Whitefish, Polson, C-Falls eye state x-country trophies
If the Whitefish girls want to win that fourth cross country state championship in a row, it looks like they'll have to outrun a familiar foe.
The Polson girls are poised to challenge the three-time defending champs at today's 47th annual state cross country meet in Helena.
At last week's Northwestern A divisional in Libby, Whitefish was in top form, placing five girls in the top eight and winning for the fifth-straight year. But even that performance only outdid Polson, who didn't have its top runner, freshman Aja Starkey, by only 10 points.
Combined, both teams had eight runners clock under 20 minutes. At both the Eastern A and Southwestern A divisionals, only the top three runners came in under 20 minutes. No one broke 20 at the Central A race.
In fact, Whitefish and Polson both had two girls under 19 minutes. Starkey ran 17:59 at Mountain West earlier this season but might not be healthy enough to run today. Northwestern A winner Jessica Sagen (18:08) and fourth-place Carly Schwickert (18:44) were the top two Whitefish girls while second-place Claudia Hewston (18:14) and third-place Mesa Starkey (18:39) led Polson. All four of those girls, as well as fifth-place Whitefish runner Bailey Eaton (19:09), sixth-place Whitefish runner Stella Holt (19:18) and seventh-place Polson runner Tegan Bauer (19:19), would have won at any other divisional.
In other words, the Class A girls race is sure to be interesting, and led by Northwestern A talent.
Whitefish has more than just a girls team looking to bring home hardware. The boys are hot off winning their first divisional trophy since 2007 and have four runners with times under 17 minutes - Nathan Knox (16:23), Fischer Gangemi (16:26), Jace Kalbfleisch (16:35) and Mathias Komarek (16:38).
Defending state champion Columbia Falls would like to keep the tradition growing and bring back a top-three trophy. In only his second season of running cross country, Derrick Williams has already established himself as one of Class A's better runners, succeeding in track and winning the divisional last week in 16:16. Williams, who placed fifth at state last year, is sure to be near the front of the pack today along with teammate Justin Whitman, who was second at divisional with 16:19.
The Wildcats scored 64 points last year to win the first state title in the program's history.
Flathead has a potential individual state champion in Zach Perrin. The sophomore has ran under 16 minutes all season, with a top time of 15:23 in Butte earlier this season. Perrin ran 15:28 at the Capital City 7 on 7 meet on today's state course earlier this month.
Last year as a freshman, Perrin battled through illness to 21st place, 16:36. Flathead is minus five of last year's top seven runners who earned the Braves second place.
Bozeman, for both boys and girls, is the team to beat.
Glacier's brother-sister-duo, Troy and Heather Fraley, have the ability to earn all-state honors and will pace the Wolfpack teams. The Glacier girls placed eighth last year and the boys took ninth.
Paige Bouma has been the Bravettes' number-one runner this season. Flathead took fifth as a team last year.
State Cross Country
Bill Roberts Golf Course, Helena
Class C Girls 11:00 am; Class AA Girls 11:35 am; Class C Boys 12:10 pm; Class AA Boys 12:40 pm; Class A Girls 1:10 pm; Class B Girls 1:45 pm; Class A Boys 2:20 pm; Class B Boys 2:50 pm