excited," she said. "I wanted my team to do well."
Hanson said she struggled in the early portion of the race, "then basically I found the courage and kept going."
The green and gold parade to the finish line continued with Bailey Eaton, 11th, 19:57, Carly Schwickert, 16th, 20:13, and Stella Holt, 17th, 20:15.
"When you walk into the Whitefish gym, they have all the state championship banners hanging, but they don't have one up there for cross country," Bill Brist said.
"We were reminded of that every day we went to practice. But now we will see one up there. That's great."
Torgison, 16:05, finished 27 seconds behind Casey, 15:38.
"My time today was slower than both my sophomore and junior years," he said. "(Casey) just got me. He just ran a better race."
Torgison said he narrowed the gap on Casey after two miles, "but after all the uphills I was struggling; just fatigued.
"It went perfect until the last mile. The last mile, I kind of died out.
"It was an all-right day," he added. "I didn't get what I wanted, but you can't ask for too much."
Browning won the boys' Class A title with a score of 76. Hamilton was second, 84.
Whitefish and Havre tied for third with 133, but the Bulldogs won the tie-breaker and the trophy because their No. 6 runner finished higher than Havre's.
Last year WHS won third place by one point.
Columbia Falls had an all-state performer in Shawn Whitman. He finished 10th, 16:57.
Whitman is the first Wildcat to be named all-state since 1996.
"Shawn ran an amazing race," Columbia Falls coach Steve Gasche said. "He made early contact with the top guys and hung on with them and fought his way into the top 10. That was an outstanding performance - one we're excited about."
Nicki Moser, 25th in 20:36, had the best showing for the Columbia Falls girls.
Missoula Hellgate had a historic day, capturing its first boys' AA state title since 1972. The Knights finished with a 77 total while Flathead was next with 86.
Hellgate and Flathead both had three runners in the top 15.
Brekke, 15:58, kicked past Svennungsen to win by two seconds.
"I thought I had it," Svennungsen said. "All of a sudden, Alex Brekke of Bozeman passes me."
It was Brekke's first race is six weeks. A stress fracture in his right foot sidelined him for most of the season.
"He was real dedicated," Svennungsen said of Brekke. "He was doing a lot of water training."
Svennungsen said his right quad tightened up for the first half of the race.
"I was always questioning in my mind if I was going to be able to keep my pace," he said. "I'm satisfied with second. There were a lot of good runners this year.
"It would have been nice to get first, but I'm glad I got second behind Alex Brekke."
This was the second time Brekke has battled a foot injury. Last year he missed a month of track with a broken foot.
"I was nervous," Brekke said. "I was out for six weeks. I hadn't run. I didn't know if I would be able to finish."
When Svennungsen passed Brekke earlier in the race, that inspired the Bozeman senior to pick up the pace.
"That was my dream (slipping away)," he said. "I wanted to win."
Flathead's Justin Barth finished ninth, 16:21, and Leif Castren was 14th, 16:29.
"Today the boys ran their best race of the season," FHS coach Paul Jorgensen said. "Unfortunately, Hellgate did, too."
Jorgensen said Svennungsen gave a strong performance.
"Seth ran as well as he could; the best he ever has. He can hold his head up high."
The Flathead girls finished fifth, 174.
Bozeman, 35, came out on top in the girls' standings. Billings Senior, 74, was second and Billings West, 90, third.
Heidi Windauer, 19:28, was the Bravettes' top finisher, placing 16th.
Glacier was led by freshman Heather Fraley. She finished sixth, 18:53.
"Outstanding race; just an outstanding last three weeks of the season for her," Glacier coach Mike McLean said.
"She beat a lot of the best girls in the state today. She was just three seconds behind the Billings Senior crew."
Glacier's girls finished 10th in the standings.
The Glacier boys were eighth. Dan Howell, 20th, 16:53, and Dan Burfeind, 23rd, 17:02, led the Wolfpack.
