Wildcats' Williams wins first Class A cross country title

MISSOULA - Derrick Williams is finally a state cross country champion.

The Columbia Falls senior standout closed out his prep career Saturday by finishing first at the Class A state meet at the University of Montana Golf Course with a time of 15 minutes, 30.76 seconds.

He finished nine seconds faster than Chase Stoker of Corvallis, 15:39.22.

"A hard-fought race, pretty stiff competition up front," Columbia Falls coach Richard Menicke.

"He (Williams) did a nice job of sticking with his race and running away from the three kids that were up there the last half mile or so. He found an opening and put a distance between the other runners."

Williams finished second a year ago at state and was fifth as a sophomore.

"He ran another typically smart, fast race," Menicke said.

"I'm just proud of him pulling through, executing and winning this race will all the expectations that have been placed on him. It was a great day for him."

Columbia Falls finished 12th in the team standings with a 273 total.

Corvallis took the team title, again, with a 121 score.

Polson was eighth, 213, Whitefish 10th, 250, and Libby 17th, 427.

Whitefish was led by Fischer Gangemi, ninth in 16:21.67.

Jacob Thomas of Libby was 18th, 16:32.41; and Travis Hayes of Polson was 31st, 16:55.65.

For the girls, Columbia Falls nearly pulled off a trophy finish. The Wildkats wound up fourth, 158.

Corvallis, 79, Glendive, 111, and Havre, 142, were the top three.

"Super strong showing by all six girls," Menicke said.

"We were just a few points out of getting a trophy, that was kind of heart-breaking.

"I'm exceptionally proud of this young group for how they performed today."

Jinise Osborne repeated as an all-state performer by placing 11th, 19:34.10.

Menicke said Samantha Mundel, 20th, 20:05.83, and Tori Price, 38th, 20:40.66, had "breakout races."

Polson was led by Claudia Hewston, third in 18:47.72, and Tegan Bauer, ninth in 19:25.00.

Nicole Brist had the best showing for Whitefish, 14th in 19:46.16.

Sadi Henderson of Corvallis was the individual champion, 18:30.26.

Whitefish placed seventh, 206, and Polson as eighth, 214.