Whitefish girls win state

Five Bulldogs place in top 15, team claims second straight title with 43 points

By DILLON TABISH/The Daily Inter Lake

MISSOULA - The only thing that could have prevented the Whitefish girls cross country team from defending its state title was freak luck. Even that couldn't stop the Lady Bulldogs Saturday at the all-state meet at the University of Montana Golf Course.

After the team bus broke down on the drive to Missoula Friday, the team still showed up Saturday and won its second straight state championship with an astonishing 43 points.

"That's why we drive up on Friday," Whitefish coach Bill Brist said with a smile.

As far as the race went, Brist said he can't be more proud of his team.

"They held it together real nicely," he said. "It'd be tough to get much better than this."

Five Whitefish girls placed in the top 15. Sophomore Jackie Cassidy went back and forth for first place all race and finished in second, 18:53. Last year's winner, junior Loni Hanson, placed fifth, 19:13. Sophomore Stella Holt sprinted into the top 10, placing eighth, 19:27. Sophomore Jessica Sagen placed 13th, 19:47. Sophomore Bailey Eaton earned her way into 15th place with a strong finish, 19:48.

Whitefish coach Sara Brist said the girls ran like champions all season.

"We told them to just run like they have been," she said.

Afterwards, the team rallied at its tent and began singing and laughing like a three-mile race had never happened.

When asked about the race, the girls all chimed in with bright smiles.

"I was really satisfied with (the race)," said Cassidy.

"I'm excited for our whole team," said Holt.

Eaton referred to the team as a "sisterhood," because of how close the girls are. Because of the win, she also said the boys team will have to put up with listening to "We are the champions" being sung the whole drive home.

Polson's Mesa Starkey and Bigfork's Kayla Carlson proved their rank as two of Class A's top runners. Starkey finished third, 19:05, and said afterwards she surprised herself with how hard she ran.

"I didn't think that I'd get in the top five," she said. "But on that last mile, I definitely felt like I had more in me."

"It feels good," she said about finishing strong.

Carlson battled the whole race and stuck with the lead pack up and down the course. She finished in sixth place, 19:24.

"I kept telling myself to run faster, but my legs weren't listening," she said. "But I'm happy."

Carlson practiced all season with only five boys, who make up the Bigfork team.

Fergus took second as a team with 89 points. Hamilton finished third with 101.

In the Class AA girls race, Bozeman took the team trophy home, placing five girls in the top 15, including winner Heidi Turner, 17:40.

Billings Senior took second place with three runners in the top 10.

Alexa Aragon, 17:54, finished second for Senior, Dani Aragon, 18:19, finished fourth, and Auralea Fain, 18:35, took sixth.

Butte's Keli Dennehy held her sprint through the finish to take third place, 18:05.

Glacier sophomore Heather Fraley earned all-state honors, placing eighth, 18:46.

"It's pretty sweet (feeling)," Fraley said afterwards. "I just told myself I'm not giving up and I'm sticking with the heels in front of me."

"It's been a great season," she added. "I'm happy."

Glacier placed eighth as a team with 209 points.

Flathead coach Paul Jorgensen was pleased with the way his girls team ran after they took fifth place with 194 points.

"Nobody really had a bad race," he said.

Darby had another bright spot in Heather Demorest, who won the Class B race with a 18:44. The boys team won the state title as well.

Selene Johnson from Sweet Grass County took second with 18:55. Chloe Palakovich from Whitehall placed third, 18:59.

The Glasgow girls team, 46 points, won the team title thanks to four runners placing in the top 15. Senior Emilee Morehouse took fourth, 19:09, and freshman Jami Johnson took fifth, 19:11.

Malta took second place with 138 points. Colstrip was third, 153 points.

In the Class C race, Joliet's Mackenzie O'Dore won by 12 seconds, finishing with a 19:15. Maria Gondeiro from Belt/Centerville took second, 19:27. Shannon Young of Harrison took third, 19:34.

Belt/Centerville won the team title with 19 points. Culbertson was second with 30.