AA Boys
Team scores
1, Missoula Hellgate 77; 2, Flathead 86; 3, Bozeman 107; 4, Helena 110; 5, Billings Skyview 116; 6, Missoula Sentinel 124; 7, Helena Capital 129; 8, Glacier 234; 9, Missoula Big Sky 240; 10, CMR 267; 11, Billings West 267; 12, Billings Senior 296; 13, Butte 352; 14, Great Falls 422
Individual Results
1, Alex Brekke, Boz, 15:58; 2, Seth Svennungsen, Flat, 16:00; 3, Cody Lund, Big Sky, 16:07; 4, Mike Grey, Cap, 16:08; 5, Michael Barker, Hel, 16:12; 6, Jake Roske, Hellgate, 16:14; 7, Jordan Schlender, Boz, 16:18; 8, Jay Barlow, Hellgate, 16:20; 9, Justin Barth, Flat, 16:21; 10, Ethan Shrader, Butte, 16:22; 11, Robbie Brooks, Sent, 16:24; 12, Jon Craig, Hellgate, 16:26; 13, Josh Dean, Skyv, 16:28; 14, Leif Castren, Flat, 16:29; 15, Tony Hopf, Skyv, 16:30; 16, Andy Metropoulos, Hel, 16:37; 17, Mike Garrett, Sent, 16:43; 18, Kenny Hornung, Skyv, 16:50; 19, Daniel Osborne, Helena, 16:52; 20, Dan Howell, Glacier, 16:53; 21, Thomas Everett, Hellgate, 16:55; 22, Daniel Hamilton, Sent, 16:59; 23, Dan Burfeind, Glacier, 17:02; 24, Morgan Lewis, Cap, 17:04; Tygan Shelton, Cap, 17:04.
AA Girls
Team Scores
1, Bozeman, 35; 2, Billings Senior, 74; 3, Billings West, 90; 4, Helena, 164; 5, Flathead, 174; 6, Missoula Hellgate, 187; 7, Great Falls, 224; 8, Missoula Big Sky, 227; 9, CMR, 234; 10, Glacier, 238; 11, Missoula Sentinel, 239; 12, Butte, 260; 13, Helena Capital, 271; 14, Billings Skyview, 268.
Individual Results
1, Heidi Turner, Boz, 17:47; 2, Keely West, CMR, 18:13; 3, Caitlin Stone, Sent, 18:21; 4, Auriele Fain, Sr, 18:50; 5, Alexa Aragon, Sr, 18:50; 6, Heather Fraley, Glacier, 18:53; 7, Tayte Cranston, Boz, 19:01; 8, Sierra Kamplain, Boz, 19:14; 9, Katie Keith, Boz, 19:19; 10, Katie Gill, Boz, 19:20; 11, Nicole Rietz, 19:22; 12, Mara Menahan, Hel, 19:23; 13, Elizabeth Spartas, Boz, 19:24; 14, Keli Dennehy, Butte, 19:25; 15, Alison Smyth, West, 19:27; 16, Heidi Windauer, Flat, 19:28; 17, Sara Milch, West, 19:30; 18, Auralea Fain, Sr, 19:36; 19, Mariah Schmidt, Boz, 19:37; 20, Suzie Bartram, GFH, 19:42; 21, Stephanie Lang, Sr, 19:50; 22, Tera Klein, Flat, 19:50; 23, Megan Beam, West, 19:56; 24, Leah Davis, West, 19:58; 25, Lily Clarke, 20:01.
Class A boys
Team scores - 1, Browning 76; 2, Hamilton 84; 3, Whitefish 133; 3, Havre 144; 5, Hardin 153, 6, Columbia Falls 163; 7, Beaverhead County 174; 8, Frenchtown 218; 9, Polson 219; 10, Belgrade 222; 11, Laurel 245; 12, Corvallis 352; 13, Ronan 354; 14, Dawson County 419; 15, Libby 441; 16, Billings Central 470; 17, Park 537; 18, Anaconda 555.
Top 25 finishers
1, Patrick Casey, Lau, 15:38; 2, Logan Torgison, Pol, 16:05; 3, Ben Jessup, Ham, 16:18; 4, Logun Norris, Beav, 16:21; 5, Drew Coco, White, 16:26; 6, Jake Jessop, Ham, 16:44; 7, Fred Alden, Har, 16:48; 8, Andy Keim, Hav, 16:51; 9, Dylan Desrosier, Brow, 16:57; 10, Shawn Whitman, CF, 16:57; 11, D.J. Fish, Brow, 16:59; 12, Shane Redcrow, Brow, 17:14; 13, Garrett Korb, Hav, 17:15; 14, Ian Curtiss, Ham, 17:16; 15, Chris Jessop, Corv, 17:17; 16, Trevor Lane, Bel, 17:18; 17, Erik Anderson, White, 17:22; 18, Leigh Malatare, Brow, 17:24; 19, Patric Jessat, CF, 17:29; 20, Kaden Keto, Hav, 17:29; 21, Nick Donovan, Whit, 17:34; 22, Richie Bick, Fren, 17;39; 23, Tripp Gimbel, CF, 17:40; 24, Jason Clevinger, Bel, 17:42; 25, Ty Fitzpatrick, Har, 17:44.
Class A girls
Team scores
1, Whitefish 50; 2, Hamilton 146; 3, Dawson County 166; 4, Ronan 178; 5, Fergus 181; 6, Beglrade 203; 7, Beaverhead 233; 8, Frenchtown 244; 9, Hardin 245; 9, Laurel 245; 11, Polson 255; 12, Columbia Falls 314; 13, Havre 350; 14, Billings Central 357; 15, Custer County 358; 16, Park 438; 17, Sidney 441; 18, Anaconda 455; 19, Browning 503; 20, Libby 573.
Top 25 finishers
1, Loni Hanson, Whit, 19:28; 2, Mesa Starkey, Pol, 19:33; 3, Terinee McCready, Ron, 19:35; 4, Heather Haug, Park, 19:40; 5, Lauren Kuennen, Whit, 19:46; 6, Talitha Smith, Beav, 19:49; 7, Jessica Englert, Laur, 19:54; 8, Danica Loucks, Ham, 19:55; 9, Tori Porcella, Ham, 19:57; 10, Alicia Leininger, Bel, 19:57; 11, Bailey Eaton, Whit, 19:57; 12, Ronnea Gramling, Har, 20:00; 13, Layla Carlson, Bfk, 10:03; 14, Lauren Poss, Ferg, 20:05; 15, Taylor Condon, Lar, 20:07; 16, Carly Schwickert, Whit, 20:13; 17, Stella Holt, Whit, 20:15; 18, Keira McNelis, Bel, 20:17; 19, Emily Burnham, Ferg, 20:20; 20, Ana Richter, BCen, 20:28; 21, Nocona Frame, Daw, 20:29; 22, Jenna Welnel, Sid, 20:30; 23, Clare Miller, Whit, 20:31; 24, Sierra Pete, Pol, 20:35; 25, Nicki Moser, CF, 20:36.
Class B boys
Team scores
1, Thompson Falls 65; 2, Poplar 78; 3, Darby 91; 4, Colstrip 105; 5, Loyola Sacred Heart 156; 6, Manhattan 212; 7, Glasgow, 232; 8, Plains 243; 9, Three Forks 337; 10, Whitehall 341; 11, Manhattan Christian 343; 12, Huntley Project, 351; 13, Valley Christian 386; 14, Harlem 394; 15, Cut Bank 398; 16, Wolf Point 475; 17, Jefferson 505; 18, Lincoln County 520; 19, Shelby 548.
Top 25 Individuals
1, Paul Abrahamsen, Dar, 16:34; 2, Shane Donaldson, TF, 16:44; 3, Jacob Naegeli, TF, 16:50; 4, Richard Knowlton, Pop, 16:53; 5, Mike Evans, Loy, 17:02; 6, Adam Blythe, Col, 17:03; 7, Hunter Azure, 17:04; 8, Tyson Verderby, Man, 17:07; 9, Mike Morris, 17:08; 10, Seth Garbett, Dar, 17:12; 11, Matt Stout, Darb, 17:14; 12, Eijai Oxford, Col, 17:14; 13, Justin Allison, Plai, 17:18; 14, John Towle, Jef, 17:23; 15, Kyle Loewen, Glas, 17:24; 16, Ryan Blomback, Man, 17:25; 17, Jonah Riediger, Pop, 17:26; 18, Daniel Lombardi, Pow, 17:28; 19, Chris Brien, Pop, 17:26; 20, Cody Woolpert, Whit, 17:34; 21, Sam Hodges, SGrs, 17:34; 22, Cris Atherly, RLd, 17:35; 23, Walter Shaw, Col, 17:43; 24, Todd Blythe, Col, 17:44; 25, Ryan Sol, TF, 17:48.
Class B girls
Team standings 1, Glasgow 56; 2, Red Lodge 62; 3, Cut Bank 185; 4, Thompson Falls 195; 5, Loyola Sacred Heart 212; 6, Manhattan 247; 7, Cascade 249; 8, Huntley Project 256; 9, Jefferson 302; 10, Darby 318; 11, Malta 321; 11, Colstrip 321, 13, Valley Christian 332; 14, Whitehall 342; 15, Sweet Grass County 457; 16, Powell County 460; 17, Lodge Grass 503; 18, Wolf Point 531.
Top 25 Individuals
1, Cortney Lynde, RL, 19:27; 2, Heather DeMorest, Dar, 19:30; 3, Bobbi Knudsen, Malta, 19:30; 4, Kalyse Engebretson, 19:32; 5, Alyssa Sanders, Glas, 19:40; 6, Brittany Johnson, Jeff, 19:51; 7, Emilee Morehouse, Glas, 19:53; 8, Darcy Stevens, RL, 19:58; 9, Chancey Stirling, HP, 20:00; 10, Whitney Giulio, Jef, 20:07; 11, Alicia Cobb, Cas, 20:17; 12, Rose Harringson, Loy, 20:26; 13, Emily Braaten, Glas, 20:28; 14, Kaitlyn Wurnig, HP, 20:30; 15, Kara Wesen, Glas, 20:31; 16, Sienna Dailey, Glas, 20:31; 17, Lizzy Thompson, Man, 20:32; 18, Lenise Omeasoo, Cut Bank, 20:52; 19, Becca Vandam, ManC, 20:52; 20, Alex Scolatti, Loy, 20:56; 21, Chelsea Lynde, RL, 20:59; 22, Beca Gunderson, TF, 21:01; 23, Allyson, Herman, Glas, 21:07; 24, Janel Hamdan, Linc, 21:08; 325, Emily Babcock, Cut Bank, 21:11.
Class C boys
Team scores - 1, Winnett 26; 2, Joliet 33; 3, Gardner 36; 4, Ennis 40; 5, Plenty Coups 44; 6, Rapelje 69; 7, Culbertson 79; 8, Great Calls Central 86; 9, Arlee 91, 10, Valier 94, 11, Lincoln 118; 12, Belt 123; 13, Harrison 127; 14, Dodson 175; 15, Drummond 199, 16, Hays-Lodgepole 208.
Individual results
1, Ryan Ketterling, Jol, 16:09; 2, Ford Smith, Gard, 17:03; 3, Shy Iverson, Win, 17:07; 4, Eb Nordahl, Rap, 17:29; 5, Sam Dembek 17:37; 6, Gavin Owens, Ennis, 17:32; 7, Gage Owens, Ennis, 17:57; 8, Kyle Felsman, Arl, 17:58; 9, John Songstad, Jol, 17:59; 10, Colton Xavier, Gard, 18:02; 11, Melton Spotted Bear, Jr., Plen, 18:07; 12, Chad Bull Child, Val, 18:07; 13, Rumeal DeCrane, Plen, 18:14; 14, Theron Hamilton, Har, 18:16; 15, Dillon O'Fallon, GFC, 18:19; 16, Jackson Bolstad, Culb, 18:29; 17, Kal Munis, Gran, 18:32; 18, Gage Iverson, 18:33; 19, Gavin Lewis, Dod, 18:36; 20, Chris Sanche, Jr., PC, 18:39; 21, Taylor Broyles, Rap, 18:51; 22, Joe Solf, Win, 18:56; 23, Luke Stevenson, Jol, 18:57; 24, Kevin Wallen, Gard, 19:00; 25, Stephen Seitz, GFC, 19:01.
Class C girls
Team standings
1, Belt 13; 2, Joliet 23, 3, Harrison 47, 4, Lincoln 61, 5, Heart Butte 67, 6, Winnett 79; 7, Culbertson 89; 8, Great Falls Central 93; 9, Savage 102; 10, Plenty Coups 106, 10, Granite 106.
Individual results
1, Shannon Young, Har, 20:00; 2, Mariah Gondiero, Belt, 20:25; 3, Morgan Martell, Culb, 20:55; 4, Michaela O'Dore, Jol, 20:59; 5, Renae Hepfner, Belt, 21:09; 6, Bryanna Gondiero, Belt 21:19; 7, Tristany Browning, Win, 21:25; 8, MacKenzie, O'Dore, Jol, 9, Jessica Paske, Drum, 21:46; 10, Jocelyn Sullivan, GFC, 21:46; 11, Stacy Rieb, Jol, 21:48; 12, Taylor Cummings, Belt, 21:56; 13, Jessika Eiskant, Linc, 22:13; 14, Kitty Vance, HB, 22:20; 15, Hannah Fields, Linc, 22:34; 16, Rachelle Bennett, Jol, 22:49; 17, Sage Gustafson, Har, 23:06; 18, Luisa Sanchez, PC, 23:15; 19, Tristen Kienenberger, Dod, 23:16; 20, Elly Hogue, Gran, 23:19; 21, Sharlie Mountain Cheif, PC, 23:22; 22, Erin Oliver, Sav, 23:23; 23, Kaylee Miller, Belt, 23:25; 24, Megan Oberwiser, Drum, 23:28; 25, Mary Cote, Gard, 23:31.